Scotland Men's Football Team

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Steve Clarke told the Scotland camp their collapse in Amsterdam "can't happen", says Ryan Christie.

The Bournemouth midfielder admits the substitutions made in the 4-0 defeat "didn't pay off", but a meeting with Northern Ireland gives the Scots a chance to put things right.

Asked what the manager told the players post-match, Christie said: "It’s just disappointment, him telling us that that can't happen, the goals we conceded, that can't happen.

"We can't go like that and in tournament football, that could you be potentially out after a result like that and he said we now need to focus on Tuesday and get back to it.

"A win, a good performance and a clean sheet, I think is all in our minds. It's not been an easy six games for us, but this is one we need to get back and try and bounce back.

"It's always going be tough to come on to a game like this. Obviously in these game we're trying to give everyone a chance to try and show what they can do, and unfortunately tonight it didn't pay off, but we had a number of chances before the substitutions came on to get in front or get level and keep a clean sheet as well. I think the goal we conceded, the first one, is disappointing."

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Michael O'Neill has told his Northern Ireland players to expect "a very British game" when they head to Scotland on the back of an encouraging 1-1 friendly draw in Romania.

After calling this the start of a "rebirth" for his young side after a disappointing Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, the national manager saw some encouraging signs in Bucharest on Friday.

Debutant Jamie Reid, at 29 the oldest player in a Northern Ireland starting team with an average age of 23.5, scored just seven minutes in to his international career while emerging talents Conor Bradley, Trai Hume, Shea Charles, Brodie Spencer and Isaac Price caught the eye.

O'Neill picked a pair of friendlies away to Euro 2024-bound sides in order to test his inexperienced side and is ready for another tough task at Hampden Park.

"Scotland will give us a different challenge," he said. "They have a team littered with Premier League players, so it will give our boys a chance to step up and show they can handle the game at that level.

"It's a real challenge for our players, but they'll gain confidence from the game and look forward to Tuesday."

Asked what he would hope to see at Hampden, O'Neill added: "More of the same. We'll watch the game back and there'll be certain aspects where we'll maybe want to be a little bit better with the ball.

"At times, our build-up was disjointed. Romania are a team that will put you under pressure. We knew they would do, we had to play not too many passes in our defensive third and play beyond it, which we did quite well."

O'Neill stressed that he felt his young players "needed a little bit of time and they still do need time".

"We've lost a lot of senior players in the last 12 months and we fast-tracked a lot of the younger players into the team, but they deserve to play," he added.

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Former Scotland forward James McFadden has backed Lawrence Shankland's ability to perform for the national team.

The Hearts striker started in the eventual 4-0 defeat to The Netherlands on Friday - his withdrawal coinciding with the visitors' collapse.

Despite missing the kind of glaring opportunity he's been sticking away with ease in maroon all season, McFadden was impressed with the 28-year-old's performance.

"I thought Shankland's overall play was excellent and we looked better when he was on because he held his position and brought others into play," he said on Sportsound.

"He gets his chance, he doesn't snatch at it or look tense. He knows what he's trying to do.

"If anything he was trying to be too precise by putting it right in the top corner. Then you run the risk of slightly overhitting it.

"But he showed in his all round play he can play in this team. Sometimes you don't get another chance at this level and he has to score. But I'd back him to bounce back."

Rangers winger Ross McCausland is likely to miss out again for Northern Ireland as Michael O'Neill looks to build on Friday's 1-1 draw in Romania when his side face Scotland at Hampden Park on Tuesday.

But Sunderland centre-half Daniel Ballard returns after missing the trip to Bucharest after his partner gave birth, while Watford left-back Jamal Lewis and Millwall midfielder George Saville could have recovered from injury.

"We're hopeful that Jamal might make it and Daniel will join the squad," O'Neill said. "Unfortunately, it looks like Ross McCausland won't make it. It would have been nice to get Ross the opportunity.

"Certainly, Daniel will give us something, as will Jamal, because we are playing a little bit lopsided with right-footed players playing on the left due to the injury situation.

"If they come in, they will give us a little more strength and added experience."

Even so, O'Neill was full of praise for the "excellent" performance in Bucharest by a youthful side that had an average age of just 23.5.

However, it was Stevenage striker James Reid, winning his first cap aged 29, who gave the visitors an early lead against hosts who are heading to the Euro 2024 finals after winning their qualifying group.

Dennis Man equalised midway through the first half for the Romanians to make sure they remain unbeaten in 12 internationals.

Northern Ireland had a disappointing qualifying campaign, but the friendly draw backed up November's surprise win over their group winners, Denmark.

