Scotland Men's Football Team

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

Image source, SNS

Scotland manager Steve Clarke has been speaking to the media this afternoon before the Nations League match against Portugal at Hampden on Tuesday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Clarke says all the players understand where the team are in the process and all are on board with it.

• He doesn't understand how anyone can doubt this group of players given they have qualified for back-to-back Euros and are competing with the top teams at the moment.

• Everyone wants Scotland to be good right now but his job is also to build for the future so the country doesn't have another period of 20 years without playing in a major finals.

• Important not to "overhype" Ben Doak as has happened in the past with other players. He wants Doak to be a talent "for the next 15 years, not the next 15 months".

• The team can take confidence from their display against Portugal in Lisbon and Clarke hopes Scotland can produce a similar performance but a better result.

Analysis of Ben Doak's performance against Croatia has been "over the top", says BBC Sport Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English.

Scotland's style under Steve Clarke depends too much on "individuals" and some of the issues could be solved by playing natural wingers, according to coach and analyst John Walker.

Clarke's side have won just one of their last 15 games, with several key players - the likes of John McGinn, Kieran Tierney and Aaron Hickey - out injured.

"Stylistically I think there's a real problem and I think it's highlighted when you lose four or five key players," Walker told the Scottish Football Podcast.

"Our style is reliant on individuals, it's not a style of play that people can slot into. It's Tierney making the back five and it changes the whole system, it's Hickey at right wing-back giving us that option because as much as Tony Ralston didn't do much to let us down, he's just not anywhere near what Hickey brings to the side.

"For me, a lot of the problems come from not playing natural wide men. I know Ben Doak started, which is a good starting point, but Ryan Christie's not a natural wide man."

Walker also expressed frustrations over the same defensive frailties costing Scotland during their recent poor run.

"I put up a clip on Twitter of us continually conceding these same goals with overlapping right wing-backs from that left side," Walker said.

"It's alarming how many of the same goals I keep seeing conceded. And our ability to try and defend the box is really questionable.

"Croatia, there was a warning sign right before we conceded that second goal from the exact same move, a switch of play to the overlapping right wing-back. It happened in the Norway game, and it also happened in the Georgia game."

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John Souttar wants Ben Doak to simply enjoy his football after the youngster impressed on his first start for Scotland.

Doak, 18, caused problems throughout Scotland's 2-1 Nations League loss against Croatia and was involved in Ryan Christie's opening goal.

However, Souttar was wary of heaping expectation on Doak at such an early stage in his international career.

"He was really good," Souttar said. "It's just important to focus on that and look at what he did without putting too much pressure on him.

"We should let him enjoy his football and give him that freedom.

"Don't put pressure on a young boy – just let him go out and perform. I thought he was excellent.

"He's 18. He's so young. He's just got to enjoy it."

Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson, 25, hints he is targeting a return from long-term injury with Bologna against Champions League opponents Monaco on 6 November. (Record), external

Diogo Dalot warns Scotland their opponents on Tuesday, Portugal, are hitting their best form in years. (Herald - subscription), external

New Scotland Under-21 goalkeeper Lewis Budinauckas, 22, has "always looked up to" Allan McGregor and hopes to follow in the 42-times capped international's footsteps. (Record), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

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Lyndon Dykes believes the "massive characters" in the Scotland dressing room will help change their recent fortunes.

Steve Clarke's side have won just one of their last 15 games, and were denied a late equaliser against Croatia on Saturday by VAR.

They sit bottom of their Nations League group with no points from three games, but Dykes insists wins are just around the corner as they prepare to take on group-leaders Portugal on Tuesday.

"We believe so much," the striker said. "We've had such a good run for a long time but it was never just going to be easy for us.

"But this is when it shows the characters of the boys, in each person that we have in this squad.

"A lot of new faces, but like I said, this is the time when it shows what characters we have in the team and we've got massive characters in there, so I'm sure it will turn around. I believe in and trust all my team-mates, coaching staff, everyone.

"I think it's only a matter of time before we can turn it around. And luckily enough, we've got a game coming up on Tuesday, which obviously isn't going to be easy again. But we've done it before and we can do it again."

Dykes admitted it has been "tough" to deal with such a run of results, but says the tight-knit nature of the squad will see them through.

"Football is tough when you're on a long run and you're not winning games," he added. "Especially after the results that we did have, winning and changing the way that the Scotland national team had been for years.

"It isn't going well but we've still got the same players, the same characters, plus new ones that have been and done it before against big teams. It's just one of those things at the moment, that it's tough, but we're going to get through it.

"We have to just make sure we're all together as we are, because we're a massive family."

We asked for your thoughts after Scotland's 2-1 Nations League loss away to Croatia.

Here's what you had to say:

David: Decent performance, final ball or lack of taking shots is costing us. Also they scored two similar goals with a cross to a lingering free man at the back in all the space in the world, schoolboy stuff.

