Scotland Men's Football Team

We asked for your views on Scotland's dramatic win over 10-man Croatia.

Here's what some of you had to say:

David: The team looked refreshed and energised, we have needed a player who can take a defender on and scruff up the opposition's tactics instead of square passing, Ben Doak is that man. The team played good, with shooting boots on and better decision making it could have been more. On to Warsaw for the win.

Kenny: Doak, Andy Robertson and Craig Gordon. On fire. Yes a bit of the rub of the green, but why not. First half was bad. Playing very wide. Hesitant on the ball. Nervous. Red card. Well lady luck. Second half was measured, controlled, but nervy on the terrace. John McGinn and Ryan Gauld made the team stronger. I believe.

Arran: Worst performance of this campaign yet we get the win we needed. With Robert Lewandowski missing, Poland are there for the taking and if Portugal can do us a favour we could end up finishing second and get pot one for the World Cup qualifiers. Massive opportunity for Steve Clarke and the boys. Let's go!

Ryan: Credit where credit is due, I think John Souttar has come in and been a level up in the centre-back position. Real unsung hero in the past three games.

Kieran: Really impressed with how Doak performed over the last three or four matches in a Scotland jersey. Boy has a bright future. I thought the overall game was touch and go at times, but never write Scotland off. Glad we managed to get the three points. On to Monday.

Jim: Smashing result, young Doak is a revelation. McGinn again shows his worth. Nevertheless not our best display yet a win was what the team and the fans needed. Somehow the future looks better now.

George: The win did little to alter my opinion that Scotland has too few top international class players. Doak and Souttar were immense and McGinn brightened up proceedings as a sub. Tommy Conway must have wondered what he had joined up to.

Thomas: Clarke needs to blood more youth into the team and stop this 'protecting young players' nonsense. Give them the chance, the freedom and their raw talent may shine like Doak's did.

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Anthony Ralston hailed former Celtic team-mate Ben Doak's "excellent" Scotland impact after the teenager played a key role in the nation's late win over Croatia.

With 86 minutes on the clock, the 10-man visitors were set to leave Hampden with a hard-fought point.

But 19-year-old winger Doak's driving run and strike allowed John McGinn to finish a dramatic winner.

"He has done excellent on the wing," Ralston said of Doak, who is currently on loan at Championship side Middlesbrough from Liverpool.

"I think when you play against 10 men, you just need to get your attackers on the ball as much as possible, move the ball quick and don't dwell on it.

"We had a few [chances before the goal], but you just keep doing it, keep getting the ball wide and get [Doak] one-on-one. Then, thankfully, we got the goal."

Despite ending their long winless run with a much-needed victory, Ralston feels Scotland could have performed better on the night.

But after enduring what the right-back describes as an "unlucky" Nations League campaign, the Celtic man says the side "deserved a bit of luck" in Friday's win.

"We've played better in other games, especially first half," he added. "But when they went down to 10 men it was a different challenge.

"I'd much rather not play better and get the three points than play well and not get the three points."

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John Souttar says Scotland deserved the three points against Croatia on Friday night.

Steve Clarke's side ended their lengthy winless run with a 1-0 victory over Croatia at Hampden, a result which keeps Scotland's hopes of finishing third, or even second in their Nations League group, very much alive.

"I'd much rather not play better, get three points than play well and not get three points," Souttar said.

"So it's enjoyable and I think the boys deserved it.

"This campaign we’ve been unlucky in other games, so maybe we deserved a bit of luck and got the win through that.

“I think we had belief before the game. We've always had belief It's going to take top performances to get points in this group because the opposition is so good.

"But I think we've handled ourselves well throughout the group and the thing missing was the win and thankfully we got that tonight."

Scotland's winless run comes to an end with a late victory over Croatia thanks to John McGinn. Were you at Hampden or following along from home? Either way we want your views on the game.

What did you make of Scotland's performance? How are you feeling about the trip to Poland?

Give us your thoughts here, external.

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Scotland manager Steve Clarke: "First of all it's nice to have a win on the board in a competitive match.

"I'm really pleased for the players, the effort they've put in up until now has deserved more points so really pleased to get the win.

"For me the pressure is not released. I still feel a little bit uptight. Just with the nature of the game when it's so tight going into the end you're always waiting on that low blow that's affected us a few times recently.

"It's nice to send the fans home with a smile on their face and they can wake up tomorrow and talk about a Scotland victory which they haven't been able to do for a long time so I hope they enjoy it."

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Ben Doak shone in the second half at Hampden and caused problems down the wing all night. He was imperative in Scotland's goal too as his saved shot fell to the feet of scorer John McGinn.

Martin Dowden
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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We'll never know what might have happened had the red card not been shown but Scotland won't care.

This vindicates the hard times Scotland have had to endure in this campaign and, while they were handed a huge slice of fortune, they still had to deliver.

That said, Clarke's side were being taught a lesson in the opening half. Croatia seized the initiative and Scotland repeatedly made mistakes.

Time and time again, players in blue turned over possession far too easily. Often, in the most dangerous of areas. They were riding their luck way too often.

