Summary

  • Latest from Scotland camp before Switzerland match on Wednesday

  1. Loose ends still to be tied uppublished at 13:03 British Summer Time 16 June

    Clarke reckons there is a sense of understanding about what went wrong on Friday night.

    He said: "We know what went wrong. I've spoken to the players about what I feel was wrong from my side, and what I gave them.

    "I think their interpretation of what we asked them to do was wrong, so we've worked on that.

    "To be honest, we haven't finished with that. We've got another pre-dinner meeting - the post-dinner meeting will be about Switzerland.

    "We're still tidying up the loose ends of a really bad night."

  2. 'Always confident'published at 13:00 British Summer Time 16 June

    "They understand they have let everybody down, they are disappointed, but they know they have to be ready for the next game - that's the nature of being involved in football," he says.

    On his role in the squad's togetherness: "Kicking a couple of backsides, giving a couple of cuddles, getting them together as a group and making them understand why we had that performance on Friday night and making sure we don't have that performance again.

    "I'm always confident in my players and always confident in myself."

    -Image source, PA Media
  3. 'Wouldn't be too hard on Porteous' - Clarkepublished at 12:55 British Summer Time 16 June

    A question is asked about Ryan Porteous and how he has been since Friday night.

    "He hasn't been sent off for a couple of years, Ryan. He's been great for us since I gave him his chance in Ukraine," says Clarke.

    "The other night he was trying to stop a clear goalscoring opportunity. He definitely went in too hard and we're all pleased that Gundolan has no lasting damage.

    "It is something Ryan will learn, but it was an honest challenge to try to get the ball. I wouldn't be too hard on him."

    -Image source, PA Media
  4. 'Goal difference safety net gone'published at 12:52 British Summer Time 16 June

    "There are no excuses when you lose a game 5-1. You have to take all the criticism that comes, you have to respond," he continues.

    "The good thing for me is that we've been in this position before, I've always responded pretty well, this group of players have always responded well. So that's what we try to do.

    On any comparisons to be drawn between the second game of these EUROs and the previous iteration, he adds: "We had to go to the second game at the last Euros with a similar idea.

    "We still had an outside chance with the goal difference. This time, that little safety net is gone.

    "We know that, so we have to get four points in the next two games."

  5. 'Extra day to clear heads' - Clarkepublished at 12:50 British Summer Time 16 June

    "In a way we are lucky. We have an extra day, having played on Friday, to let them clear their heads.

    "We've definitely got away from that," he adds on Scotland now conceding more goals than we'd been used to.

    On how his side can get back to that style of play, he adds: "Good information from the coaching staff. Good application from the players. It sounds simple to say that, but that's how it is.

  6. All smilespublished at 12:47 British Summer Time 16 June

    "Hopefully we can get all things right on Wednesday and you go home upset and not me," Clarke says to a Swiss journalist in attendance.

    -Image source, PA Media
  7. Postpublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 16 June

    Andrew Southwick
    BBC Scotland in Germany

    Steve Clarke adds "He [Ryan Porteous] was one of my cuddles.

    "We'll pick him back up, no worries about that."

  8. Kicking backsides and giving cuddlespublished at 12:43 British Summer Time 16 June

    Andrew Southwick
    BBC Scotland in Germany

    Steve Clarke says he has had to "Kick a couple of backsides, give some cuddles, make the players understand why the Germany result happened and make sure it doesn't happen again."

  9. Key players sounded out by Clarkepublished at 12:43 British Summer Time 16 June

    "I've spoken to one or two players around the squad whose opinion I value.

    "I had a good chat with a few of them.

    "I had a little chat with a lot of them on the training pitch this morning.

    "Just to try to put one or two things in their head about things they maybe didn't do on the pitch that they should have done."

  10. More from Clarkepublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 16 June

    "You'll find out on Wednesday night, sorry to revert to type," he says on any team-selection dilemmas he may now have.

    On if we can expect changes he follows up with, "You can expect if you want."

  11. 'We've got to put it right' - Clarkepublished at 12:39 British Summer Time 16 June

    Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: "Disappointing night. We got a lot of things wrong and we've got to put it right in the next game.

    "Try not to concede five goals. Give a better message.

    "If I could criticise myself, and I always criticise myself, I start with myself, I maybe gave too much information, which maybe clouded the players a bit on the pitch in terms of what we do with the ball and what we do without the ball.

    "So we can work on that and we have worked on that a bit this morning. We'll work on it in the next two days."

    -Image source, PA Media
  12. Clarke press conference under waypublished at 12:39 British Summer Time 16 June

    Steve Clarke has sat down and has started his media conference. We'll bring you full quotes soon.

    So far he's spoken of criticising himself for perhaps giving the players too much information prior to Friday night, speaking to key players throughout the squad and having small chats with them all on the training pitch, and now looking towards Wednesday.

