Scotland Men's Football Team

Image source, SNS

Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson stressed there was no need to panic after Friday's defeat by Iceland - but he admits they need a win in Liechtenstein to restore some confidence.

Steve Clarke's men travel to Vaduz on the back of a 3-1 Hampden loss, which left them with only one win in their last nine home matches.

Fans are now looking for some encouragement ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign in the autumn, with Scotland up against Denmark, Greece and Belarus.

There are only three professionals in Liechtenstein's squad and they are ranked 205th in the world, plus they were on the end of San Marino's first win for 20 years in November.

But Scotland laboured to a 1-0 win on their previous trip to Vaduz and Ferguson stressed a big performance is needed on Monday night.

"We need to win our next game," the Bologna midfielder said. "We need to go and put on a performance, a good performance and a winning performance.

"That's the only thing that breeds confidence, winning games, so we need to get back to that.

"There shouldn't be any panic. We've got a really strong squad, good players, good quality, loads of experience in the team, so there should be no panic.

"But we do need to get back to winning ways and get back to performing at the levels we've set ourselves."

Jonathan Sutherland
BBC Sportscene presenter in Vaduz, Liechtenstein

Image source, Getty Images

There is a sleepy, summer vibe in Liechtenstein this morning. The sun is shining in this curious corner of the Alps, nestled between Switzerland and Austria.

Today is Pfingstmontag or Whit Monday, a public holiday in these Germanic speaking parts. It marks the second day of Pentecost, which commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples.

But for Scotland a day of overtime lies ahead as they seek redemption from recent purgatory.

Given the quick turnaround from Friday, the flatness of the dismal Hampden defeat by Iceland has not dissipated.

Liechtenstein are the sixth worst side in the Fifa rankings, without a competitive win in five years and they failed to even touch the ball in the Welsh penalty area in their 3-0 loss in Cardiff on Friday. But none of that does much to salve the sense of foreboding given Scotland have struggled here before.

Fourteen years ago they had to huff and puff to a 1-0 win in Vaduz. That result came after Liechtenstein had stunned Hampden by taking the lead before Scotland roused themselves to a 2-1 win thanks to a Stephen McManus header in the depths of injury time.

Scotland may have recently duelled it out admirably with eventual Nations League winners Portugal, but against the supposed lesser lights there is a well documented history of toil.

Iran and Peru both in 1978, Costa Rica in 1990 all leap to mind. Even last summer Scotland laboured to a 2-0 victory over Gibraltar.

A similar score line would suffice today from this depleted Scotland squad. But there is a trepidation when the Scots face the banana skins of world football.

There is no doubt players are running on fumes. Kieran Tierney and Scott McTominay are out and the squad is down to the bare bones.

There are mitigating factors for Scotland. The freakish goalkeeping situation means it is likely Ross Doohan will be given the gloves. If reports are to be believed he is to be Celtic's third-choice keeper next season. That speaks volumes as to the seriousness of the situation between the sticks, which national coach Steve Clarke has recently spoke of.

The manager remains an ironclad bastion of calm, at least on the surface. Monday evening has no bearing on World Cup qualifying, he says. However, he knows - everyone knows - that anything less than a Scotland win over Liechtenstein will be considered a footballing disaster.

End of season and public holiday it may be, but Scotland have work to do after the boos that rang out at full-time on Friday.

Free agent goalkeeper Ross Doohan, 27, cut short his holiday to join up with the Scotland squad for Monday's friendly with Liechtenstein. (Scotsman - subscription required), external

Liechtenstein head coach Konrad Funfstuck wishes he "had those kind of problems" as he laughed off Scotland's goalkeeping crisis. (Sun), external

Lewis Ferguson insists there will be no panic from Scotland as they take on Liechtenstein in Vaduz three days on from losing at home to Iceland. (Herald - subscription required), external

Read Monday's Scottish gossip

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland in Vaduz

Image source, SNS

The location for Scotland's friendly against Liechtenstein on Monday could hardly be more tranquil.

The Rheinstadion in Vaduz is nestled in the Alps, surrounded by mountains and on the edge of the meandering river Rhine.

It has been far from a calming weekend for Steve Clarke, though.

Amid all the noise after the humbling by Iceland, perhaps the biggest thing on the Scotland boss' mind is who will play in goal?

He says he has made his mind up, but obviously would not reveal the chosen one.

Clarke gave a stout defence of Cieran Slicker after his unfortunate debut during his press conference.

"Cieran is a good goalkeeper," Clarke said of the 22-year-old Ipswich player.

"He trains well, works well in the camp. He's had an unfortunate night and he'll bounce back from it.

