Scotland Men's Football Team

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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: "Obviously disappointed to lose the game where it looked for a long period of time that we'd get something from the game. Really disappointed for my players, the effort and the quality they put in deserved to get something.

"I reiterated to the players that we have to understand what part of the cycle we're in, what we're trying to do. We're trying to re-adjust after the summer, we can use these matches to try and build. The end goal is to qualify for a tournament. It would be nice to get some points, not to conceded late goals, but this is the level we're at because we have been a good team. The players understand how difficult it is to get results at this level.

"There's been a lot of positives, if you ignore the results. But we're professionals, so it's disappointing that we played very well in two games and have nothing to show for it. It's a level where the lessons are harsh. I spoke to the players in the dressing room and told them not to be too harsh on themselves.

"They have to understand the work we're doing. If you look at the time we had to work. We've changed the system a little for these two matches and I think you see the players have done good work. That's why I'm so disappointed for them, because they've put so much into these two games."

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Yet another goal for Scott McTominay on international duty.

The towering midfielder has now grabbed 10 goals in his last 13 competitive appearances for Scotland, with his latest being a terrific back-post header to send the Scots in front in Lisbon.

While the hosts eventually turned the game on its head, McTominay remained an energetic presence in midfield - continually dealing with Portuguese intrusions into the Scotland box and often carrying the ball forward well in attack.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s late Nations League winner broke Scotland hearts in Portugal and ensured Steve Clarke's side's dreadful run of form continued.

The defeat - after losing to Poland on Thursday - means Scotland are now without a win in their last eight competitive games, the worst run in their history, and have won just one of the last 14 games.

However, Clarke can take some encouragement from the nature of the performances in the two games in this window, even if they are bottom of their section after Croatia beat Poland 1-0.

What did you make of the performance? Let us know your thoughts., external

Andrew Petrie
BBC Sport Scotland

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From the outset, Scotland were up against it.

Penned back on the edge of their own box, they were forced into playing a back-six at times as Bernardo Silva and Fernandes tried to pick holes in the defence.

The Scots stood strong in that low block, though. Bodies were thrown on the line, but extreme caution was used when tackling after two penalties were conceded on Thursday against Poland.

One problem was ball retention. When Scotland did win the ball, they rarely kept it for very long and struggled to hit either McTominay or Lyndon Dykes.

Occasionally though, they were able to string a passing move together and get it up the pitch.

Another issue for Clarke is the nagging, inevitable feeling that they will eventually concede.

That's now 33 goals shipped in 14 games. In the last six, they have been breached after the 85th minute on five occasions. There is a fragility that needs addressed.

There's also the small matter of this winless run. They are now without a victory in their last eight competitive fixtures, the longest such run in their history.

With four tough fixtures to come in the Nations League - Croatia home and away, plus Portugal at Hampden and a trip to Poland - it doesn't look like ending soon.

As for Ronaldo, what can you say? Maligned after a poor Euros, he was influential here.

He has now scored against 48 different countries, and stretched his lead at the top of the all-time international goalscorer chart in men's football.

Surely no one will catch him.

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Portugal: Costa, Semedo, Dias, A Silva, Mendes, Fernandes, Palhinha, B Silva, Neto, Leao, Jota.

Substitutes: Sa, R Silva, Dalot, Ronaldo, Goncalves, Felix, Veiga, Santos, J Neves, Trincao, R Neves, Quenda.

Scotland: Gunn, Ralston, Hanley, McKenna, Robertson, Gilmour, McLean, Christie, McTominay, McGinn, Dykes.

Substitutes: McCracken, Clark, Shankland, Doig, Barron, Porteous, Souttar, Doak, Morgan, Conway, Gauld, Johnston.

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BBC Scotland's Jane Lewis in Lisbon, Portugal

Ryan Christie believes Scotland will "have to be at our very best across the full park" against Portugal on Sunday evening.

The Scots play their second Nations League A Group 1 fixture in Lisbon, having lost 3-2 at home to Poland on Thursday. The Portuguese defeated Croatia in their opening game.

"We’ll probably have to be at our very best across the full park, all 11 players, we obviously know it's going to take 90 minutes of pure concentration across the pitch," said midfielder Christie, 29.

"We know how good a team they are, especially offensively, so we have to be at our best. Hopefully, we can cause any problems going the other way.

"Winning the last tournament shows how good we can be on our night. So we need to take that confidence in."

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke says his side "have to move on and be focused" following their loss to Poland, with Portugal up next on Sunday.

Scotland midfielder Ryan Christie believes "90 minutes of pure concentration" will be required in Sunday's meeting with Portugal.

