SCOTLAND wrap up their mini-American tour tonight when they meet the States in Washington, and USA coach Steve Sampson is expecting a battle against Craig Brown's well-organised side. The Scots drew 2-2 with fellow finalists Colombia last week while the States looked sloppy in beating Kuwait 2-0. Sampson said: ''Scotland will be a far better test for us, especially in their ability to close us down. It will be a great test for our midfield. The Scots will have to defend against us. In the last six weeks, you can see our players wanting to play a faster, more technical style of soccer than in the past. If we play a more sophisticated, intelligent style of play, we will have grown as a soccer-playing nation. ''What we can't afford is to play miserable in this World Cup. We must prove we can hold the ball and play our style even against Germany and Yugoslavia. We feel very confident about our chances against Scotland. But even if we draw or lose but play well, I still think we can have a lot of confidence going to France.'' Sampson plans to start the match with former Blackburn, QPR and Coventry striker Roy Wegerle as his lone man up front and a packed six-man midfield. The 34-year-old forward was considered a fringe player just a month ago but is now neck and neck with rivals Brian McBride and Eric Wynalda for a place in the team. I don't feel threatened by any player, Wegerle claimed. I have played ten years in the English Premiership and I have been one of the top players in that division.'' Scotland's plan to unlock that radical 3-6-1 formation could come from central defender Matt Elliott, who has been pumping American goalkeeper Kasey Keller, a teammate at Leicester City, for information. ''Kasey told me that on their day they can be a match for any side, revealed the London-born adopted Scot. However, he feels that they may only have 11 or 12 good players and lack the strength in depth to compete at a higher level.'' Tosh McKinlay will be given the chance to force his way back into the Scottish side for France. The 33-year-old defender only made two league starts for Celtic in their championship season but was a key man during World Cup qualification, playing in all ten games and impressed in two recent outings for the B team. Scotland are expected to be without Rangers striker Gordon Durie (hamstring) and Craig Burley (calf strain), Billy McKinlay (foot infection) and John Collins (toe) are also walking wounded but Brown is adamant that all three players will be in contention for a place in the starting line-up. "Our preparations are going well and the squad as a group are looking bright and lively and totally focused., he said. I think the Americans will prove a stiffer test than Colombia last week. Their recent results clearly show they have been playing well and a number of their squad have top class European experience.'' Scotland team (probable): Leighton (Aberdeen), Calderwood (Tottenham), Hendry (Blackburn), Boyd (Celtic), Dailly (Derby), McNamara (Celtic), Lambert (Celtic),Collins (Monaco), T McKinlay (Celtic), Jackson (Celtic), Gallacher (Blackburn).

THE BHOY WHO CAME IN FROM THE COLD   ENGLAND have Darren Anderton, Scotland have Tosh McKinlay. Both players have hardly figured for their clubs this season, yet both look like representing their nations at next month's World Cup. Celtic defender McKinlay, 33, was frozen out by coach Wim Jansen and made only two League starts as the Bhoys won their first championship in a decade. But coach Craig Brown remembered his performances during qualifying for France and looks set to give him his first start since the match against Latvia seven months ago in today's friendly against the USA. ''The one thing that kept me going during the season was the carrot of knowing that the World Cup finals were at the end of it,'' he said, recalling his months of inactivity under Jansen. ''Those thoughts helped to drive me on and kept me focused when I wasn't playing. I would never give up trying anyway but the World Cup was an extra spur for me. It has been a strange season, no doubt about that. I played in all ten qualifiers for Scotland, but hardly got a game for Celtic. ''I played in one or two reserve matches but I kept my fitness level up and the B games kept me ticking over. I got good reports from both those matches and that gave me a big lift. Hopefully, I can get a run against the United States and if I do well then there might be chance of facing Brazil.'' That opening clash against the World Cup holders at the Stade de France is only 11 days away and Brown thinks today's mid-afternoon game, against a side ranked 11th in the world, in high temperatures and humidity will be a very valuable lesson. ''That's one of the main reasons why we are here, so we can face similar conditions to what it will be like in France, he explained. ''I think it would be wrong to over-emphasise the match with Brazil. We would prepare in much the same way whether it was Brazil or San Marino.'' American coach Steve Sampson is expected to continue with his radical six-man midfield, but his opposite number added: ''We know their structure and they are very resourceful but we will be ready for them.''

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