    On if he's worried about Scotland now having a supposed 'soft centre', he says there are no excuses when you lose a game 5-1 and they now have to respond.

    "We have to get four points from the last two games."

  13. A happier Clarkepublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 16 June

    Andrew Southwick
    BBC Scotland in Germany

    A chirpy Steve Clarke entered the press conference, jokingly threatening to leave when he saw Jonathan Sutherland was here for the BBC.

    The mood has lifted from the sombre mood yesterday. Clarke is talking about how "the heads have cleared" from Friday night.

  14. Stand by for Clarke 📺published at 12:30 British Summer Time 16 June

    If you hit 'watch live' at the top of the page you'll be primed and ready to watch Steve Clarke's press conference. He's expected in the next fie minutes so get ready troops.

    We'll bring you all the quotes here too.

  15. Munich & Marshmallowpublished at 12:25 British Summer Time 16 June

    Scott Mullen
    BBC Scotland in Germany

    Farwell Munich, it's been emotional.

    We're currently hurtling our way to Cologne on a train with more cases than Harvey Spector. Half a dozen crew, three pundits, a commentator and about 43 pieces of luggage. We travel light.

    We also have Marshmallow, my daughter's stowaway.

    How many thumbs up can the wee fella get, people?

    MarshmallowImage source, Scott Mullen
  16. Conway? Forrest? Shankland? Your thoughts ⤵️published at 12:15 British Summer Time 16 June

    Answering our call for what change you'd make on Wednesday here are some of your suggestions. I did say you can't suggest Billy Gilmour but he is clearly the change you all want judging from the responses we've had.

    Andrew: Same old tournament stuff from Scotland, need to change the style and shape. Too, reliant on certain players allows teams to work us out. Two up front Shankland & Conway. Attack is needed with ranging options from outside of the box not just the six-yard line

    Ian, from the fan zone in Munich: Tommy Conway up top Billy Gilmour in for McGregor and James Forrest right wing-back. Oh, and Zander Clark in goal, why not? Have to go for glory too negative last time.

    Anon: Billy Gilmour without a doubt, our ability to hold the ball and create gaps for strikers would be greatly enhanced.

    Paul: Change the formation from 3-6-1 to 3-5-2. Drop McTominay, Adams, and Ralston bring in Forrest, Shankland, and Conway.

    Davy: To me, Wednesday is a must-win game so Shankland must start. Scotland have no strength in depth at this level & for us to have no shots on target against Germany? Pathetic. Only saw the second half of yesterday's Swiss game, but Hungary looked very strong down their left-hand side. Must be a braver performance all around.

  17. Hungary need Szoboszlaipublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 16 June

    Kheredine Idessane
    BBC Scotland at the Koln Stadion

    As much as Scotland will be impressed by the quality of Switzerland, Hungary didn’t make a great start in Cologne.

    A very poor first half could not be offset by an improved showing in the second. Captain Dominik Szoboslai is their star player, but when the Liverpool man doesn’t turn it on you wonder who else might spark the side into life.

    Anonymous in the first half, he stepped things up after the interval.

    Dominik SzoboszlaiImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Aged 23 years, 7 months and 21 days, Dominik Szoboszlai became the youngest-ever captain at a European Championship.

    Once Szoboszlai got into the game, other Hungary players started to shine too.

    Varga looks a threat for Hungary. He scored a nice header and should have had another before that.

    There’s a sharpness about him and Roland Sallai that could cause some problems for Scotland in the final group game next weekend.

  18. Listen to Off the Ball 📻published at 12:05 British Summer Time 16 June

    Hit play live at the top of the page to tune in live to Off the Ball with Stuart and Tam.

    Some levity to lighten up a gloomy footballing nation for now...

  19. Lineker and Shearer send emotional message of support to Hansenpublished at 11:57 British Summer Time 16 June

    Match of the Day's Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker send an emotional message of support to former colleague Alan Hansen. The former Liverpool and Scotland defender is "seriously ill" in hospital.

    Media caption,

    Match of the Day's Lineker and Shearer send emotional supportive message to Alan Hansen

  20. Swiss mighty tough opponentspublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 16 June

    Kheredine Idessane
    BBC Scotland at the Koln Stadion

    If Scotland didn’t know it already from Switzerland’s fine form in previous big tournaments, the Swiss will be formidable foes in Cologne on Wednesday.

    Their technical ability, tactical discipline and ruthlessness in front of goal were a joy to watch especially in a stellar first half.

    Aebischer in particular had one of those games in which he could do little wrong, with a fabulous second goal and a lovely assist for Duah for the first.

    The pace and mobility of the Swiss will also be a worry for a Scotland defence that has already conceded five goals.