THE World Cup qualifiers are not until September.

There is some comfort to be found in that, given the ease with which this Scotland side was dismembered in Florida. This 5-1 defeat by the United States may be little more than an uncomfortable memory by the time Craig Levein's players get together to take their first tentative steps on the road to Brazil later this year.

There are some who might not be able to recall very much at all. It was a little after 2am in Scotland when Landon Donovan completed his hat trick, his 49th international goal establishing him as the United States' leading goalscorer. Given all the whooping and hollering that ensued in the stands, that milestone was heralded as a big deal among supporters, although Donovan celebrated somewhat modestly following his accomplishment. If only he had adopted such an approach a little earlier.

The match had started brightly for Scotland – well, the sun was out at least – but the LA Galaxy forward seemed intent on darkening the mood of a side, and a support, that had revelled in their time away in the States. Charlie Mulgrew continued at left-back alongside Andy Webster, the Hearts defender making his first appearance for his country since a win against the Czech Republic two years ago, both having enjoyed auspicious seasons. Neither were able to cap it all off with one last commendable performance in Jacksonville.

The timing of this fixture had always been viewed with one eyebrow raised. It has been a taxing and, at times, traumatic season for Scottish football, so in some ways this was a fitting end, yet Scotland's players were also left exhibiting the signs of a group that have given great exertions this term; an evening spent in the Florida heat was always likely to be 90 minutes too much. So it proved.

Given the severity of the result, it would be simple enough to decry the whole expedition as a bust. Yet Craig Levein will be acutely aware of the importance of getting his squad together as often as possible ahead of the qualifying campaign and will have expected a stern contest against a side who have been honing themselves ahead of their own journey to reach Brazil. United States' inaugural qualifier comes against Antigua & Barbuda next weekend. The Scotland manager may well have learned a few things about his squad this week as well.

He paired Webster with Gary Caldwell to test the notoriously shallow waters of his defensive pool, but will have not been overly impressed by the Hearts player. Webster looked somewhat lost in the penalty box as Donovan scrambled in his first after only three minutes, the striker directing a shot into the roof of the net after Allan McGregor had blocked his initial effort. Webster was also guilty of a few slack passes and was unable to offer the calming presence he has enjoyed for his club this season.

It was an untidy opener, although admittedly there was much less he or Scotland could do about the hosts' second, just eight minutes later. Donovan clipped the ball into midfield for the relentlessly impressive Jermaine Jones to cushion into the path of Michael Bradley. The Chievo midfielder is a deceptively adroit operator, but his talent was quite conspicuous as he drove a volley into the top corner with an emphatic swipe of his boot.

It was a striking moment for the American, but he was able to enjoy much of his performance given the inertia that afflicted the Scotland midfield. Levein afforded Blackpool's Matt Phillips his debut on the right side, but the 21-year-old was unable to prove why the Scotland manager had been so keen to stuff him into a dark blue jersey. Phillips dragged a volley wide late in the first half and scrambled back to force a corner early in the second, but that was about as good as it got. Still, it was more positive than the sight of Scott Brown becoming embroiled in spats with Old Firm rivals Maurice Edu and Carlos Bocanegra. Which he did. Twice.

It was a far more recognisable figure that delivered Scotland's brightest moment. Even then, there was something dysfunctional about it. Phil Bardsley found Kenny Miller with a deep cross and the Scotland captain headed in via the chest of defender Geoff Cameron. Given his surname, the unfortunate American would have seemed like a suitable target.

That was about as amusing as it got for Scotland, though. An hour had elapsed when Donovan steered in his second, before the striker stole into the space left behind Webster to clip in his third – and his side's fourth – off the inside of the far post, five minutes later. He then added to an accomplished display by crossing for Jones to plant a header past McGregor.

If Scotland could have been accused of switching off during that spell, then those supporters that had stayed up to watch the game on the television definitely will have done.

There is one more friendly for Levein before the arrival of the Serbians, against Australia at Easter Road in August. The return of a few established names will be expected to ensure that one is not quite so galling an experience. After all, the qualifiers get underway in September.