Scotland Men's Football Team

Leicester are considering the possibility of appointing former Southampton manager Russell Martin, the ex-Scotland defender, if they sack Ruud van Nistelrooy. (Sun), external

Celtic and Scotland left-back Greg Taylor, 27, could join Dinamo Zagreb as a free agent this summer. (Football Scotland), external

Former Scotland midfielder Callum McGregor, 31, believes having a break during international weekends has benefitted him as Celtic captain this season. (Football Scotland), external

Dundee's Scottish forward Simon Murray, 33, deserves international recognition, believes his club boss Tony Docherty. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Hearts' Scotland Under-21 defender Lewis Neilson, 21, was inspired by his former next door neighbour, Scotland international Stuart Armstrong, when both were based in Dundee. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

Reports in Germany indicate 13-times capped Scotland forward Oliver Burke, 27, will be offered a new two-year contract at Werder Bremen. (Football Scotland), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Bournemouth are considering fast-tracking Ryan Christie's groin surgery in a move that would end the Scotland midfielder's season.

The 30-year-old has been a regular for the Cherries this season but has not lasted the full 90 minutes in any of his past nine appearances.

Christie was forced off 26 minutes into Bournemouth's game against Brighton at the end of February at which point boss Andoni Iraola revealed the 30-year-old would likely need to go under the knife at the end of the campaign.

But given the wear and tear Christie has accumulated in recent months, the club are seriously considering sending the midfielder for the surgery before the end of the season to get him fit for the start of the 2025-26 campaign.

Scotland have friendlies with Iceland and Liechtenstein in early June before beginning their World Cup qualifying campaign on 5 September away to Denmark.

"We are trying to go with him until the end of the season but, against Brighton, there were moments where he felt he couldn't any more," Iraola said.

"That's probably something we have to analyse. There is a chance we decide that he should have the surgery now, recover, take his time and be ready for next season.

"It's not something that we've decided but it's a situation that we have to analyse well because I think his body is telling him he's pushed it a lot.

"He's so honest and he wants to push, even with pain he has been playing, and he's played very well for a lot of time. I think it's a moment where his body is telling him that maybe it's time."

Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, who joined Napoli last summer, has revealed he felt "misprofiled" at Manchester United, where he was used as a number six or centre-back when his strengths have always been getting into the box and scoring goals. (The Athletic), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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A new winger is a priority for Everton in the summer and Scotland 19-year-old Ben Doak is on their radar, but Bournemouth and Crystal Palace are also interested and Liverpool have yet to decide whether to sell, loan or keep him at the end of the season. (TeamTalk), external

Former Hearts utility man and Scotland cap Callum Paterson admits his future situation is up in the air as he heads into the final months of his Sheffield Wednesday contract. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Former Scotland forward Johnny Russell says his Rangers-supporting father would never have forgiven him if he had signed for Celtic before Derby County outbid the Glasgow club to take him from Dundee United. (Scottish Sun), external

Former Scotland midfielder James McArthur has revealed he is a lifelong supporter of Rangers but is relieved he never played for the Glasgow club for the sake of his family. (PLZ Soccer), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Scotland Under-21 head coach Scot Gemmill admits losing 6-1 to friendly opponents on Tuesday was "a really embarrassing scoreline". (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish gossip

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Scotland Under-21s were beaten 6-1 by Iceland Under-21s in Tuesday's friendly match in Pinatar, Spain.

The Scots trailed by three at the break as Benony Breki Andresson, Eggert Aron Gudmundsson and Andresson again put Iceland in command.

Sheffield United's Ryan One reduced the deficit early in the second half but Haukur Andri Haraldsson, Hilmir Rafn Mikaelsson and Johannes Kristinn Bjarnason added further goals for Iceland.

Hearts midfield Finlay Pollock was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

We asked you for your views following Scotland's defeat to Greece and relegation from Nations League A.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Michael: That's probably the worst performance under Clarke. After the initial 10 minutes, we were totally devoid of ideas for how to break the Greeks down, physically lacked the pace and strength to compete, didn't pass or break with any speed or conviction and worst of all had absolutely no passion to lift the crowd.

