Scotland Men's Football Team

David Currie
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Zagreb

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Head coach Steve Clarke has been addressing the media to preview Scotland's Nations League match with Croatia on Saturday.

Here are the key things he said:

• Clarke said, "not winning games is horrible" as Scotland aim to end their wretched run of one win in 14.

• In saying that, though, the head coach added his side "haven't regressed".

• When asked if his side are a victim of their own success, he said, "it's a nice price to pay."

• As the head coach, he has to look at the bigger picture. "I’m not saying we’re using this campaign to prepare for the next qualifying campaign, but there is an element of that where we can use these matches to try and prepare ourselves."

• Clarke has "admiration" for how Croatia develop and perform on the biggest international stage despite their size and urges Scotland to use them as "a model".

• He said it's "disappointing" to have the game televised.

• On his squad, James Forrest has not travelled and will be assessed by Celtic before Tuesday's game against Portugal.

"It’s going to be nice that someone is actually older than me on the pitch."

At the age of 39, it's rare for Luka Modric to be able to say that these days.

But it looks set to be the case with Craig Gordon likely to start between the sticks for Scotland against Croatia.

In his last game against Steve Clarke's side, Modric scored as his side won 3-1 and knocked Scotland out of Euro 2020. It's a fond memory for the Real Madrid captain.

"The last match against Scotland has excellent memories for all of us," he said previewing Saturday's game in Zagreb.

"It was a difficult game against a tough opponent, as it always is against Scotland.

"Their main qualities are passion, toughness and togetherness. It reminds me of Croatian teams, in a way, because you can tell playing for Scotland is a great honour and it has huge importance for the players."

Many members of the Tartan Army would have been hoping, when the draw was made earlier this year, that the magic midfielder would have retired from the international scene by now... no such luck.

When asked how he's still pulling on the national team shirt, he said: "It's a love for football and for Croatia. Playing for the national team is something special, it’s the highest of honours and that's what motivates me."

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• This will be the first meeting between Croatia and Scotland since Euro 2020 when the Vatreni won 3-1 at Hampden to eliminate the Scots from the competition.

• Scotland are unbeaten on their two previous away trips to face Croatia, drawing 1-1 in October 2000 and most recently winning 1-0 in June 2013 thanks to a Robert Snodgrass goal.

• Croatia have won each of their last three home matches across all competitions and will be aiming to win four such games in a row for the first time since October 2020 and for the first time without conceding since June 2016.

• Scotland are winless in their last eight competitive matches (D3 L5), the longest streak of their history. The Scots could lose four games in a row for the first time since October 2019.

• Croatia have won six of their last eight games in the Nations League (D1 L1), after winning just two of their first 12 matches in the competition (D2 L8).

• Scotland's starting XI against Portugal on matchday two had won 493 caps between them, the most for a game in their history.

• Mateo Kovacic could make his 107th appearance for Croatia, moving him ahead of Ivan Rakitic into outright fifth for most appearances for the nation; two of the four players above him also played in Croatia's 1-0 win against Poland last time out (Luka Modric – 180 and Ivan Perisic – 136).

• Scott McTominay has scored 11 goals for Scotland, all in competitive fixtures. Only Robert Hamilton (15/15 – 1899-1911), Robert McColl (13/13 – 1896-1908) and Andy Wilson (13/13 – 1920-1923) have scored more for the nation with 100% of them coming in competitive fixtures.

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Croatia boast talent including Real Madrid superstar Luka Modric and Manchester City pair Mateo Kovacic and Josko Gvardiol. Gulp.

So how might Scotland tear up the form book and stun the Croats in Zagreb on Saturday?

Croatian football expert Vrdoljak Juraj says slick counter-attacking and savvy set-pieces will be key.

"Scotland's recent form could easily get a team like Croatia very complacent, but I don't get the feeling they are. No one is taking the game lightly or thinking it well be easy, not in the slightest," Juraj told the BBC's Scottish football podcast.

"Especially with the home crowd, Croatia is very focused on the game. Croatia has a debt to settle after the Euros and they need to prove themselves.

"Scotland will need to be fast on their transitions. Croatia will try to score as soon as possible because that's one thing that brings out the nervousness from the game.

"But Scotland will have opportunities to counter-attack. Scotland need to be fast on the break and also if they manage to get a set piece close to the Croatian goal, that's where the chances lie.

"There's been some issues with Croatia defending set-pieces, so those are the two two biggest chances to hurt us."

