There is a phrase Steve Clarke used after watching his side dismantle Bolivia at the Sports Illustrated Stadium in New Jersey that tells you everything about where Scotland find themselves right now. He described his selection headache for Sunday's opener against Haiti as "fantastic problems". When your manager is worrying about which in-form players to leave out rather than how to paper over cracks, it tends to be a reasonable sign that things are going well.

Clinical in the heat

Conditions in New Jersey were punishing — temperatures nudging 33 degrees and an air quality alert issued by the state's environmental department before kick-off. Bolivia, a side accustomed to playing home matches at altitude, might reasonably have fancied their chances of exploiting any Scottish discomfort. It never materialised. Scotland adapted, slowed their tempo and played their way through the heat rather than trying to outrun it. Patient, precise and clinical, Clarke's men let the game come to them.

The result was a four-goal first-half blitz that effectively ended the contest before the second half had begun. It was not the frantic, high-intensity pressing game Scotland are capable of producing, but that was almost the point. They showed a different dimension — a more considered, technical approach — which may prove just as useful when the serious business arrives.

Shankland's moment

If there is one takeaway from this warm-up programme that ought to excite Scotland supporters, it is the form of Lawrence Shankland. The striker headed the opener after smart work from Ryan Christie and Andy Robertson, and it was a finish that underlined why Clarke has been building his attacking play around him. Shankland has scored 24 goals in 38 appearances this season and 10 in his last 12 since the turn of the year. He has not gone more than two consecutive matches without scoring since September. Playing the football of his life at the most important moment of his international career is precisely the kind of narrative Scotland's World Cup story needed.

Pairing him with Che Adams — a two-striker setup Clarke has been considering for some time — worked convincingly. Adams added two goals of his own, with Scott McTominay getting in on the act to make it four before half-time. That McTominay was the driving, intelligent force through the first period will surprise nobody who has watched him for club or country over the past eighteen months.

Context and caution

Bolivia were, in all honesty, limited opposition. They failed to qualify for this tournament through the South American section and offered virtually nothing going forward. Caveats are entirely reasonable. Scotland did not face anything like the physical, athletic challenge that Haiti will bring to Sunday's Group stage opener — kick-off at 02:00 BST on Monday morning, live on the BBC — and Clarke's squad know that the real examination is still to come.

What this fixture did provide, though, was momentum, confidence and a clean bill of health. After injury concerns from the previous weekend, coming through 90 minutes unscathed was almost as valuable as the scoreline itself. Scotland also demonstrated that they can manage a game at different speeds, a tactical flexibility that could be the difference in a tournament where energy management across multiple matches matters enormously.

Ready for Haiti

Haiti will press higher, move quicker and test Scotland's defensive line in ways Bolivia never attempted. Clarke will be well aware of that. But his side go into the biggest game in a generation with four goals in their legs, a striker in the form of his life and a belief that has been quietly building for months. For a nation that has waited decades for a moment like this, the Scots look as ready as they have ever been.

  • Goal scorers vs Bolivia: Lawrence Shankland, Scott McTominay, Che Adams (2)
  • Next fixture: Scotland vs Haiti — Sunday 14 June, 02:00 BST (live BBC)

Frequently asked

When do Scotland play their first World Cup game?
Scotland face Haiti on Sunday 14 June, with kick-off at 02:00 BST. The match is being shown live on the BBC.
How did Scotland get on against Bolivia?
Scotland beat Bolivia 4-0 in their final warm-up fixture before the World Cup, with all four goals coming in the first half. Lawrence Shankland, Scott McTominay and Che Adams (two) were the scorers.
Is Lawrence Shankland starting for Scotland at the World Cup?
Shankland is expected to start after an outstanding run of form — 24 goals in 38 matches this season — and manager Steve Clarke has strongly indicated he will lead the attack against Haiti.