Anon: I thought Scotland played well in the first half but once Croatia turned the screw we didn't have an answer. Making two subs with 13 minutes left on the clock is just not good enough. I like Steve Clarke as a manager and think he has done amazing but he seems to be running out of ideas.

Allan: For the third game in a row, Scotland did not deserve to lose. Another decent performance against a good side. With a few more players fit again, Scotland will do OK. Ben Doak needs to be included from now on as well, he makes a difference.

Garrie: One win in 15 matches (and that was against Gibraltar) is absolutely dire. We were probably the worst team at Euro 2024 and are going nowhere fast, pathetic.

Image source, PA Media

Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon insists there are positives to take from Saturday's 2-1 Nations League defeat in Zagreb.

Steve Clarke's side thought they had snatched a dramatic late draw, but Kristijan Jakic's own goal was ruled out for offside against Che Adams following a VAR check.

It means Scotland have won just one of their last 15 outings, but Gordon - who won his 76th cap having been left out of the summer's Euros squad - says they can bounce back against Portugal on Tuesday.

"We are disappointed, because we put in a performance we thought was worthy of taking something from the game," the veteran keeper said.

"We had good chances but just didn't take them. That seems to be the story of this Nations League but we have another game to look forward to now, we have another chance to get some points on the board and we have to focus on that."

"The boys gave everything. Defensively we were chucking ourselves in front of things when we had to, we defended our box well and carried a really good threat.

"In terms of what we worked on during the week a lot of it came off. We worked the ball really nicely. Another good performance but we can't keep saying that, we need to take results."

Scotland have now lost all three of their Nations League games by a one-goal margin, but Gordon says if they continue to work hard, the results will come.

"We are not far away," he said. "It's always going to be difficult when you come against pot one teams. You are going to have play really well to get anything from a game, especially an away game.

"We need to stick with it (the game plan), stick with each other and come back and show that fight again in the next game."

Croatia great Luka Modric praises Scotland for their performance in Saturday's Nations League loss. (Record), external

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon urges Scotland to bounce back after their third Nations Leagued defeat out of three. (Herald - subscription), external

Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie has bought a £580,000 apartment in St Andrews. (Sun), external

Southampton manager and former Scotland and Rangers defender Russell Martin has three games to save his job. (Football Insider), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: "I thought we were brave with the ball. We tried to play, tried to create chances. On another night we would've got what we deserved.

"There's so much disappointment in the dressing room that it's probably better to wait until we get back to Glasgow to analyse the game, but I feel like we're on the right path.

"We haven't regressed. We just have to keep believing, keep pushing away.

"We felt as though we managed to rescue a point and then that's taken away, so you can understand why [the players] are really down just now.

"We'll go away lick our wounds and prepare to go again on Tuesday night."

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• Luka Modric, winning his 181st cap, gave his side enough control to lay the platform for this victory, while Kramaric popped up with his 30th international goal on his 99th Croatia appearance.

• Croatia, with a population smaller than Scotland, are the envy of plenty of European nations with their ability to keep producing world-class talent.

• As their golden generation rages against the dying of the light, they will do well to emulate this group which keeps churning out results.

• Match stats

• Scotland extended their longest winless run in competitive matches in their history (P9 D3 L6), while they've now lost four consecutive games for the first time in five years, last doing so in October 2019.

• Scotland have lost six points from winning positions in the 2024-2025 Nations League, more than any other team.

• Having become the oldest player to appear for Scotland when he came on as a substitute against Finland in June, Craig Gordon (41 yrs 286d) is now also the oldest player to start a match in Scotland's history – becoming the third 40+ year old to do so after Jim Leighton and David Weir.

• Ben Doak (18y 336d) became the youngest player to start a competitive match for Scotland since Willie Johnston against Poland in October 1965 (18y 298d).

• Croatia have won their last two matches against Scotland, having been winless in their first five meetings beforehand (D3 L2).

• Ryan Christie scored his seventh goal for Scotland (55th appearance), with five of the seven coming away from home. He's now scored twice in his last six international starts, as many as he netted in his previous 20.

• Andrej Kramaric scored his 30th goal for Croatia on his 99th appearance, with more than half of these (16) coming since he turned 30, while he's scored twice as many goals (8) than any other Croatian player since the start of 2023.

Scotland remain winless in Nations League A as Croatia came from behind to triumph in Zagreb and prolong Steve Clarke's side's 13-month wait for a competitive victory.

Missing key players and on a run of one win in 14 games, Scotland battled well in a cagey match and thought they had snatched a draw in the 95th minute, but Kristijan Jakic's own goal was ruled out for offside against Che Adams in a dramatic finish.

It had started so well for Scotland when Ryan Christie squeezed in the opening goal after Ben Doak's cross was swiped into his path by Luka Sucic.

But their lead only lasted four minutes, Igor Matanovic steering Ivan Perisic's cutback into the bottom corner to level before the break.

