Under-21 International Friendly
Scotland 1-6 Iceland 
Tuesday, 25 March 2025 
Pinatar Arena, Spain

Scorers

Scotland 1 (One 49)

Iceland 6 (Andrésson 25, Gudmondsson 40, Andresson 45, Haraldsson 58, Mikaelsson 78, Bjarnason 82)

Team News

Scotland were without the injured Emilio Lawrence and Daniel Kelly, who both impressed on Friday evening, while Luke Graham also returned to Scotland to feature for Falkirk. 

Head Coach Scot Gemmill changed the full line-up from the impressive victory against the Republic of Ireland on Friday evening, giving Under-21 debuts to Liam McFarlane, Sam Cleall-Harding, Lenny Agbaire and Finlay Pollock.

As It Happened

It was very much an experimental young Scotland side with Gemmill keen to use all the squad ahead of the Euro 2027 qualifiers which start later this year. Sheffield United striker Ryan One was handed the captain's armband.

And the skipper very nearly made the perfect start when he just failed to get on the end of a header from Charlie McArthur after a corner from Jude Bonnar had caused problems.

But Scotland's bright start was nearly outdone when Agbaire hesitated on the ball in his own box and was closed down but Iceland striker Adolf Daði Birgisson blasted over eventually.

And keeper McFarlane kept the young Scots level with an outstanding save midway through the half when he tipped a long range effort from midfielder Eggert Aron Gudmundsson onto his bar.

But the Scots were sliced open in the 25th minute as striker Benoný Breki Andrésson galloped free and easily netted to give Iceland the lead.

Pollock was impressing for Scotland and he accelerated on a run down the right wing before cutting inside and forcing a save from Iceland keeper Halldór Georgsson.

But Iceland took advantage of more slack passing when they won possession and Gudmondsson drilled in a volley five minutes before the interval.

And it took another excellent stop from McFarlane to prevent Andresson from claiming his second goal and Iceland's third.

But from the corner in the last minute of first half, Andresson smashed in from close range with Scotland all over the place at the back.

Gemmill rang the changes at half time with Matthew Anderson, Adam Forrester, David Watson, Dylan Smith, Colby Donovan, Jeremiah Mullen and Rory Mahady all coming on.

And the chances made an instant impact when a kick out from Mahady sent Scotland away and One headed in Forrester's cross four minutes after the restart.

But any thoughts of a comeback were extinguished in the 58th minute when Haukur Haraldsson swept in after a cutback from Andresson.

Pollock was then shown what looked like a very harsh second yellow card by referee Belando Munez for diving in the box when he seemed to have been clipped in the area.

Striker Hilmar Mikaelsson then made it five with 12 minutes left with Scotland exposed on the counter-attack and Johannes Bjarnason drove in a sixth in the 82nd minute as the 10-man Scots were exposed once again.

Scotland Team

Scotland: McFarlane, Cleall-Harding, Agbaire, Bragg, Pollock, Bonnar, Rice, Thomson, One, McArthur, Wilson

Substitutes: Mahady, Forrester, Anderson, Wales, Watson, Smith, Donavan, Mullen