LOSERS’ WORLD CUP FOR SCOTS?

SCOTLAND could be invited to a ‘World Cup of losers’ being proposed by the USA for countries who failed to qualify for next year’s finals. The concept of a bizarre alternative to Russia 2018 has gained some momentum in the States after Italy were knocked out by Sweden earlier this week. The list of nations missing from next summer’s tournament includes the Americans, Holland, Chile, Ivory Coast, Cameroon and Ghana, as well as the Scots, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Now US Soccer chiefs have confirmed they are exploring the possibility of an eight-team event for the also-rans, to take place in the period before the

World Cup starts on June 14. Scotland, who are still seeking a replacement for Gordon Strachan, currently have no games scheduled for next year. They have been approached to play in Morocco in March, with the Moroccans also trying to persuade Argentina to play in a three-team mini-league. The Scots begin Nations League qualifiers next September and will be looking for friendlies to play before then. It remains to be seen if they would even be deemed worthy of an invite if the American plan ever comes to fruition. Michael Lewis, who has been writing about football in the USA for almost 40 years, is cynical about the reasons for touting such a tournament. ‘This seems like a moneymaking idea,’ he told BBC Sport. ‘I’m sure the Italy players would rather go on holiday. ‘I would expect teams to field inexperienced players — that certainly wouldn’t help with the development of the USA team.’