News Focus
- Scotland’s squad are training in extreme heat and humidity at Inter Miami’s facility
- Defender Jack Hendry is coping better than teammates thanks to his Saudi Pro League experience
- Steve Clarke arranged the early arrival to help players acclimatise before the World Cup
- The team aims to become the first Scotland side to qualify for the knockout rounds
- Water breaks will be essential during matches against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil
The Florida sun beat down hard on Scotland’s training session. John McGinn rubbed sunscreen over his skin. Many players showed clear tan lines on their arms. After the workout, the team rushed straight to the sprinklers for relief.
The weather at Inter Miami’s training ground on Tuesday proved difficult for Steve Clarke’s men. Heavy humidity filled the air. The heat tested the Scottish players to their limits. Ice barrels stood ready beside the pitch. Cold plunge tubs waited to cool down tired bodies.
However, one player stayed calm. Centre-back Jack Hendry looked comfortable in these conditions. He spent the last three seasons playing for Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia. That experience taught him how to handle extreme temperatures.
“You must drink plenty of water,” said the 31-year-old defender. He spoke about the team’s big dream. They want to become the first Scotland squad ever to reach the knockout stage of a World Cup.
“Keep your fluid levels up,” Hendry explained. “You need to stay focused. In this humidity, you lose sweat very quickly. The heat changes how you play. You cannot run as much. Your energy drops fast. It really affects the match.”
Florida carries the nickname “Sunshine State” for good reason. The heat feels fierce and strong. Thick air makes breathing difficult. Sometimes violent thunderstorms arrive suddenly to break the weather.
Clarke wanted exactly these conditions for his squad. He believes this week is vital for acclimatising to the climate. Scotland will face similar heat throughout their tournament campaign.
The team starts their World Cup journey against Haiti on Sunday, 14 June. That match kicks off at 02:00 BST. The BBC will show the game live. After that, they travel to Boston to face Morocco. They return to Miami for their final group game against Brazil on Wednesday, 24 June at 23:00.
“If we had arrived straight for the first match, the heat would have shocked us,” Hendry told BBC Scotland at the team hotel in Fort Lauderdale. “The humidity hits you immediately when you leave the plane. Coming early gives us time to prepare. We can get used to the conditions. This will help us greatly when the games begin.”
Officials will allow water breaks during matches. Hendry knows how to use these pauses well from his time in Saudi Arabia. “Use these breaks wisely,” he stressed. “They help us recover physically. They might also help us tactically.”
He added, “I am used to this from Saudi Arabia. We have water breaks there too. They sometimes break the flow of the game a little. But from a player’s view, they definitely help.”
When Scotland come back to Miami after playing twice in Boston, they might already have made history. No previous Scotland team has ever advanced from the World Cup group stage. This talented and united squad wants to change that record.
Hendry refuses to look too far into the future. “We just want to go as far as possible,” he said. “We cannot think too far ahead. The main goal is escaping the group. Then we will see what happens next.”
“We must take each game as it comes. If we enjoy the experience and play our best football, we can achieve our target. We need to make the most of this opportunity. We do not want any regrets when the tournament ends.”