Sporting Kansas City forward Johnny Russell earned his sixth cap for the Scotland Men's National Team on Friday, playing 22 minutes as a second-half substitute in a 4-0 friendly defeat to world No. 2-ranked Belgium at Hampden Park in Glasgow.
Russell entered in the 68th minute with his team trailing 4-0 and delivered a bright performance on both wings. The 28-year-old was on the end of Scotland's best scoring chance in the 86th minute, forcing Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois into a kick save with a cleanly struck effort from the right side of the box.
Belgium, playing their first match since finishing third at the 2018 FIFA World Cup this summer, surged ahead in the 28th minute on a simple finish from Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku. Chelsea playmaker Eden Hazard doubled the lead three minutes after halftime before Borussia Dortmund forward Michi Batshuayi bagged a quick-fire brace near the hour mark.
Russell and Scotland will remain in Glasgow for Monday's crucial UEFA Nations League opener against Albania, set to kick off at 1:45 p.m. CT on ESPN+.
The UEFA Nations League, now in its inaugural edition, will be held every two years and features all 55 European national teams divided into four divisions and split into four groups, with most games to be played this fall. Scotland and Albania join Israel in Group C1, with a double-round-robin seeing each team play four times between now and November. The first-place finisher will earn promotion to League B for the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League.
Following Monday's match, Russell will return to Sporting KC as the club continues its playoff push with consecutive road games against the San Jose Earthquakes on Sept. 15 and the Philadelphia Union on Sept. 23. Now in his first season with Sporting KC, Russell leads the team in goals and assists with 10 each in all competitions.
