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The whole point of these friendly games so close to heading to the world cup is look at various different options. This helps the managers get the best information to put the most appropriate players on the pitch and adopt the best tactics when the team takes the field in June. This means playing fringe players who haven't played with some of their international team mates before. The manager needs to see how they interact in a competitive game and how they fit in with a style of play which is maybe quite different from that in which they excel at club level. And given the fact that there is nothing at stake for the team if they win or lose, the match will lack the urgency and competitive edge. Friendly matches are never going to be as exciting as those with something at stake. Think of it as a training session rather than a competitive match. Having said that, it is important this close to the world cup for teams to play this type of game in front of a large crowd. The problem for me, is the price. If you pay £40, you can reasonably expect to be entertained. If the purpose of the game is to learn more about the team, and for the team to familiarise themselves with the international experience, it is wrong to exploit the fans by excessive ticket prices. Cap it at £10 and maybe people will have more realistic expectations of what to expect. Hopefully they will then cheer more and boo less. It is worth noting too, that Japan are a very good side. They are currently ranked 26 places above Scotland in the FIFA rankings. It may not have been the greatest watch ever, but I'll bet Steve Clarke got some useful information from it. Incidentally, England are playing Japan in a friendly tomorrow. It'l be interesting to see how that one goes.

We issued an update to members late last week: Update to Members: March 2026 #2 It included a request for feedback from fans using wheelchairs at games, a reminder about the Prize Draw and confirmation of the reduced fare on the matchday bus service. You still have time to enter our prize draw. Hospitality is sold out for the final home league game against Hamilton on 2 May, but we have two places at it, along with a £50 drinks voucher. Entries start at £2 with full details here: ICTFC Hospitality Tickets Draw - a Sports crowdfunding project in Inverness by Inverness Caledonian Thistle Supporters Trust The best way to keep up to date with the work of the Supporters Trust is to join us. We have a variety of membership options available: Join Us | ICT Supporters Trust If you are not already a member, please consider joining us and helping us to work on behalf of the fans of the club. If you have any questions about the work of the Trust, speak to any of us in Bar 94 before or after any game: just look out for us in our Trust tops or come to the desk at the far end of the bar area.

We issued a further update to members late last week: Update to Members: March 2026 #2 It included a request for feedback from fans using wheelchairs at games, a reminder about the Prize Draw and confirmation of the reduced fare on the matchday bus service. You still have time to enter our prize draw. Hospitality is sold out for the final home league game against Hamilton on 2 May, but we have two places at it, along with a £50 drinks voucher. Entries start at £2 with full details here: ICTFC Hospitality Tickets Draw - a Sports crowdfunding project in Inverness by Inverness Caledonian Thistle Supporters Trust

While Scotland was losing to Japan, I was at BMO Field in Toronto watching Canada go down 2-0 in the first half against Iceland due to really bad defensive errors, before scraping a late draw courtesy of TWO Jonathan David penalties. There was a long list of Canadian players not selected - including Alphonso Davies - due to either injury or trying out a few other players, but the atmosphere was pretty flat, the performance insipid and uninspired, and the weather was brutal (0c at kick off and we had both sunshine and snow during the game). Richie Laryea and Ali Ahmed had decent performances, and Tajon Buchanan was the standout for Canada before getting a straight red near the end for a completely unnecessary elbow to one of the Icelandic players as he was trying to shepherd the ball out of play. Canada has 3 more friendlies before the world cup so any ban will have luckily expired before then, but it was a stupid end to the game for him when playing so well. On the plus side, we got free tickets from my son's football club, but others paid anything from $30 to $100 depending on the section so likely as pissed off as Scotland fans paying £40 for a Hampden ticket, but call it World Cup preparation as everything over this side of the pond is going to be extortionate for fans this year. From a Caley Thistle perspective, there was a link as Aribim Pepple was called up to the full Canada squad for the first time and was on the bench for this game. Disappointing he did not get onto the park, but maybe tomorrow in the next friendly against Tunisia. I compared this game to the last time I was at an international - which was probably in the 90s at Hampden Park and the atmosphere was nothing like I recall experiencing with Scotland. 70+ days from now though I know the stadium will be rocking for what is likely to be Canada -v- Italy in the opening game of Canada's group. If the play like Saturday, then the Azzurri will have a field day.

There was a smattering of words in the Courier and P@J, but little interest from the ‘big’ central belt papers. (Small beer). There was plenty of postings of course on CTO and the P&B as I recall Satan. Some condemning the act, others defending the pitch invasion (more of wanting to string up Gardiner). bc

They play Hamilton next while we play in the cup. Another fairly tough one for them. Fingers crossed they slip up again and we’re ahead with a game in hand going into the big one.