Despite having turned 39 last month, midfielder Modric is still the man who "pulls the strings" for the Croats, says Juraj.

He added: "For Scotland, the one player you don't want to allow a lot of time on the ball, a lot of time to pick his options, is Modric.

"He's still controlling the whole midfield and he's near his 40th birthday. He's still the main player of this squad and our most important player."

Scotland right-back Nathan Patterson took a sizeable step towards a return to first-team action when the 22-year-old completed 90 minutes for Everton's under-21s against their counterparts from League One side Reading on Monday. (The Athletic), external

Las Palmas is a possible destination for Kieran Tierney as Arsenal look to let the out-of-favour 27-year-old Scotland left-back leave on loan in January after his recovery from injury. (Grada3), external

Hearts chief executive Andrew McKinlay says he would happily reopen contract talks with Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland, whose current deal ends next summer, but warned he will never smash the club’s wage structure to keep the 29-year-old club captain. (Daily Record), external

Scotland midfielder Kenny McLean says it only took one discussion with new Norwich City manager Johannes Hoff Thorup to persuade him to sign a new contract this summer despite the 32-year-old being linked with Rangers. (The Herald), external

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Midfielder Kenny McLean insists Steve Clarke's Scotland "are a good team" and head to their Nations League assignment in Croatia "with belief" despite just one win in 14.

Andy Campbell
BBC Sport Scotland

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Scotland's Nations League contest with Croatia in Zagreb on Saturday will be only the seventh time the sides have met.

And it is the Scots who boast the better head-to-head record over the past 24 years.

A 3-1 victory over Scotland at Hampden in 2021, when the delayed Euro 2020 took place, was Croatia's first win against the Scots.

Back in 2000, a Kevin Gallacher goal denied hosts Croatia victory after Alen Boksic had given them the lead.

Next came a 0-0 stalemate at Hampden in 2001 then a 1-1 friendly draw at Hampden in 2008, where Kenny Miller replied for the Scots after Niko Kranjcar's opener.

The sides were again drawn together in a World Cup qualifying group for the 2014 finals. Robert Snodgrass' goal gave Scotland a surprise away win in the first group encounter and Gordon Strachan's side followed that up with a 2-0 victory at Hampden, Snodgrass again on target and Steven Naismith also scoring.

Eight years on and a Luka Modric masterclass eased Croatia past Steve Clarke's Scots, with the Real Madrid man scoring after Callum McGregor had cancelled out Nikola Vlasic's opener. Ivan Perisic clinched it.

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Goalkeeper Craig Gordon will go into the upcoming Nations League games "unfazed" by the prospect of coming straight back into the team, says former Scotland boss Alex McLeish.

With Angus Gunn dropping out of the squad injured, 41-year-old Gordon is in line to start against Croatia and Portugal just months after the Hearts man thought his international career might have been over.

Regardless of his age, McLeish insists the veteran keeper, who has won 75 caps and became Scotland's oldest international with an appearance off the bench against Finland in June, will still have the drive and ability to shine in a tough double-header against Croatia and Portugal.

"He's got fantastic experience and will go into these games unfazed," McLeish told BBC Scotland. "You still get that adrenaline rush, whatever age you are.

"Angus has been tremendous for us, he's been an ever-present almost, but we’ve got a good man going in to back him up."

After failing to "meet the standards" Scotland set in qualifying with a poor showing at the Euros in Germany in summer, McLeish is backing head coach Steve Clarke to turn things around amid a poor run of just one win in 14 games.

But Clarke has been rocked by an injury crisis, which has the former Scotland boss fearing another challenging camp.

"Steve will definitely be wanting to try and get some sort of positive result because it is a difficult time when you lose a lot of your players," he added.

"It's a really tough one but he's still got some players who are in great form at the moment. And he always sets them up well in these away games.

"But if he loses a lot of the quality in the team then that is going to make it much more difficult. Believe me, it’s all about the quality of the players at the end of the day."

