International football fans have been reacting to the absence of Liam Cooper in Scotland’s starting XI against Israel in World Cup Qualifying.
After six fixtures and ahead of the match against Israel, the Scots were seven points behind the Danes, one ahead of Israel and four ahead of Austria in Group F before the encounter at Hampden Park this evening.
After a crucial 1-0 win in Austria last month, Steve Clarke’s men sit in second place in the group behind runaway leaders Denmark, with a Qatar 2022 play-off spot in their own hands.
However, the Scots fell behind at home to a brilliant Eran Zahavi free-kick before John McGinn briefly levelled with a superb strike, only for Munas Dabbur to give the away side the advantage, before an Lyndon Dykes equaliser and Scott McTominay stoppage time winner left Clarkes’ side two wins from a play-off spot.
However, one player who, despite coming on as a second half substitute for midfielder Billy Gilmour, should have started the match according to fans at home was Leeds’ Liam Cooper, with many fans questioning Steve Clarke’s decision to omit the Leeds captain from his starting XI:
What did international fans make of Cooper’s omission?
“Good job Scotland had Liam Cooper to come on at the death and see them home”
“How Liam Cooper isn’t playing for #Scotland is beyond me especially looking at how poor their centre backs are!”
“How the hell does Jack Hendry get ahead of Liam Cooper or Scot McKenna?”
“Scotland finally have a proper EPL CB in Cooper available but Clarke plays a full back & midfielder there instead”
“Jack Hendry at centre back ahead of Liam Cooper deserves a defeat”
“Think Scotland are missing Cooper”