The Special One was in attendance but there was nothing too glamorous about this encounter as Alex McLeish’s new regime got off to a dispiriting start.

Jose Mourinho might not be special anymore, not that anyone inside Hampden would have crowed too much given the lustre that has long rubbed off of our own national team. These days we’d all be happy enough to settle for distinctly average.

RATINGS: Andy Robertson best of a below-par bunch

A 1-0 defeat to Costa Rica falls some way below that line.

This was a fairly drab affair which enlivened a little in the second period as Scotland upped the tempo but all in all there wasn’t too much to get excited about.

Even the rendition of the national anthem seemed lackadaisical, perhaps owing to the gaping empty seats around the ground and the fact that the game held little genuine intrigue other than to get a look at the first game of a new regime.

Brave new dawn? It looked a lot like the old one, from the concession of a soft looking goal to the lack of bite at the other end.

It took near-on the half hour mark before Oliver McBurnie landed Scotland’s first effort on target after cutting in from the edge of the box. His effort was palmed away by Costa Rican keeper Keilor Navas as Scotland toiled to find any real penetration.

McBurnie looked like a throwback to a former era with his socks rolled to his ankles from the opening minute; if only the national team had the same kind of spark about it that it once had.

In fairness to McBurnie he worked hard and as he looked to make an impression on the game and he was willing to roll up his sleeves as he played in that lone striker’s role. With little in the way of support, it was a lonely evening for the player but he gave a fairly decent account of himself.

Tom Cairney had a far quieter evening and looked out of sorts in the number 10 role, while Manchester United’s Scott McTominay gave a relatively solid account of himself.

There was a glimpse of it when Andy Robertson had went on one of his trademark runs on the left before cutting the ball across goal, but by then Alex McLeish’s side were already trailing.

There were just 14 minutes on the clock when the Scotland defence was found wanting. Bryan Oviedo’s cross was met by a fine finish from Marco Urena who swept a low drive beyond the reach of Allan McGregor but there were question marks over just how vulnerable and exposed the Scotland looked.

McKenna was one of four debutants who started the game – McBurnie, McTominay and Kevin McDonald joined him in winning their first senior caps – but despite the smattering of new faces it seemed like the same old issues continue to stalk the national side.

In fairness, the lack of tension around the friendly outing and the subsequent team selection would suggest that it is unfair to judge on one display. But the evidence is there that there is serious surgery required if Scotland are to get their act together in an attempt to qualify for the European Championships.

By the time the qualifiers roll around this autumn there is every chance that it will be very different personnel who are charged with taking the country to their first tournament for more than two decades.

The likes of Kieran Tierney and Leigh Griffiths ought to be available after being out of this one with injury issues while a competitive edge always lends itself to a bit of drama way more than a friendly run around does.

Stuart Armstrong and Callum McGregor were introduced to the fray shortly before the hour mark as McLeish looked to inject a bit of pace into what was a leggy looking midfield.

In fairness to the Celtic pair they made a difference as they raised the tempo of the game with McGregor involved in the best chance of the game for Scotland just minutes after arriving.

McGregor was the architect of a move that almost brought forth a leveller when his fine ball into the feet of Matt Ritchie brought out a decent effort and decent stop from the Costa Rican keeper.

McBurnie came closer still to giving the night some cheer when he had a glorious chance in the six-yard box. Ritchie’s ball to Andy Robertson enabled the Liverpool player to cut the ball across goal but McBurnie couldn’t get his feet sorted quickly enough and the chance was lost.

Scotland dominated much of the possession in the second period but couldn’t find a way to grab a leveller.

It was a flat way for McLeish’s new reign to kick off. He will appreciate more than anyone, however, that it is when the competitive stuff comes around that any time for experimentation will be gone.