Scotland Men's Football Team

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Scotland centre-half Ryan Porteous says his dismissal in Scotland's Euro 2024 opener against Germany is "probably the hardest thing I've had to go through personally".

The Watford 25-year-old was shown a straight red card in the opening 45 minutes after a challenge on Ilkay Gundogan, with the game ultimately finishing 5-1.

Speaking publicly for the first time since then, Porteous backs himself to put the sending off - and Scotland's early exit - behind him.

"It was obviously really tough," he told Sky Sports., external "When we were away at the Euros, you couldn’t really think of yourself that much because you’ve still got a pretty big job to do for the team in and around the place.

"You can't be sulking or feeling sorry for yourself. You have to help the boys. I thought I tried to do that to the best I could, but when you leave the camp, it hits you.

"But I have a lot of good people around me and they looked after me well. I feel like I am in a much better place now."

Porteous returned to Easter Road to start in the Watford side that beat Hibs 3-2 in Wednesday's pre-season friendly.

"I wanted to come right back to Watford straight away and get back to work because you are not going to feel better by sulking or feeling sorry for yourself," he added.

"You are going to get back by reacting and I think I've shown I can bounce back from adversity a lot before, so I’m back myself to do that again."

Sheffield United have made Oli McBurnie, who became a free agent in June, another contract offer in a bid to end the Scotland striker’s state of summer limbo after the 28-year-old returned to pre-season training with the Championship club. (The Star), external

Stuart Armstrong could be in line for a Brentford contract after manager Thomas Franks hailed the Scotland midfielder as a "great player" as the 32-year-old arrived on trial with the Premier League club after leaving Southampton. (Herald - subscription), external

Standard Liege are close to completing the signing of 27-year-old Scotland capped centre-half David Bates for £630,000 from Belgian top-flight rivals Mechelen. (The National), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

Manchester United place a £30m price tag on Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, 27. (Football Insider), external

Scotland midfield man Stuart Armstrong, 32, is on trial with Brentford following his exit from Southampton. (Daily Echo), external

Kenny McLean, 32, wants to remain with Norwich City, despite the Scotland midfielder being linked with Rangers. (Norwich Evening News), external

Read Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Napoli are preparing a bid for Brighton's Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour, 23. (Telegraph - subscription), external

Read Saturday's Scottish gossip

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After a season of success at Kilmarnock, is there a growing concern manager Derek McInnes could follow the same path as the last man to guide them into Europe?

It's certainly a fear for fan podcaster Paul Montgomery, who feels he is potentially watching a "re-run" of Steve Clarke's exit.

Having guided the Rugby Park side to a third-placed finish, Clarke left Ayrshire to take the Scotland job.

The former Kilmarnock boss remains in post at Hampden despite a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign, and Montgomery hopes that means at least "another couple of seasons" of McInnes.

"McInnes is still ambitious," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "He's a brilliant manager, especially at this level, and I'm sure he'll have already had offers.

"My concern about McInnes in terms of staying with Killie would probably be the Scotland job. It feels like it's a kind of re-run of the Clarke stuff.

"He seems settled, but I'm not naive enough to think he's going to be here for another 10 years. If we get another couple of seasons of stability, then he can go to Scotland or Real Madrid or something like that."

Former Kilmarnock goalkeeper Cammy Bell added: "I'm pretty sure he is an ambitious guy and I'm pretty sure he will have one eye on the Scotland job at some point in his managerial career.

"Whether that's within the next two, three, five, 10 years, I don't know. But I don't really see him going to any other club in Scotland."

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Lewis Ferguson says he is "in a better place now" after the initial disappointment of picking up a serious knee injury that ruled him out of Bologna's Serie A run-in and Scotland's Euro 2024 finals campaign.

"It's been difficult of course," the 24-year-old midfielder told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound. "There's been ups and downs, but I'm positive. I'm happy with the way I'm progressing.

"I'm beginning to feel more and more like myself again physically. I'm looking forward to being outside again - that's the next stage, getting outside and on to the grass."

Ferguson admits that keeping himself positive mentally is "half the battle".

"Initially, it is tough physically - you can't move much and do the things you normally do," he said.

"Then, mentally, it is difficult too. There is never a good time to suffer an injury like this, but I just felt the timing was really bad with the Euros just round the corner.

"That was my thoughts as soon as I got the results back from my scan. When the doctors were explaining my results, it was my first question before they even told me I had done my ACL. But I am in a much better place now."

Ferguson still expects not to play again until close to the end of this year, meaning he will miss the start of Scotland's Nations League campaign.

"It depends on the body and how it reacts," he added. "They said it was going to be at least six months from surgery and I think that will be late October-November time, so if everything goes to plan, I'll be back by the end of the year.