Scotland midfielder Ryan Gauld, 28, feels he owes a debt to Portugal, where he played earlier in his career, as the two nations prepare to meet in Lisbon on Sunday. (Herald - subscription), external

Forward Kieron Bowie believes Scotland Under-21s have what it takes to reach next year's European Championship as they face three crucial final qualifiers. (Scotsman - subscription), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Roberto Martinez stresses that his Portugal side "is about the collective" despite the worldwide focus on Cristiano Ronaldo's achievement of reaching 900 career goals with Thursday's winner against Croatia.

And the former Motherwell midfielder points out that Scotland, who are their next visitors in Nations League Group A1 on Sunday, also have players who are developing on the world stage.

"What an incredible opportunity we have with players like Ronaldo, with players like Pepe, to develop the young players in the dressing room in the best possible way," Portugal's head coach said.

"We've got 10 million population and the amount of players that we have in the highest levels, it speaks volumes of the development that we have in this country and the talent and the mentality and everything comes from examples like Cristiano and Pepe."

Martinez, who spent much of his playing and management careers in the UK, thinks two of Scotland's key midfielders joining Napoli last month from Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion, respectively, can only help their national cause.

"It changes a lot of mentality when you go abroad and you have to find a way to be important in a dressing room," the Spaniard suggested.

"I think the experience of Italian football for Scott McTominay and Billy Gilmour is going to take Scottish football into the next level.

"Obviously Andrew Robertson, for me, is still one of the best full-backs in European football and you've got a lot of players now in the Premier League, like John McGinn, Ryan Christie.

"The amount of players that you have playing week in, week out in the Premier League speaks volumes for the quality of these players."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Lisbon

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Scotland head coach Steve Clark has been speaking to the media ahead of Sunday's Nations League Group A1 match against Portugal in Lisbon. Here are the key points:

• Admits he doesn't know why the travel arrangements saw them fly in to an airport a two-hour drive away from Lisbon and says it's something "I'll look into with the powers that be after this match".

• The Scotland flight was also delayed by an hour leaving Glasgow Airport, but Clarke says, despite that, he has "a good group of players who'll turn up tomorrow and be fresh and ready to go".

• Admits, with the quick turn around in games, he can't always work on things in training, so to eradicate mistakes, he's been "making his players aware and getting into their minds that when you play against pot one teams, top teams, they have to be focused".

• Feels the players have been able to move on from the disappointing result on Thursday night at home to Poland. Feels his defenders can handle the like of Cristiano Ronaldo's threat. "They'll want to challenge themselves."

• Admits the side need a "good performance. Have to be defensively sound but also show a threat at the other end."

• Says Portugal have other players who are just as dangerous as Ronaldo, so expecting a tough challenge.

• On Ben Doak, he says "we have to protect him. He's a young man who's starting his career". Says the winger is not ready to play 90 minutes at this level.

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Former Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton believes that head coach Steve Clarke is still "the right man for the job".

Thursday's 3-2 defeat by Poland was Scotland's fifth loss in 2024, with Clarke's side managing just one win in their last 13 matches.

But Crichton, who earned 72 caps for her country, backs the 61-year-old to turn things around.

"He's the right man for the job right now," Crichton told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound. "I don’t think he'd be there otherwise.

“His remit is to qualify for major tournaments and he’s taken the men's national team to two.

“He has set his sights on the World Cup, so let’s give him that chance. I don’t see anyone that I'd have come in instead."

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Former Scotland centre-half Willie Miller has praised Ben Doak for making an "immediate impact" on his international debut.

The 18-year-old Liverpool winger, who is currently on loan to Middlesbrough, came on as a substitute during Thursday's 3-2 Nations League defeat by Poland.

"Everybody got a lift, including the players," Miller told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

"Doak's impact was immediate. It's great to see someone with that pace, directness and skill."

The former Celtic youth was included in Steve Clarke's provisional squad for Euro 2024 but was forced to withdraw due to injury.

"He needs more time," Miller added. "The manager now has a responsibility to give him the opportunity when he's that young.

"On the evidence of his cameo appearance as a substitute, he's going to be big player in that position going forward and he might get a start against Portugal on Sunday."

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Portugal centre-back Ruben Dias says Scotland have a midfield trio "we will have to keep an eye on" in Sunday's Nations League Group A1 game in Lisbon.

The Manchester City 27-year-old knows Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and John McGinn from their time as opponents in the Premier League.

McTominay and Gilmour last month joined Napoli from Manchester United and Brighton & Hove Albion respectively while McGinn remains with Aston Villa.

"Obviously different characteristics in all of the three," Dias said. "We know they are quality players.

"In the end, they can change the games. They are three names we will have to keep an eye on."

