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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Ronnie Esplin

Japan strike late to beat Scotland at Hampden

Junya Ito (centre) scored Japan’s late winner (Steve Welsh/PA) - (PA Wire)

Junya Ito’s late goal gave Japan a 1-0 win over Scotland in Steve Clarke’s side’s first 2026 World Cup warm-up game.

Clarke’s players left the Barclays Hampden pitch to euphoric scenes in November after their dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark qualified them for the finals in North America but their return to the national stadium was a much more sedate event.

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