Of their Scotland-based contingent, Conor McMenamin was a 62nd-minute substitute, while fellow St Mirren midfielder Caolan Boyd-Munce and uncapped Dundee defender Aaron Donnelly were unused substitutes.

We asked for you thoughts as a late capitulation handed Scotland a hiding at the hands of The Netherlands.

Here's a taste of what you had to say:

David: The starting XI were absolutely solid and played the Netherlands off the park up until 70 minutes. A lot to take from the game. Souttar and Ralston, not at this level and it capitulated when they came on. Gilmour showed how valuable he is in the middle of the pitch pulling the strings as him going off really was noticeable.

Rory: Got to keep the faith. We have five or six top-quality players and another couple out injured. Not much beyond this. Makings of a team that can get out of our group, and beyond. We just need to maintain belief and a little bit of luck on the fitness front.

Anon: Sadly too long in the tooth, l remember Argentina. So l don't believe the hype. Basically, glaring chances missed and ripped apart by an overwhelmingly superior opposition. First game Germany at home, nobody wanted this tie - least of all a brittle Scotland.

Ross: I think the scoreline flattered the Dutch to be honest. Scotland played well for long periods in the game and on another day could have had two or three goals themselves.

Anon: The players need to take responsibility for the dismal collapse after 60 minutes. Those subs seemed to drain the confidence, concentration and belief of the whole XI. It was embarrassing, Clarke should be very concerned . This team could get zero points in Germany.

Kenny: I’m not on the Shankland band wagon, scoring at that level is not the same as international football. I don’t see it with McLean. Souttar looked really exposed when he came on but our first team looks really competitive looking beyond the last 20 minutes.

Anon: Decent enough performance, well short upfront, didn't really work. Souttar was awful when he came on, and cost us. Hopefully we'll win the next three before June.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland in Amsterdam

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Scotland's thumping defeat to The Netherlands is a "handy lesson" in the run-up to the Euros, says defender Ryan Porteous.

Steve Clarke's side seemed to lose their concentration as the Dutch scored three goals in the final 18 minutes after being matched by the Scots' composure and intensity for much of the contest.

"Obviously it's handy to learn this lesson right now," the Watford centre-half said.

"A friendly game it doesn't mean anything going into the Euros, obviously we're going to start the Euros against a similar team in quality in Germany, so you can't let that happen [a similar defeat] or you're almost out the tournament after one game.

"The gaffer has spoken about it. That's why we've taken these kind of games on, it’s playing against these pot one teams - the more you play against them the more you try and get to their level, the more it's going to improve us as a squad.

"Obviously, we've come on leaps and bounds in the last few years, everyone has spoken about that, but we want to kick on now again. Even with being in the Nations League A, you want to go and show that you belong there, so nights like this will help that."

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• Scotland have gone six games without a win in all competitions (D2 L4) for the first time since September 2008. They have also conceded more than twice in six straight games for the first time since April 1961 (run of seven).

• They have lost four of their last six (D2) - more than in their 21 beforehand (W15 D3 L3).

• Netherlands have won four consecutive games - and kept a clean sheet - for the first time since a run of four from March-June 2013.

• They have won 14 of their last 17 home internationals (D2 L1), also keeping a clean sheet in 10 of those.

• Tijjani Reijnders scored his first senior international goal with Netherlands' first shot of the game

• Georginio Wijnaldum has scored in back-to-back internationals for the first time since November 2020.

Another defeat to digest.

And we want you to digest it right here, with us.

Whether you made the jaunt to Amsterdam or watched the game elsewhere, we want to hear from you.

Give us your take on all things Scotland here.

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Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: "It's a strange one. Obviously sore, losing 4-0 you can't really dress it up, it was painful.

"For 70 minutes it was really good then we concede a poor second goal. The biggest difference between the sides was clinical finishing. We created a lot against a good side.

"It is one to go away and digest but not get too emotional. The lads are disappointed with the way the game turned out, I am disappointed with the way the game turned out.

"There are plenty of positives but straight after the game you tend to forget about the positives. The scoreline is sore. We allowed the game to become too open, it suited the Netherlands more than it suited us and we paid for it.

"Lawrence can be pleased with his contribution. He's a striker he wants to score goals. He only had one big chance in the game and normally you'd expect Lawrence to score it but there will be another day.

"I have got to clear my head. I had an idea in mind what I might do on Tuesday night but the game tonight might have just changed that."

Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

With 18 minutes to go, disappointment seemed inevitable for Scotland after countless squandered chances. But positives were aplenty. A flogging of this nature never seemed on the cards.

For over an hour, it was one of the best away performances against a top-quality nation by Clarke's side in recent memory.

