There is always a peculiar tension to a send-off friendly. Win too comfortably and the opposition get written off as irrelevant. Get pushed hard, or worse, and the mood darkens quickly. Scotland managed to find a middle path on Saturday afternoon at Hampden, beating Curacao 4-1 in a match that contained enough good news to sustain optimism and enough concern to keep Steve Clarke up at night before the plane departs for America.

Shankland states his case

Lawrence Shankland has long been one of Scottish football's more curious anomalies — a striker who scores for fun at club level but has never quite nailed down a starting berth for his country. Before Saturday he had started only four of his 18 international appearances, a statistic that has frustrated Hearts supporters and baffled many a pundit in the Scottish press box.

The 30-year-old gave Clarke something to genuinely wrestle with here. His first half was quiet — he dropped too deep, searching for involvement in the build-up when his real value lies inside the penalty area. But after the break he came alive, netting two well-taken strikes to press his claim for a starting role at the tournament. Clarke was characteristically measured in response, acknowledging that the team had struggled to find Shankland in the first half but pointing to his finishing as typically clinical — including a set-piece goal where the delivery was not ideal and he dug it out anyway.

Among the strikers in the squad, Shankland has something the others lack in abundance: pure goalscoring instinct. Whether Clarke trusts him from the first whistle rather than as an impact substitute will be one of the more interesting decisions of the summer.

Curtis announces himself

If Shankland was the experienced head making a renewed case, 19-year-old Findlay Curtis was the fresher story. The Rangers winger arrived at Hampden with serious momentum after a loan spell at Kilmarnock during which his goals helped the Ayrshire club steer clear of relegation trouble. That finish — one touch, no hesitation, left foot — had the economy of a player who knows exactly where the goal is before he even looks up. Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann, watching from the stands, spoke warmly about the composure Curtis carries into the penalty area and the confidence running through him right now.

It was his introduction that shifted the game. Scotland were uncomfortable for long stretches of the first 40 minutes, and Curacao were arguably the better side when they took the lead. Curtis changed the tempo almost immediately, drawing the foul that led to Ryan Christie's penalty for the fourth goal after scoring the equaliser himself. The competition for a wide starting berth is real, but his decisiveness in the final third may give him the edge.

Defensive frailties that cannot be ignored

The goal Scotland conceded will have made for uncomfortable viewing on the coaching staff's laptops on Sunday morning. A long ball played in behind the centre-backs saw Scott McKenna caught under it and out of position, and from there John Souttar was outpaced and then beaten on the inside by Tahith Chong, who finished with real style. Both McKenna and Souttar are experienced, committed defenders, but neither is built primarily to deal with sharp, pacy forwards in behind. Souttar in particular is at his most effective when organising the box and winning aerial duels rather than tracking runners into space.

It is one thing to be exposed by a Curacao forward on a summer afternoon at Hampden. It is another matter entirely when Scotland face the kind of attacking quality they will encounter in the United States. Clarke will know that. The centre-back question will demand an answer before the first whistle of the tournament.

The Gilmour shadow

The day's most sobering news had nothing to do with tactics or selection dilemmas. Billy Gilmour limped off with an injury that has ruled him out of the World Cup entirely. His absence leaves a significant creative gap in Scotland's midfield and removes one of their most technically accomplished players from the picture entirely. Whether Tyler Fletcher — the other teenager who impressed on debut — can step into some of that responsibility will be watched closely in the coming days.

Scotland leave for America with plenty of reason for encouragement, and at least one fresh selection headache to enjoy. Clarke will take that over the alternative.

Frequently asked

Is Lawrence Shankland going to start for Scotland at the World Cup?
Shankland strengthened his case with two goals against Curacao, but Steve Clarke has not yet confirmed him as a guaranteed starter. His club form has always been strong; the question is whether Clarke trusts him from the first whistle at tournament level.
What injury has Billy Gilmour suffered and how long is he out?
Gilmour picked up an injury during the Curacao friendly that has been confirmed as serious enough to rule him out of the World Cup entirely. The specific nature of the injury has not been detailed in early reports.
Who is Findlay Curtis and which club does he play for?
Findlay Curtis is a 19-year-old winger on the books at Rangers who spent last season on loan at Kilmarnock. He scored on his international debut against Curacao and has been included in Scotland's World Cup squad.