# Cotton Wool or Full Tilt? Scotland’s World Cup Call, Shankland Debate & St Mirren Decision

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/scottish-football-podcast-60324/cotton-wool-or-full-tilt-scotland-s-world-cup-call-shankland-debate-st-mirren-decision
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/scottish-football-podcast-60324/cotton-wool-or-full-tilt-scotland-s-world-cup-call-shankland-debate-st-mirren-decision.md
Podcast: [Scottish Football Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/scottish-football-podcast-60324)
Published: 2026-06-05T07:00:00+00:00
Episode link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0nq80km
Audio file: http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nq807h.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
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Duration seconds: 1596

## Resource

Scotland’s World Cup countdown continues, but what does Steve Clarke really need from the final warm‑up against Bolivia in New Jersey: a result or simple survival in punishing conditions? How close should he go to his starting XI, and which key players need protected before the tournament begins? Is the goalkeeper jersey Craig Gordon’s to lose, or has Angus Gunn done enough to stake his claim? Has Lawrence Shankland forced his way into the conversation to start, or is his future impact still best felt from the bench? In the women's game - how crucial are the upcoming qualifiers against Israel and Hungary, and can leaders like Caroline Weir and Erin Cuthbert guide Scotland over the line? Finally, did St Mirren make the right call by backing Craig McLeish, and what can his appointment mean for the club’s direction next season?

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## Transcript

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