Scotland assistant head coach John Carver says he is not poised to be the next departure from Steve Clarke's backroom team as he continues to enjoy his role despite recent results but admits he is always open to other offers. (The Herald), external

Former Scotland defender Russell Martin is one game away from being sacked as Southampton manager, with the Premier League club drawing up a list of potential replacements if the team loses at home to Leicester City following the international break. (TeamTalk), external

Ally McCoist remained coy when asked about a Daily Mirror report, external suggesting ITV bosses are very hopeful the former Scotland striker and current football pundit would accept their offer to appear on "I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here" despite rejecting approaches in 2019 and 2022. (TalkSport), external

Former Scotland Under-21 striker Dapo Mebude has opened up on the struggles he has faced battling back from the horrors of a life-threatening car crash - and Oostende going out of business - to kick-start his career with Dunfermline Athletic. (The Courier), external

Scotland's upcoming Nations League matches against Croatia and Portugal will not be shown on live TV but will be free to watch on Viaplay's YouTube channel. (Scottish Sun), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

Ben Doak says it was "gutting" to miss out on Scotland's Euro campaign and believes he could've made a difference in Germany.

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Will Scotland's remaining four Nations League games make or break Steve Clarke's future as head coach?

The national side have picked up just one victory in their last 14 matches, including a dismal Euro 2024 campaign in Germany.

Next up, Clarke's side face Croatia away on Saturday and Portugal at home on Tuesday in a Nations League A double-header.

Michael Grant, Scottish football correspondent for The Times, believes Clarke's already "awkward" position could significantly worsen.

"If we perform well and contribute a lot and make chances and there's far more energy and ambition in the performances than there was in the Euros, maybe that'll be okay," Grant told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"But at the same time, if it's another two defeats, you're going to one win in 16. That's the statistic we just can't get away from at the moment.

"It feels like every time I talk or write about Scotland, you feel obliged to put that in because it completely sets the mood.

"I think this is a very, very awkward spell for Clarke and it's quite feasible that we don't take anything from the next four games - Croatia away, and then Portugal at Hampden, and then next month we're away to Poland and home to Croatia. So there's no let-up.

"I think Steve Clark's job security will be shaped by what happens in the next four games."

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Jack MacKenzie admits his first Scotland call-up came as a surprise because he had "no idea" he was in Steve Clarke's thoughts.

The 24-year-old Aberdeen left-back has been drafted in for the Nations League double-header against Croatia and Portugal after Celtic's Greg Taylor withdrew injured.

MacKenzie will have two familiar faces for company, with Dons right-back Nicky Devlin already in the squad and striker Kevin Nisbet subsequently added.

"When I got the news, I phoned my dad first," MacKenzie said.

"He has been big inspiration for my football. He has always been there, so it was really nice to share the moment with him and speak to him about it. I also spoke to my mum. It's a great moment for all the family.

"It is an incredible feeling. It is something you dream of as a kid. I'm just absolutely buzzing.

"The only downside is I was looking forward to having two weeks away from Nicky Devlin, but that is obviously not going to be the case any more!

"I had no idea that I was even being considered for a call-up.

"I am full of confidence at the moment and looking forward to the opportunity. Staying fit has also been a big plus for me over the last year or so, and that has meant me getting a nice run of games."

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Craig Gordon is determined to reclaim the Scotland number one jersey for Saturday's Nations League match in Croatia just four months after fearing his international career was over.

The 41-year-old was cut from Scotland's Euro 2024 squad a week before the tournament began, with Angus Gunn, Liam Kelly and his Hearts colleague Zander Clark getting the nod to go to Germany.

With none of the Euros trio in the current squad - Gunn withdrawing due to injury and Clark and Kelly left out as a result of not playing at club level - Gordon is expected to win his 76th cap by being chosen ahead of uncapped duo Jon McCracken and Robby McCrorie to make his first Scotland start in almost two years.

"I just want to see where we go over this week, try and get myself in the team for the first game over in Croatia and see where it goes," said Gordon.

"There's no long-term thoughts other than just trying to play the next game and if I manage to play that one, then the one after that. It's really as short-term as that at the moment.

"Most other countries have probably gone through that [changing goalkeepers] a lot more. We've just had a very stable, settled group of goalkeepers over the last 20 years, and perhaps even longer.

"It's our turn to maybe be in the middle of that with injuries and players not playing."

Gordon's return to the national team comes after ousting Clark as first choice at Hearts amid a "strange" time, with the Tynecastle club winless and bottom of the Premiership after eight games.

"Winning games would help, keeping clean sheets would help, but it's been a difficult period for everybody," he added.

"I've been making saves in games and we've still been losing, so it's not going to get highlighted as much as it would if you contribute to a winning performance.

"It's a very strange time. I don't think I've ever been in a run quite like this at any stage of my career, so it's a bit new to me to go on a run as bad as this. It's not nice.

"I want to get back to winning matches and then I'll feel a bit better about myself, regardless of personal performances."