"But I don't want to put pressure on myself."

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Lewis Ferguson was disappointed to see his Scotland team-mates fail to do themselves justice at Euro 2024 but backs them to "bounce back" when the Nations League starts in September.

The Bologna midfielder, 24, missed out on Steve Clarke's squad for the finals in Germany after picking up a serious knee injury in April.

"It was difficult having being part of the squad all through qualification," he told BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound. "We started qualification really well and built up some great momentum and were playing some really good stuff.

"Then, watching the Euros, it was disappointing obviously from being a fan. And, when you see your team-mates struggling, you just want to help and obviously I wasn't able to do that."

Scotland opened the group stage at the finals with a 5-1 thrashing by the hosts and Ferguson said: "I don't think anyone expected us to get anything out of the first game, but we still didn't show what we're capable of and that was disappointing.

"But I think the Switzerland game [1-1 draw] was a massive improvement. Drawing with them was not a bad result considering how good they have been and they are into the latter stages of the competition.

"I think it was the last game [losing 1-0 to Hungary] that was the most disappointing because I felt confident in the build-up to that; I'm thinking, if we win, we're through, and thinking we have a better squad than Hungary, better players, better individuals and I would like to think we were better as a team.

"Obviously it never worked out quite like that. They've received a bit of criticism and it'll take a bit of time to get over, but I know them and the staff and they'll be ready to bounce back."

Heart of Midlothian head coach Steven Naismith, who is assistant to Steve Clarke with Scotland, says quitting as national team boss would not have entered the 60-year-old's mind despite the failure to qualify from their Euro 2024 group as he has a long-term plan. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full here.

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Scott Brown hopes Steve Clarke will remain as Scotland head coach, insisting he has done a "fantastic job" since taking the reins.

Despite the disappointing group-stage exit from Euro 2024, the former Scotland midfielder backed Clarke - who is under contract for two more years - to stay in position and stressed he must do whatever it takes to be "the best we can".

Clarke has guided the national team to back-to-back Euros, something Brown wishes he could have experienced as a player.

"I can't say anything, I've never got to a Euros, so the lads did extremely well getting there and Steve's done a fantastic job over the last couple of campaigns getting there," the Celtic legend and current Ayr United manager said.

"It was an extremely hard start having the hosts [Germany] and the way they're playing as well, they just hit forward at the right time, so it was always going to be hard after that game.

"That next level is very, very hard to get to.

"I hope he does [still have the appetite for the job] because it was a long time since France 98 and Steve's managed to do it a couple of times on the bounce.

"We are a small country, but we'll have to be ambitious, we have to try and fight.

"We have to be the best we possibly can be and if that means Steve nicking a few other players from somewhere else then by all means do that."

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The Scottish FA has been fined €3,375 (£2,865) for the "throwing of objects" by Scotland fans during the 1-1 draw with Switzerland at Euro 2024.

It comes after a fine of €5,625 (£4,753) for the same offence in the 5-1 defeat by Germany which opened the tournament.

Switzerland were also sanctioned to the tune of €24,250 (£20,580) by Uefa for fans throwing objects during the Scotland game.

And Hungary were fined a total of €55,000 (£46,684) for the throwing of objects and "transmitting a message not fit for a sports event" during their win over Scotland in the final group match.

Scotland coach Steve Clarke's position is not under threat following the early Euro 2024 exit, with the Scottish FA expected to stick with the 60-year-old. (Sun), external

Birmingham City, Huddersfield and Plymouth Argyle are interested in Brighton's Scotland Under-21 midfielder Marc Leonard, 22. (Football Insider), external

Oli McBurnie, 28, is a free agent after his contract at Sheffield United ended and the Scotland international's chances of staying at Bramall Lane seemingly rest on an ongoing takeover bid of the club. (The Star), external

Read Tuesday's Scottish gossip

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One of the key debates among fans and pundits during Scotland's disappointing Euro 2024 campaign was who should be leading the line for Steve Clarke's side.

Lawrence Shankland scored 31 goals in all competitions for Hearts last season, but was not picked to start any of Scotland's three group games, with Che Adams selected as the lone striker.

For a long time now, questions have been asked as to whether the Hearts captain can carry his domestic form onto the international stage and whether he has the pace to stretch defences.

Former Scotland striker Kenny Miller thinks Shankland undoubtedly has the required ability.

"For me, Lawrence Shankland is the best all-round striker we've got," Miller told Sportsound.

"If you get the ball into him, he'll hold it up better than the others. We need someone capable of getting hold of the ball."

On the other hand, former Scotland midfielder John Collins says Scotland's system and their non-use of wingers doesn't suit Shankland's style of play.

"The reason he hasn't played is because he hasn't got the legs and the mobility," Collins said. "He's successful in Scottish football because he's getting the ball in and around the box; we're a team that were never in the box.

