Scotland to play Ivory Coast in Liverpool as March friendly confirmed

Scotland are to face Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium in March as the national team continue their preparations for the World Cup finals.

Steve Clarke’s side have already lined up a friendly against Japan at Hampden on March 28 and will now play in Liverpool three days later.

The national team boss is looking to build towards the summer tournament, where the long World Cup exile will end and the side will face Haiti, Morocco and Brazil in the group stage.

Clarke sees the AFCON quarter-finalists as ideal opponents and is also keen to play at a new venue, with Everton only having moved into their state-of-the-art new home in August.

“We’re pleased to confirm Côte d’Ivoire as our second opponents for the March international window, following on from Japan’s visit to Glasgow.” Clarke said.

“We wanted to face African opposition before we play Morocco in the summer, and I’m sure Côte d’Ivoire will give us a really stern test.

“It will also be good to play at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool. The supporters will enjoy the opportunity to visit the new stadium.”

Following the March double-header, Scotland will play Curacao in a Hampden send-off on May 30, before travelling to the USA for pre-tournament training and a final friendly, understood to be against Peru.