Scotland Men's Football Team

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It's not often you can say a friendly match against Gibraltar is significant, but former Scotland forward Shaun Maloney feels Monday's game is "a really important one" for Steve Clarke's side.

Why? Well, there are a few players in the provisional squad who are in need of minutes because of limited action at their clubs or recent return from injury.

Wigan boss Maloney says the encounter, taking place at Estadio Algarve in Portugal, also allows provides Clarke with key game time to work on tactics for Euro 2024, particularly the right of his defence.

The Scots will then return home to face Finland at Hampden on Friday before their tournament opener with hosts Germany on 14 June.

"Some players will need 90 minutes, some others may not even need to step on to the pitch," Maloney told BBC Scotland.

"But for some players it will be a really important game to prove their fitness and try and get into the team.

“My previous experience of this with Belgium is there is are couple of things - the fitness some players might need [and] there will be tactical things the manager wants to try."

"That right side, if they are going to be sticking with the back three, is between Anthony Ralston and Ross McCrorie, so these are actually really important games [for players like that]."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Ryan Christie insists he is happy to play anywhere for Scotland despite enjoying a deeper role at Bournemouth this season.

The midfielder has been a revelation on the south coast this term, thriving in the middle of the park as Andoni Iraola's side finished 12th in the Premier League.

Reflecting on his move south of the border, Christie says he is glad to have taken on the challenge and feels he has become a better player for it.

"I wanted to test myself going down there for England to see if I could cope," he told BBC Radio Scotland.

The first year [in the Premier League] was pretty tough, the pace of the game is like nothing I've ever seen before. It's so physical and demanding,

"We've had a brilliant season and I've played a lot of minutes, so I'm delighted with that. You can look back on the decision to down and say it's been pretty successful.

Some have suggested Christie may be asked to recreate that deeper role with the national team, although the Tartan Army are more accustomed to seeing him in more advanced positions.

"It's probably a question for the manager," the 29-year-old said. "When I come away with Scotland, I'm happy with wherever he wants to play me on the pitch. Any position, I'll play at.

"At Bournemouth I've played a deeper role, which I've loved. The manager down there has been brilliant for me. He's made that transition to a deep-lying midfielder seemless for me.

"But happy to play wherever the manager wants me when it comes to Scotland."

We asked you who Steve Clarke should draft into the Scotland squad with Lyndon Dykes ruled out of Euro 2024 with injury after being stretchered off in training on Friday.

Here are some of your shouts:

Ali: Tommy Conway would be a good replacement. At 21, he's young & maybe lacks a bit experience, however he's played for the under 21s & played against good players there. Conway will be an asset to our arrack.

Calum: Clarke won't call anyone up but on, Lewis Morgan at New York Red Bulls should be looked at. If you're going like for like, Ross Stewart but he is just back from injury

Anon: I'd bring in Stewart.

Bert: Danny Armstrong from Kilmarnock. Great, versatile player.

Malcolm: Ryan Gauld can play striker, wide left, attacking mid. Cover for so many. He's a cool head and quick.

Michael: How about 23-goal Simon Murray?

Anon: Can I suggest Partick Thistle's Brian Graham?

James: MLS players Ryan Gauld and Lewis Morgan have been overlooked and we will struggle with the forward players selected.

Anon: Harvey Barnes to replace Dykes if he can be persuaded to play for Scotland. If not, then Ryan Hardie of Plymouth Argyle has had a good season.

Anon: No one as we are over the limit of players anyway. So Ben Doak, who would have missed out, stays.

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Ben Doak insists he's ready to contribute at the Euros, despite his lack of preparation in terms of packing for Germany.

The 18-year-old sat down with the Scotland media team , externalahead of Monday's friendly with Gilbratar.

Here are the best bits:

On finding out he was in provisional Euros squad: "I was on the pitch doing some extra training. The physio came out pretending he was all disappointed with something. He showed me his phone saying I got in.

"It was a really good surprise. I went in and my phone vibrated itself off the shelf."

On conversations with Steve Clarke: "He spoke to me when I arrived, asked me how I was feeling. I was quick to let him know that I'm fit and ready to play. I've been training for two/three weeks now, I feel great."

On relationship with Andy Robertson: "He spends about 99% of his time bamming me up. The other one percent he looks after me, gives me good advice and keeps me on my toes and my feet on the floor."

On initiation song: "I've had to sing. The big chef is like 'Doaky, get up here now'. I went for a safe option - I Want It That Way, Backstreet Boys. Just a singsong, gets everyone going."

On earning a spot in side: "We're all kicking the same ball. If you're good enough to be on the pitch, you're got to be up to the level. I'm here to fight for a place. Where that place is I don't know because we don't play with wingers, but I'll play where I'm told and do it to the best of my ability."

On his travel bag for Germany: "I've not actually got anything. I only wanted to bring a wee suitcase, I've brought about 20 million pairs of boxers and that's it."

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Ryan Porteous hopes Scotland's Euros opponents may show "more respect" to Steve Clarke's side than they would have in years prior.

Back-to-back Euros qualifications, the most recent after a strong campaign that involved the scalp of Spain, leaves Scotland in higher international standing despite a recent winless run.

Watford defender Porteous, who has been named in the provisional squad for the tournament in Germany, says the national team should not be disregarded.

"I think we've shown in the last year-18 months we can compete against the top teams," he said.

"I'd like to think some teams might show us a little bit more respect than they did a few years ago, but we won't be worried about that. We'll be solely focusing on ourselves."

The 25-year-old has 10 international caps to his name, a tally he hopes to improve later this month.