Mark: Typical Scotland, glorious failure yet again. Outplayed by a better team. To quote the Howard Jones song from 1980's, 'Things Can Only Get Better'.

Tony: Scotland were absolutely hopeless. Their long balls went nowhere or out of play. There was no energy or class on display. They were well and deservedly beaten.

Maurice: We've found our level. Shouldn't be in the top league. Weak up front and shaky at the back. Ben Doak might have made a difference but the players looked tired.

Peter: We made it so easy for Greece. A team with really decent players who punished us for a truly woeful performance. Instead of moving forward, we have fallen down another hole... embarrassing!

Patrick: I hate that phrase bump in the road, this was a pot hole.

Steven: Confidence was high ahead of the game, but what a shocking performance after a great result in Greece. Could barely string two passes together Congratulations to Greece. They looked better than us all over the pitch. It could've been more than three.

Benny: Clueless, ineffective and inadequate are just three words to describe that performance.

We were bright for about 15-20 minutes at the start, then the wheels came off. John McGinn got it spot on when he said embarrassing, which is a massive understatement. Yet again they let the long-suffering fans down. Time for some players to move on after this display.

Scotland will be looking for "revenge" when they face Greece in World Cup qualifiers later this year after they were dumped down to Nations League B, says striker George Hirst.

The Ipswich Town forward made his international debut off the bench in the win in Piraeus on Thursday, but struggled to make an impact - along with his team-mates - as a substitute at Hampden in Sunday's woeful defeat.

And the 26-year-old is Hirst is hoping his side can give a better account of themselves when Greece return to Glasgow in October.

"It's definitely not the result we wanted and not the result we planned for," Hirst said.

"We're going to get the chance to have revenge on them a little bit later in the year when they come back for the World Cup qualifiers, so that's the better part.

"They're going to be big games and they're going to improve, we're going to have to improve. They might look at it and go underestimating us next time, which if they do, then fair play to them. We'll be ready for that.

"We didn't get the result this time, but we're fortunate enough that we've got the chance to go and rectify that in a few months."

Hirst reflected on an "awesome" week in camp with Steve Clarke's side and has his eye on the summer friendlies to "cement" his spot.

"It's been an incredible week for myself, I couldn't have enjoyed it more, to be honest," he added.

"Bar the result (on Sunday), it's been absolutely awesome to be a part of it and see how it works. To make my Scotland debut, it's been absolutely massive.

"I'm just really delighted to be here and I hope I can do enough at my club going forward to cement myself in the squad.

"The lads have made me feel so welcome and feel so at home, so that's been wicked. Obviously, it would have been nice to have topped it off with a result, but that wasn't to be. We've got plenty of lessons to learn."

Image source, SNS

Scotland must "look at ourselves in the mirror," says defender Grant Hanley after defeat to Greece sealed their relegation to Nations League B.

The Birmingham City centre-half was one of many inside Hampden Park on Sunday night left lost for words at the manner of which Steve Clarke's side crashed out of the top tier of the competition, particularly after Thursday's victory in Piraeus.

"It's still raw and it's really difficult to put a finger on it straight away," the 33-year-old said.

"It'll take time to process and really analyse it, but it's majorly disappointing.

"I'm cautious of not saying too much at the minute because it's emotional and tough to take."

Hanley stressed, though, that this side have suffered setbacks before and their "character" has prevailed. He's adamant it will again.

"We've definitely had some major high moments in the last few years, but here's also been some major lows and I'm sure the squad will prove again, as we have done, that we can bounce back," he added.

"We've got character. I don't think that's something you can ever question."

Image source, SNS

• Scotland have conceded 3+ goals in four of their last eight home games in all competitions - as many as their previous 36 beforehand. Indeed, this was their heaviest home defeat since September 2019, when they lost 4-0 to Belgium in qualifying for Euro 2020.

• Aged 18 years and 17 days, James Wilson became Scotland's youngest ever senior debutant, overtaking John Lambie's record (18y 63d) originally set in February 1887 against Ireland.