That allowed Croatia to turn the screw in the second half and Zlatko Dalic's side broke Scotland's resistance on 70 minutes.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon initially blocked Borna Sosa's powerful close-range drive, but Andrej Kramaric was lurking at the back post to head in the rebound.

What did you make of the performance? – have your say here, external.

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland

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When Che Adams wheeled away in celebration having thought he had helped snatch a draw with the final kick of the game, there was a sense Scotland were about to get what their performance merited.

Missing over 10 players including John McGinn, Aaron Hickey, Lewis Ferguson, Scott McKenna, and with Adams not fit enough to start, Steve Clarke’s depleted group were mostly disciplined and restricted Croatia to few quality chances.

Up the other end 18-year-old Ben Doak in particular shone on his first start, driving the team forward up the right wing and helping tee up Christie's opener.

There were enough bright points, as there were in defeats by Poland and Portugal, but again it ended up in a close one-goal defeat.

The stats make for grim reading given it is one win - against Gibraltar - in their last 15 outings, while it is now 35 goals conceded in that run.

However that does not tell the whole story. It was always going to be tough for Scotland playing the very best in European international football, even with everyone fit and available.

But with so many players injured and amidst a change of shape and style, the task has become even tougher.

Clarke has made sure Scotland have been competitive regardless, but the longer the poor run continues the more talk of positives will fall on deaf ears.

Image source, Getty Images

It's safe to say Che Adams is loving life in Italy.

Since switching Southampton for Torino in the summer, the 28-year-old strker has four goals in nine games and is, unsurprisingly, in fine fettle for Scotland's Nations League assignment in Croatia.

"Everything's going well so far and hopefully we can keep it up," Adams said in an interview with the Scottish FA. "I'm just, right now, riding the wave and enjoying every single minute of it.

"I think it was always there in the back of my mind to go abroad. I just wanted to try something different in my career because football is a short career and you've got to maximise it as best as you can.

"When the opportunity came up, I was up for taking it."

And taking it he has. The striker couldn't have got off to a better start by scoring the winner in Torno's first home game of the season, and has quickly got the supporters on side.

"I was obviously delighted to get off to a good start," he added. "It was nice to get the first goal on home soil and the guy on the speakerphone, when you score, it’s an amazing feeling."

Adams, of course, is not the sole Scot flying the Saltire out in Italy with Lewis Ferguson at Bologna and Billy Gilmour and Scott McTominay at Napoli, while Under-21 captain Josh Doig is in Serie B with Sassuolo.

"It just opens everyone's mind up and shows that there is possibilities for people to go abroad and enjoy themselves and take on a different challenge," Adams added.

"I think it's easy to stay in your comfort zone and stay where you know best, but really expanding your life and the life skills you pick up along the way is massive."

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Defender Anthony Ralston believes Scotland deserved more from their opening two games in the new Nations League campaign but says they must not dwell on missed opportunities.

Steve Clarke's side lost to Poland and Portugal but acquitted themselves well despite slipping to defeats that extended Scotland's run without a win in competitive matches to eight games.

The Celtic right-back is certain the squad is in the right frame of mind to tackle Croatia on Saturday.

"We're in a good place as a squad, there's good morale in the team," he said.

"The aim is to get a win, at the very least a point on the board. Over the course of the last two games, I believe we deserved more out of the games.

"Unfortunately in football, sometimes that doesn't happen. It's down to us as a team – as individuals and a squad – to put those wee things right to ensure we take something away from these games, which we've deserved.

"It's very difficult [to keep spirits up] when you deserve results from your performances and they don't come.

"It can become taxing personally and as a team and as a squad. But, we have a really good squad of boys and it's important we use that going into games in the future and we don't dwell too much on the past as there are a lot of positives to take from performances."

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Zagreb

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Steve Clarke is adamant Scotland "haven't regressed" despite their "horrible" run which leaves them with just one win in their last 14.

The Scots are in Zagreb to take on Croatia in their third League A Nations League game after opening the campaign with back-to-back defeats, but Clarke is not focussing on the numbers.

"I don't bother about stats, I'm not a stats person, I'm not driven by stats," the head coach said. "We've played a lot of really good opponents in the last year, from October last year, the results haven't been quite what we wanted in terms of victories.

"We haven't regressed, I don't think we've gone backwards and we've always worked hard to try and work forwards."

The run includes matches these League A games, Euro 2024 and friendlies against nations such as England, France and the Netherlands.

When asked if Scotland are a victim of their own success, Clarke said: "It's a nice price to pay when you have matches of this calibre, when you qualify for tournaments, when you get to the highest level of the Nations League.

"We've done something right to be here, we’re now finding a level which is a little bit more difficult for us, but we have to meet that challenge head on.

"If we do that, we’ll come out the other side with a better group and a better understanding of what you need to do at this level to get positive results."