Dias, whose side started their campaign with a 2-1 win at home to Croatia, says they "we know they are a very strong team" despite Scotland's 3-2 defeat by Poland.

"Physicality, quality and a lot of rhythm," were the qualities he picked out after watching a video of the game at Hampden.

"We know it is not going to be an easy one for sure and we know we have to be at a very good level ourselves to perform and to take the three points."

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Former Scotland manager Craig Levein believes that Hearts' Craig Gordon is still Scotland's best goalkeeper.

The 41-year-old has 75 caps for the national team but was left out of Steve Clarke's squad for Euro 2024.

"Craig Gordon is the best goalkeeper Scotland have," Levein told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound.

"He still wants to be in Scotland squads. I spoke to him not long ago - that was the impression I got."

Gordon made his last international appearance in a friendly match against Finland in June, coming on as substitute and conceding two goals in a 2-2 draw in what was expected to be his Scotland swansong.

However, with current number one Angus Gunn shipping 10 goals in the last four matches, including three in Thursday's opening Nations League defeat by Poland, the current St Johnstone manager has suggested a change.

"It would calm everybody down - that's what I'd say," added Levein.

"He's 42 in December. This is where we’re at. He is our best goalkeeper."

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Scotland Under-21 head coach Scot Gemmill believes Friday's victors Spain are "as good as it gets at this level".

Spain triumphed 2-1 at Tynecastle with Dean Huijsen and Matteo Joseph netting either side of Dire Mebude's equaliser.

"They're very impressive," said Gemmill.

"It was going to take a huge effort tonight but the players can leave with their heads held really high because they know they've been in a game home and away and we've gone toe-to-toe with the potential champions of the tournament.

"That's as good as it gets at this level. They dominated and dictated but we knew that was the way the game was going to go. The details we'd prepared for, the players were trying to do that and as a coach that's all you can ask for.

"We saw a Scotland team blocking shots, working hard, heading, doing everything they could and that's the demand we placed on them so I was really pleased with that. They weren't cutting us apart."

Scotland sit second in European Under-21 Championship Qualifying Group B but are only above Belgium on goal difference with three games to play. Hungary are three points behind the Scots and the Belgians.

The three best runners-up qualify automatically for next year's finals in Slovakia, with the others going into play-offs.

"It's really exciting," added Gemmill.

"They know that it's great to put that demand on them when we go to Malta [on Tuesday]. That game matters so much and we have to do what we need to do to take it into October."

Scotland face Belgium at home and Kazakhstan away next month.

We asked for your views after Scotland began the Nations League with a 3-2 home defeat by Poland.

Here's what some of you said:

Andy: Steve Clarke hasn't learned a thing from Germany. Starting the same old defensive-minded characters. Old and slow centre-backs, a right-back who doesn't play for his club. Bright and new exciting picks left on the bench. Making changes on 70 minutes - what a transformation! Why can't he start with those eager to impress? Loyalty doesn't win games - it is time for him to walk away.

Russell: In some cases that might not have been a penalty but when it's Scotland it always is. A good comeback, Clarke and his team must know now that Ben Doak is ready for the full stage. Portugal on Sunday, I think that Lyndon Dykes should be a substitute and if Clarke has got any guts he will start with Tommy Conway and Doak.

William: Quite simply it is time for Clarke to go, he is tactically out of his depth.

Alex: The manager's faith in Dykes is not earned. Stats show Scotland with most possession, however, it was in their own half and inside our box. The players on the bench should have been on from the beginning. Clarke himself stated it was a learning process for the next tournament - yet he had no plan B or new ideas on show. He needs to go!

Jon: Keep the faith and bounce back for the Portugal game. A great performance from the team to recover from 2-0 down.

Iain: Bits of the same old Scotland were very evident in the first half, but a very different second-half performance - quick, direct and penetrating. Why on earth can we not play like that right from the start?

Roy: The sad reality is none of Scotland's players would get into the first 11 of the top 10 and possibly top 20 of the other European countries' sides. What Clarke has managed to do with such a paucity of talent is remarkable and until the big club sides in Scotland actually invest in bringing through young Scottish players it will never change.

Steven: The best time to sack Clarke was straight after the Euros. The second best time is now! He's all out of ideas, playing the same old players that let him down at the Euros. Anthony Ralston, Grant Hanley and Kenny McLean should be nowhere near a Scotland squad. It's time to try something different, starting with the manager.

Gavin: Poor decision making by individuals, but an encouraging fightback and a more positive playing style, so I hope that we will get back to winning ways soon. This Nations League might be a step too far right now but if we use it to get organised and with a more attacking mindset then it should bode well for the World Cup qualifiers.