The sending off changed everything and all that was lacking was a little quality or composure as they tried to stretch their opponents and get in.

Performances have, at times, offered optimism but the reality is a win here offered the unlikely hope of rescuing this Nations League campaign.

The reaction of the Hampden crowd at full-time said it all. Scotland can still earn a relegation play-off but must deliver again in Poland on Monday.

Five months on, the regret still lingers among Scotland players over their dismal Euro 2024 showing, says Ryan Jack.

The midfielder was part of Steve Clarke's squad at the finals and has opened up on the frustration of Scotland stumbling to another group-stage exit.

The Scots bowed out after defeats by Germany and Hungary either side of their solitary point in a 1-1 draw with Switzerland.

As Clarke's side prepare to host Croatia in the Nations League on Friday night, Jack told the BBC's Scottish football podcast: "I still keep in touch with quite a lot of the players that are still involved.

"Over the summer we were bitterly disappointed. There's no getting away from it. Not just on the results, but on the performances and a bit of regret not really thinking that we showed what we showed in the qualifying campaign, which was so good.

"When we went to the tournament we never showed that, so there was a big frustration there."

Scotland, who have won just once in 16 games, enter their final two Nations League outings - they visit Poland on Monday - bottom of the group and battling to avoid relegation from the top tier.

However, Jack is encouraged by the post-Euros performances and says Clarke and the squad have harnessed the disappointment.

The 32-year-old, who joined Turkish second-tier side Esenler Erokspor after his Rangers exit in the summer, said: "I think since the Euros, I'm sure the manager and the staff went away, reflected heavily on how that went.

"And then I'm sure these players, because there's no doubt I did when I left, you look back and you think, what could have we done differently? There's all sorts, it does go through your head. So I'm sure everyone's reflected.

"And then I'm sure when they've met up again in the squad after that, it's been a case of, right, let's discuss it, let's park it. And this is how we're going to move forward.

"The manager is very good at that and he's very strong-minded. He's strong at addressing what goes wrong.

"Obviously results haven't really come after the Euros but I definitely think performances have."

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• Scotland have lost their latest two meetings with Croatia - including 2-1 in Zagreb last month - after being unbeaten in their first five games against them.

• Croatia beat Scotland 3-1 on their last trip to Hampden, when the stadium hosted a Euro 2020 game, but have never won an official away match in Scotland, drawing two before losing 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier in 2013.

• Scotland are on their longest winless run at home (six games, losing three) and longest run without a victory in competitive fixtures (10 games, losing six).

• Scotland could equal their longest overall winless run, set in 1998 (nine games – D3 L5 currently).

• Only Greece (with nine) have won more games across the last two editions of the Nations League than Croatia (W7 D3 L2).

• Bosnia (73), Serbia (72) and Israel (69) are the only League A nations to face more goal attempts in this season's Nations League than Scotland (67).

• Croatia have scored in each of their last 14 away games (29 goals) - the longest run in their history.

• Ben Doak could make his fifth appearance for Scotland, with only Paul McStay (six) and Willie Henderson (five) making more appearances as a teenager than the 19-year-old winger.

• Croatia midfielder Ivan Perisic has been directly involved in three goals in his last two appearances against Scotland (one goal, two assists) but has not scored in 18 Nations League appearances.

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Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic is expecting a tough game against an "aggressive" Scotland side on Friday night.

The Manchester City player has had a good season in the Premier League and is likely to be in the Croatia line-up for the Nations League match at Hampden.

"I've played against Scotland several times and it was never easy," he said.

"They will be aggressive and they are playing at home, and it's never easy to play in Scotland. But we've worked really well this week and we hope to have a good result."

Kovacic picked out a couple of players he knows well from his time in England as Scotland's key men.

"I never like to speak about individual players, but since you ask Scotland are a strong team who fight each other," he added.

"I know Billy Gilmour well from my time at Chelsea, he's really developed in the last couple of years and I'm not surprised he's doing so well.

"He's a big talent and I expect him to improve even more.

"And John McGinn, it's always very difficult for me to play against him. He's a very tough, strong player and he's been paying well for Aston Villa.

"He's back for this game and he will make Scotland much better."

Steve Clarke says Scotland "need to change" their approach to developing young talent if they are ever to match Croatia's tournament success.

Croatia, who face Clarke's side at Hampden in the Nations League on Friday, have a smaller population than Scotland (around 4m compared to 5.5m) but an impressive international record, finishing third at the World Cup in 1998 and 2022 and reaching the 2018 final.

"They've got a system set up right from the young ages all the way through because they seem to have a conveyor belt of talent," said Scotland head coach Clarke.

"They keep bringing players through. They also have a lot of players with longevity at the top level, with over 100 caps or between 75 and 100.

"They've just got the balance right. They produce a lot of good young players and allow them to play a lot of games in their own country before they move out - which is a really good grounding and something we can maybe get better at here.

"And they show a pathway for the young players. There's a lot we need to try and change if we want to get better. We can get to that level - but we still have a lot of work to do.