If Shankland was a yard quicker, Collins believes he would be worth £30m, such are his other strengths.

"He can't run away from somebody and race away from a centre-half; he's a finisher," Collins added.

"The reason he's not been bought for lots of money is because every scout watching him can see that. A guy that's scored 31 goals, otherwise you'd want £30m."

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Switzerland were the first side through to the Euro 2024 quarter-finals after they beat holders Italy 2-0.

The Swiss, who drew 1-1 with Scotland in Group A, scored either side of half-time through Remo Freuler and Ruben Vargas.

England face Slovakia on Sunday (17:00 BST) for the right to face Switzerland in the last eight.

The only other team to progress from Group A, tournament hosts Germany, beat Denmark 2-0 with Kai Havertz scoring a penalty and Jamal Musiala netting the second.

The unbeaten Germans opened the tournament with a 5-1 win against Scotland and will face Georgia or Spain next.

Read: Switzerland 2-0 Italy - match report

Read: Germany 2-0 Denmark - match report

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Former Scotland striker Billy Dodds "wouldn't be surprised" if Steve Clarke quit as head coach after the national team's underwhelming Euro 2024 showing.

Clarke's side were unable to become the first Scotland side to progress from a major tournament group stage, bowing out with one point after drawing with Switzerland either side of defeats by Germany and Hungary.

The 60-year-old, who is under contract until 2026, has since come in for criticism and his tactics heavily scrutinised after Scotland mustered just 17 shots across the three games.

"I wouldn’t be surprised – knowing how strong minded he was at Chelsea – if he walked. That’s the type he is," Dodds, a former Stamford Bridge team-mate of Clarke, told BBC Scotland Sportsound.

He added: "If he gets stick and all that, he’s the type to go, ‘I don’t need this any more.’

"If we walked, I’m not saying he will, it wouldn’t surprise me.

"Do I think he’s the man to take Scotland forward? I think he deserves another shot to get us there.

"I think he’ll have learned from Euro 2024. And I think he should learn to have a wee bit more of a go when he gets to tournaments. I wish we'd had a bit more of a go."

Ex-striker Kenny Miller is convinced Clarke, who has guided Scotland to consecutive European Championships, will still be at the helm for the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, but says he has to make the team more attack minded on the biggest stage.

"He's going to the manager for the World Cup campaign, there's no getting away from that," said Miller.

"When we get to this stage, we need more. There needs to be a better solution to how we can become that attacking threat.

"Sometimes you need to evolve a bit and find a different string to your bow. We need more, all around."

Sean McGill
BBC Sport Scotland

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You don't need numbers to tell you Scotland were rotten at the Euros. We all saw it.

But a dig into the statistics can help to show where it all went wrong for Steve Clarke's side in Germany.

The main - and very apparent issue - was Scotland's lack of cutting edge in all three encounters in the tournament.

Their 17 shots are the joint fewest since groups were introduced at the Euros in 1990, a paltry total matched only by Northern Ireland in 2016, who advanced to the knockouts that year with three points.

Registering an xG of 0.95 is another low in this year's tournament, as is a passing accuracy of just 57.9% in the final third. When Scotland did make a rare foray forward the absence of quality was glaring.

Where else scuppered Scots?

As some teams in this tournament have shown, a goal-shy side can still progress out of the groups if there's a steely defence at the back.

After the mauling in Munich by hosts Germany, the backline improved against Switzerland and Hungary... but they could hardly have played worse.

Scotland conceded an xG of 4.5 in their three outings, though had to pick the ball out the back of the net on seven occasions.

Despite keeping his side in the tournament at points in the Hungary decider, Angus Gunn's differential between goals conceded and the xG of the shots on target he faced of 1.52 is the worst of any goalkeeper in the tournament. Simply put, he should have kept more out.

Clarke drew the ire of some fans for a perceived hesitance to make subs. He used 18 players - the second fewest players of any coach at the tournament - while naming the fifth-oldest team based on the average age across the three starting line-ups.

Could Scotland have lived a different story with a bit more youth and energy?

Is there a silver lining?

Beyond the immense display of the wonderful Tartan Army, the positives to take from our German jaunt are scarce.

However, the numbers show that Jack Hendry wasn't scared to get stuck in against some high-quality opposition.

The 29-year-old was in the top 20 players for duels at the tournament, coming in at joint third for duels attempted with 23. Hendry won 69.6% of those, ranking at 18th.

Higher up the park, only Georgia's Giorgi Kochorashvili accrued more pressures applied than Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, who ran himself ragged off the back of an injury lay-off.

He may have applied pressure on the pitch, but Scotland's dismal showings this summer means there's now increased pressure off it for Clarke and his players.