"My next target would be to repay that faith the manager has put in my and that next step would be doing it at a major tournament," he said.

"There will be no hard feelings with anyone in the squad, we'll go there as a team.

"Everyone's had their pats on the back in recent months, but I think now's the time to put that to one side. We've got a job to do."

Steve Clarke has been left waiting for scan results after Lyndon Dykes suffered a leg injury in training.

If it's bad news, he may need to take a look at potential replacements for the big striker.

Who would you draft in to add to Scotland's forward options should Dykes miss out?

Give us your shouts. , external

Scotland captain Andy Robertson says Liverpool team-mate Ben Doak has shrugged off his injury troubles and looks fit and firing ahead of Euro 2024.

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Andy Robertson says Scotland must "bring the country together" as they get set to kick off Euro 2024 in two weeks' time.

After heavily-restricted crowd and preparations three years ago, the captain says Steve Clarke's side must make the most the buzz around the country.

“It’s important that the country’s together, we’re very good at that," Robertson said.

"We always have been and we felt that at the last Euros. But I think it can go up a notch this time.

“Last time we went to Spain, which was good at the time, but this one is probably better being in Glasgow and trying to feel the atmosphere building.

"Everyone’s getting excited about it as well and seeing the Scotland flags outside the houses and things like that.

The Liverpool left-back added: “Obviously we’ve got the Finland game next week and the atmosphere will be really building at that point, the game will be a send-off, and we will just try and get as many people involved as we go.

“Not everyone will be in Germany for different circumstances, so it’s important we try and involve the whole country. “

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Former Scotland midfielder Suzanne Lappin believes Ben Doak offers a point of difference for the national team, and would "100%" take him to Germany for this summer's Euros.

Scotland boss Steve Clarke will cut his provisional 28-man squad to 26 before the tournament begins against hosts Germany on 14 June, and Lappin says the Liverpool forward should be on the plane.

"These sort of tournaments are always made for that young, unknown player," Lappin told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast. "I think he'll offer something different, that pace particularly.

"That was the name that probably excited a lot of people the most just in terms of his inclusion. When he was at Celtic, you could see right away that he had huge potential, and now at Liverpool.

"I'm hugely excited to see how he goes and performs and I think, personally, if I was Steve Clarke, I would 100% be taking a risk on him in the 26-man squad."

Which right wing-back should start at Euro 2024?

Mark Atkinson, sports editor of The Scotsman, says he wouldn't be surprised if Bristol City's Ross McCrorie jumps ahead of Celtic defender Anthony Ralston in the pecking order before the tournament.

Listen to the full podcast here.

Scottish darts player Alan Soutar reveals which of Scotland's Euro 2024 hopefuls are the best at darks and whether he let manager Steve Clarke beat him.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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John Carver has urged his Scotland players to not do anything "silly" in an attempt to avoid further injuries ahead of Euro 2024.

Steve Clarke's side will be without key players such as Lewis Ferguson, Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson in Germany.

As Scotland prepare for friendlies with Gibraltar and Finland in the build-up to the opening game with the hosts on 14 July, assistant boss Carver wants the squad to be smart in their decisions.

"I had to say them this morning 'enjoy what you're doing, be careful, but don't do anything silly'," he said.

"The last thing we need is losing any more players. We've lost two or three top players for us already, we can't afford to lose any more."

After failing to win a game in their first major tournament appearance since 1998 in Euro 2020, Carver insists Scotland will strive to better their record this time round.

"There's a huge excitement," he added.

"Driving up here it felt different when you think about what we had to deal with the previous Euros in Covid, we hadn't qualified for [over] 20 years.

"Let's not forget we were all disappointed in the previous Euros. There's an excitement there, but a lot of determined to do better than we did.

"We've got to control that excitement."

Scotland assistant John Carver says 18-year-old Liverpool forward Ben Doak has fitted seamlessly into the squad ahead of Euro 2024 and is primed for action if called upon.

Kheredine Idessane
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland assistant manager John Carver has been speaking to the media as the national team prepare for two international friendlies ahead of Euro 2024.

Here are the key points:

• The friendlies against Gibraltar and Finland are an opportunity for the players to "stake their claim" for the final squad, with Carver saying they will be "very important" in the selection process.

• The mood in the camp "feels different" from their previous Covid-restricted Euros preparations and there's a "huge excitement" among the players and staff.

• Scott McTominay, Ben Doak, Scott McKenna, Stuart Armstrong and John Souttar did not train with the main group on Thursday.

• Carver says Scotland "can't afford" to lose any more players to injuries and that will play into their plans ahead of the tournament.

• Being in the dugout for the opening game in the Allianz Arena against Germany will be "one of the highlights" of Carver's career.

• He says it's like Ben Doak has been with the squad for "10 years" and he has "fit right in". Adds the Liverpool winger brings "something special" to the team and "nothing fazes him".

• There have been no discussions on whether they will take three or four goalkeepers to the tournament.

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20 years ago today, Craig Gordon made his Scotland debut.

Two decades later he's in the provisional squad for Euro 2024 and could become the nation's oldest ever player if he makes it onto the park in Germany.

Now 41, the fresh-faced goalkeeper earned his first cap on 30 May 2004 as Berti Vogts' side trounced Trinidad and Tobago 4-1 at Easter Road.

Darren Fletcher, Gary Holt, Gary Caldwell and Nigel Quashie were on the scoresheet in an emphatic win in the capital.

Back then, would young Gordon have expected he'd still be playing for Hearts and Scotland all these years later?