"At some stage, people have to sit down - a think tank or whatever - and try something a bit different that we haven’t tried before to see if we can improve it.

"If we keep doing what we're doing, it’s not going to get better. We have to try and find a way but the change has to be driven from the top. They have to understand we need to change.

“It's not just the people at the Scottish FA, it's the people that are in charge at the clubs."

A Scottish FA report earlier this year said that clubs in Scotland are failing to bring through enough young players. It added Scottish football is "significantly underachieving its potential" in youth development compared to countries of a similar size.

Clarke said: "I don't think we'll ever go back to the utopia where you've got 16 Scottish players at one club that feed the first team.

"At the moment, you've probably only got two or three that are in and around the fringes at most clubs. Can we get more? Can we get half a dozen? Can we get eight? That's the type of numbers I think we should be looking to get."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Steve Clarke has been speaking to the media before Scotland's Nations League game with Croatia on Friday night.

Here are the key points from the press conference:

• On having key players such as John McGinn back from injury, Clarke says: "It's great, I haven't slept this week with all the different permutations in my head."

• Clarke believes Scotland "deserve more points" given their performances in this campaign, but says his players "have shown they can be competitive at this level".

• Scotland have to find "extra little details" to get results and Clarke adds: "We still have two games to come and still have a chance to stay at this level, which is what want. But we need to turn our performances into points."

• Clarke says says his side will have to defend well as they did against Portugal in their last game. He wants Scotland to be better with the ball, have more possession and improve upon creating chances.

• The Scotland boss notes Croatia are organised and a threat going forward. On Luka Modric, he says they have "one little magician in midfield who can run a game if you allow him to. I don’t think we did that in Croatia and I hope we won’t allow him to do it at Hampden."

• On learning from the success of Croatia, Clarke says changes need to be made and "we need more young players playing for their clubs" to enable a "conveyor belt of talent" coming through.

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Lennon Miller will line up for Scotland Under-19s against Wales today. But should he instead be in Steve Clarke's main squad for the Nations League visit of Croatia on Friday night?

At 18, Miller already has more than 50 club appearances under his belt and is the most exciting young talent at Scottish football right now.

Among those who believe he should be fast-tracked to a full Scotland cap are Sunday Mail chief football writer Scott McDermott.

"He should have been involved in this squad," McDermott told the BBC's Scottish football podcast.

"I just think exposing him to that environment at a young age would have done him the world of good. Just bringing him in, having a look at him, having the other players see him in training as well, letting the boy know himself the standard that he's got to get to.

"There's not many friendly games in international football now so you don't really get many opportunities to blood these guys."

Miller's first-team experience at a tender age is the exception rather than the norm in the current Scottish game. A report by the Scottish FA earlier this year concluded that clubs in Scotland are failing to bring through enough young players.

"I do think it's a cultural problem," said McDermott. "There does seem to be a fear about throwing young players in early.

"I think young players need two things. The first one is a given and that's talent. The second one isn't and that's opportunity. These boys need a chance to play in first teams.

"A few years ago in Motherwell's academy, Miller played alongside Bailey Rice, who is at Rangers currently. If you ask most people, at that time Rice was on a par if not maybe even better than Miller.

"But look at the two of them now, the progress they've made. Rice, who's been in and around the Rangers first team, has never quite had an opportunity. It feels like he's playing catch-up now. So yeah, talent and opportunity."

Assistant boss John Carver says Scotland's spirits were lifted by the draw with "frustrated" Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, and now it is "time for a win" when Steve Clarke's side face Croatia at home and Poland away in the coming days.

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Craig Gordon is convinced Hearts and Scotland team-mate Lawrence Shankland will soon be back to his goalscoring best.

Shankland has netted just once for the Edinburgh side in 18 matches this season after hitting 59 across his first two years at Tynecastle.

Despite his barren run, the 29-year-old striker has been recalled to Steve Clarke's Scotland squad for their upcoming Nations League games against Croatia and Portugal.

Goalkeeper Gordon, who is expected to start the double-header with Angus Gunn still out injured, said of Shankland: "Everybody knows what a good goalscorer he is and sooner rather than later that will come back.

"I have been training with him over the last few weeks and I can see in training he is giving absolutely everything. At times his touch has been really good and he has been scoring goals in training.

"It just hasn't materialised in matches but I have absolutely no doubt he will be back scoring goals very soon. He is too good a player for that to last for any length of time.

"It's great that he is here and I am sure the goals will be back before too long."

Scotland assistant John Carver also has full faith in the 29-year-old.

"When you're a good player and you’re a goalscorer, eventually that barren spell happens," Carver said.

"We all know what he's about. He's a goalscorer, he gets between the posts, he plays inside the 18-yard box. If he has to play for us or start or come on, that's what we want him to do and we’ll encourage him to do that.

"The good thing is, he's actually getting into those positions to actually try and score goals. It's just not coming off for him now, where it did last season and the season before that.

"So, everybody's in full support of Lawrence. We love him to bits and the players around him understand it."