Olise also on scoresheet for Les Bleus in Wroclaw Sesko sets up late leveller for Slovenia against Sweden France struck early through Michael Olise and sealed the points with a late Kylian Mbappé breakaway to open their World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 victory over Ukraine in Wroclaw, Poland. Mbappé’s 82nd-minute strike, set up by his Real Madrid teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni at the end of a rapid counter attack, took the forward to 51 international goals, drawing him level with Thierry Henry in second place on France’s all-time scoring list behind Olivier Giroud, who has scored 57. Olise gave them the lead after 10 minutes, sliding in a Bradley Barcola pass, and only Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin’s sharp reflexes prevented further damage as he denied Olise a second. Continue reading...

Scotland travel to Denmark in World Cup qualifier action All the goals as they go in | Email Barry Denmark: Despite having scored in each of Denmark’s past three games, Christian Eriksen has been dropped from tonight’s squad. Brian Riemer decided to leave the 33-year-old out because he hasn’t managed to find a club since leaving Manchester United in June. He is believed to have been keeping himself fit by training with the Swedish club Malmo, but Riemer clearly feels he has not done enough to merit inclusion tonight. Scotland: It’s no great surprise that Steve Clarke has made seven changes to the experimental side that hammered Liechtenstein in a friendly in June. Rarely one to inspire huge confidence while playing for his country, Angus Gunn is back in goal in place of the injured first choice Craig Gordon, while it’s great to see Brentford’s Aaron Hickey back in defence after a near two-year absence with various injury issues. John Souttar and Grant Hanley also come into the back four. Continue reading...

Midfielder reveals decision behind Scotland snub as he aims to join luminaries who began at Wallsend Boys Club A sense of pride and achievement should accompany a first call-up to a senior national team yet it planted a seed of doubt in Elliot Anderson. Two years on and that seed has borne fruit for England, while adding to Scotland’s regret. It was August 2023 when Anderson was named in the Scotland squad for the first time. An international debut beckoned for the youngster from Whitley Bay, who is eligible to play for Scotland through his grandmother, in the following month’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Cyprus and the friendly with England at Hampden Park. “He had a little think about choosing between Scotland and England,” the manager, Steve Clarke, said at the time.“We had some good discussions with the boy and his family and he has chosen to come with us, which is good for us now and certainly good for us in the future.” Anderson would never come good for Scotland, as it transpired. Continue reading...

No longer first choice at Anfield, but what does that mean for captain Andy Robertson's role with Scotland?

Desire to end World Cup hiatus is palpable but squad starts qualifying campaign on Friday with clear weak points An extra layer of poignancy was associated with the death of Jimmy Bone this week. An individual who made a huge contribution to Scottish club football, the robust forward’s solitary goal for his country came in Copenhagen’s original Parken. Denmark 1-4 Scotland in October 1972. The Scots, then briefly under the management of Tommy Docherty, had set themselves on course to qualify for the 1974 World Cup, ending an absence of 16 years. Come Friday, Copenhagen is again the venue. The painful wait this time stretches back to 1998. Togo, North Korea, Panama, Saudi Arabia and Wales have featured in the World Cup since Scotland last did. Steve Clarke will shortly become the longest-serving Scotland manager by games overseen. Scotland have a Ballon d’Or nominee – in respect of Scott McTominay’s country represented if not of birth – and six games to determine their 2026 fate. Continue reading...

Put yourself in the shoes of the Scotland manager and pick the side and tactics - plus decide what your pre-match team talk would be.

Scotland midfielder Stuart Armstrong signs a two-year contract with Aberdeen after his release by Sheffield Wednesday.

Scotland start their World Cup qualifying campaign in Denmark on Friday and you watch and listen to the game exclusively on the BBC, with Kelly Cates hosting television coverage.

Ryan Christie reveals he is playing translator in the Bournemouth dressing-room for Scotland team-mate Ben Gannon-Doak.

Much-travelled former Scottish striker and manager Jimmy Bone dies at the age of 75.

BBC Scotland's Nick McPheat assesses the mood across the Scottish Premiership's teams after a hectic transfer deadline day.

Scotland striker Kevin Nisbet returns to Aberdeen from Millwall for a fee in the region of £300,000.

Fans sang for the striker to ‘take us to Europe’ as he arrived in Italy to join an unfancied team brimming with positivity Jamie Vardy had not reached his destination, but already he was getting a taste of what may await him, a crowd of Cremonese supporters greeting him at the exit of Milan’s Linate airport – 50 miles away from their team’s home town. Never mind the fact it was almost midnight on a Sunday. He hopped out of his car to sign autographs – one over a tattoo of his own face. They sang for him to “take us to Europe”. Even in a summer of famous names making unexpected late-career moves to Italy – from Kevin De Bruyne and Napoli to Luka Modric at Milan – Vardy joining Cremonese feels most improbable of all. A player who once finished eighth in the Ballon d’Or vote, signing for a club with a 16,000-seater stadium who have made only fleeting appearances in the top flight since they were founded in 1903. Continue reading...

BBC Sport Scotland assesses Aberdeen's poor league form stretching back to November, as Jimmy Thelin's side continue to struggle despite Scottish Cup success.