• Greece have won four consecutive competitive away games for the first time since September 2008.

• Greece enjoyed their biggest win over a side ranked inside Fifa's top 50 since February 2000 when they beat Austria 4-1 in a friendly, and biggest in a competitive international against a top 50 nation since October 1998 against Georgia (3-0).

• Aged 17 years and 124 days, Greece's Konstantinos Karetsas was the youngest player ever to score in the Nations League, surpassing Gavi's record when he netted for Spain against Czechia in June 2022 (17y 304d).

• Scotland's starting XI for this match was the second-oldest any side has named in the this season's Nations League (30 years, 196 days), while Greece's was the second-youngest by any starting XI in this season's tournament (23y 4d).

Image source, SNS

Liverpool hope to use 19-year-old Scotland winger Ben Doak as a makeweight in any deal for Bournemouth's 21-year-old Hungary full-back Milos Kerkez or 25-year-old Ghana forward Antoine Semenyo. (Sun), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

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Former Scotland defender Willie Miller: "Sometimes the opposition are just better than you and the Greeks were better. Sorely disappointing, a great performance from Greece and a poor one from Scotland.

"Greece were just a better side, we had no answer for them. We had no creativity and no threat, we didn't make it difficult at all for Greece. It's League A we wanted to be in and we failed tonight."

Former Scotland striker and coach Steven Naismith: "The goals conceded at the time they were is a massive thing. The goal after the break changed the whole feel. It was tough for Scotland."

Former Scotland forward James McFadden: Scotland promised so much coming into the game. As good as Thursday was, it was as bad tonight.

"Real sore one to take. Greece looked really comfortable. We didn't have enough performers. Too many players were well off their best.

"Greece have shown they are a good side, but we didn't do nearly enough to cause them problems."

Injured Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes: "It just wasn't the night for us. We've been down before and come back from it. We need to make sure we're focused for the next games and then go into the World Cup qualifiers."

Scotland fans, were you at Hampden on Sunday evening or following the action from home? Either way we want your views on the defeat.

Have your say on Scotland's performance, external.

Image source, SNS

Ryan Christie: "We're frustrated, especially with how well the first leg went.

"Coming in tonight we saw it going a lot differently. We probably didn't create enough and they were pretty cut-throat going forward themselves. Overall a very frustrating night at Hampden but we've got to pick ourselves up for the friendlies in the summer.

"We're not naive enough to know we're going to have it all our way. There's been plenty bumps in the road and this is probably going to be one of them. It's about now how we react from this and bounce back hopefully get ourselves in a really good place going into the qualifiers.

Kenny McLean: "Difficult to take. We put so much into the first leg and knew they were a good team.

"The goals are so disappointing on our behalf and we didn't create enough either. To work so hard to get into the position we were in and kind of throw it away there is really disappointing.

"We need to get better. We're going to play Greece in the near future so we know we cannot underestimate them in the slightest."

John McGinn: "We started pretty well, had a couple of chances, we just let ourselves down with the first goal we conceded. We've got to reflect now before two friendlies in the summer.

"It's an embarrassing night for us, everyone is flat in the stadium, we let ourselves down.

"No threat in behind, probably too easy to pick up. Greece deserved to win. That will maybe give us a kick up the backside for the World Cup qualifiers - we know they are no mugs.

Image source, SNS

Scotland boss Steve Clarke: "I talked about setting down a marker before the game, Greece have done that tonight.

"Greece were the better team on the night. We started okay, had one or two half chances.

"They score with their first attack. We didn't get back behind the ball quick enough and we didn't create enough - that adds up to a disappointing night.

"I'll go away and look at myself to see what I could have done better. Maybe I didn't make enough rotations. Maybe I could have made more to freshen the team up.

"We have to analyse it, park this tournament because we go down to League B, and try to do better.

"I talked before the game about setting down a marker, I think Greece have done that tonight.

"We've learned that when we do everything right, with the ball and without the ball, we're a good team at this level.

"We've got two friendlies in June to prepare for the World Cup qualifiers in the autumn."