There was a control, a confidence, perhaps a cockiness at times, about their play. Chance, after chance, after chance was created. Equally, though, they were wasted. A total of 13 of them.

Scotland were faced with an in-form Flekken, who did not flounder. Scotland did, though. And then some.

An ugly defeat developed. If this was the first rehearsal for the Euros, then the curtains need closed and a new routine concocted.

Or rather, a return to the old structure that served them so well in qualifying. The triple substitution that saw John Souttar, Lewis Ferguson and Che Adams enter the fray seemed to spook them.

Eyes could not be taken off the action in the first half for all the right reasons. By minute 86, whiplash could be brought about in an attempt to turn away from the misery.

Netherlands has never been a happy hunting ground. But there was hope on this voyage. Once again, it was misguided.

Netherlands: Flekken, Frimpong, Geertruida, Van Dijk, Ake, Wijnaldum, Wieffer, Reijnders, Simons, Gakpo, Depay.

Substitutes: Verbruggen, Bizot, De Ligt, Schouten, Weghorst, Timber, De Roon, Veerman, Blind, Malen, Koopmeiners, Dumfries.

Scotland: Gunn, Porteous, Hendry, Tierney, Gilmour, McTominay, Patterson, Robertson, McGinn, Christie, Shankland.

Substitutes: Kelly, Clark, Gordon, Ralston, Cooper, Dykes, Adams, Souttar, Armstrong, Ferguson, Taylor, McLean.

• Follow our coverage here

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It's clear who Scotland fans want to lead the line in tonight's friendly in Amsterdam.

Lawrence Shankland is the most picked striker in the BBC squad selector for Steve Clarke's side's meeting with the Netherlands - live on

With over 10,000 submissions, the in-form Hearts captain is included in close to 6,400 teams, way ahead of Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes.

Will the Tartan Army's wish be granted?

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Steve Clarke has been "irked" by Scotland's winless run and Amsterdam would be a "hell of a place" to end the streak, says BBC Scotland's chief sports writer Tom English.

The Scots are without victory in their last five games, but English told the Scottish Football Podcast that the mood is different with the Euros drawing closer.

"The feeling now is that something has changed," he said. "Something has flipped for the big game here. Everything is focused on Germany and that battle for the last few places - if there are a last few places in the squad.

"The intensity must have ratcheted upwards. We've given great praise to the Scotland team - rightly so - but I know that Steve Clarke is irked by the fact that they haven’t won in five and they need to arrest that decline. I know it annoys him.

"At least three of the five [Scotland are winless against] are just top class teams but he's not making an allowance for that.

"They'll want to get back into winning ways, get the feelgood [factor] back into the squad and this [Amsterdam] would be a hell of a place to start."

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

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What do you do on the morning of a game in Amsterdam? Prep work done. Preview podcast sent out into the world. Hours to kill before we go on-air, so you take a stroll into town and you happen upon the most unique football shop I think I've ever been in. And I've been in a few.

A room dedicated to Diego Maradona (three pairs of Diego socks for €40 if you're interested). A shrine to footballers who are no longer with us. A shot of Billy Connolly with George Best. Jerseys and tee-shirts in the hundreds. A random Old Firm picture. A remarkable place.

The Moustache XI is one of the highlights. Some outstanding efforts here. Big Andrzej Szarmach deserves to be right up there among the legends of the footballing facial furs. Nor can you argue with Hungary's Ferenc Meszaros and his impressive crumb catcher.

It's clearly a formidable line-up and one not to be messed with. But what about the right side of midfield? Roberto Rojas was good enough to make the Peru squad for 1978 World Cup, albeit he was sitting on the bench when a certain game was playing out.

He's an obvious weakness in this line-up though. He's a moustache minion among giants. There has to be better, doesn't there?

Willie Miller? Might be slightly out of position wide right but the great man could have played anywhere. Graeme Souness? The same applies. Any other suggestions, let me know and I'll march round there with a framed picture of a new hero to be hung on their very curious and surreally fantastic walls.

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Nathan Ake says the Netherlands will face a Scotland team who are "growing every year" when the sides meet in their friendly in Amsterdam on Friday.

"They have a very strong team with a lot of Premier League players," the Manchester City defender said. "I have played against many of their guys a lot.

"With John McGinn and Scott McTominay, they have really good players. Scotland is growing every year, so it's going to be a difficult game."

The Dutch have several players missing through injury and Ake was particularly disappointed with the news that Sven Botman has picked up an injury that will rule the uncapped Newcastle United centre-half out of the Euro 2024 finals.

"I sent him a message this morning," he revealed. "It's a shame for him. Hopefully, he has a good recovery."

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