"He knows he needs to play more games regularly but he's got a big future in front of him."

Is that the backing Slicker needs before being put back in?

Or will Clarke go for Ross Doohan, who played 18 times for Aberdeen this season and so is more battle-ready? Doohan, Clarke revelaed, cut short a family holiday to link up the with the national side.

Handing a debut to 18-year-old Callan McKenna would be a bolt from the blue given everything Clarke has said about throwing in young goalkeepers in the last few days.

One thing is for sure, all eyes will fall to the man between the sticks when the team news drops.

Image source, SNS

Billy Gilmour is convinced "the right Scotland will be back" as Steve Clarke's side aim to respond to Friday's woeful defeat to Iceland in Lichtenstein on Monday.

The Napoli midfielder says he has experienced an "incredible" campaign in club football, winning the Serie A title in his first season in Italy.

But Friday's abject 3-1 loss served as a reality check for the 23-year-old after a period of partying in Naples.

"We can only blame ourselves, it was all on us." the former Chelsea and Brighton man told BBC Scotland.

"It's something we need to get back to doing, being tough to beat at home and away. As a collective, we weren't at it and we weren't good enough.

"We get that the June camps are sometimes a bit difficult, but it's no excuse. We have to be at it, especially against teams like Iceland."

Meanwhile, head coach Clarke says his are "fortunate" to have the chance to rectify Friday's performance so quickly when they face Lichtenstein - live on the BBC - on Monday (17:00 BST).

"You have to recover, football's never smooth," the former Kilmarnock boss told BBC Scotland. "We're fortunate we have a game to put things right."

Image source, SNS

Head coach Steve Clarke has been speaking to BBC Sport before Scotland travel to face Lichtenstein on Monday.

Here are the key lines:

• On reacting to Friday's woeful defeat to Iceland, Clarke says: "You have to recover, football's never smooth. We're fortunate we have a game to put things right."

• Clarke says young goalkeeper Cieran Slicker is "obviously disappointed" with his disastrous debut, but the Scotland boss says it is "better not to concentrate too much" on the 22-year-old's errors.

• On incoming keeper Ross Doohan, Clarke adds: "It's nice we've got Ross in. He's had good experiences at different clubs. Hopefully he comes in and does really well."

• On the past year, Clarke says people "shouldn't lose sight" of the fact Scotland were going to a major tournament 12 months ago.

• On the Nations League campaign, which ended in League A relegation, he adds: "The campaign was good. Even the games we lost, the team was good. You could see we were building."

• On how he deals with disappointment, Clarke says he is "measured in his approach to football and life" and criticism "doesn't bother" him too much.

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Free agent Ross Doohan has been handed a first Scotland call-up to aid Steve Clarke's goalkeeper injury crisis.

The recently-departed Aberdeen keeper is also joined by Bournemouth teenager Callan McKenna in the squad travelling for Monday's friendly with Lichtenstein.

The Celtic youth product, who is now a free agent, has been linked with a return to the Parkhead side after playing 18 times for the Dons last term.

Clarke is without squad regulars Craig Gordon, Liam Kelly and Zander Clark, as well as Robby McCrorie and Angus Gunn, who limped off in the opening stages of Friday's abject 3-1 defeat to Iceland.

That meant an unexpected debut off the bench for young Cieran Slicker, who endured a nightmare first cap.

Doohan offers Scotland more experience, having played over 180 first-team games in comparison to Slicker's tally of just seven, but what else does he bring?

When confirming his Aberdeen departure last month, the Pittodrie club said Doohan "never let anyone down" during his time deputising in the absence of Dimitar Mitov last term.

An injury-time penalty save from Jorge Grant was his highlight, ensuring the Dons earned a goalless draw with Hearts back in January amid a woeful run of form.

That game was one of fifteen Doohan played in last season's Scottish Premiership. Across those matches he conceded 27 league goals, an average of 1.86 per game.

The former Celtic keeper's save percentage of 56% was the joint second worst in the division.

Nevertheless, Clarke will be relieved he has the option of a more experienced pair of hands to call on for a game he badly needs a positive result in.

Igor Tudor, who has become permanent Juventus head coach after being interim boss, has targeted two wing-backs for his 3-5-2 formation - Dan Ndoye from Bologna and Josh Doig from Sassuolo, who value the 23-year-old Scot at £12.6m. (Sport Mediaset via UltimateJuve), external

PAOK have handed Greg Taylor a deadline of the end of June to decide whether to accept their contract offer as the 27-year-old Scotland left-back's contract expires with Celtic. (Sport Dog via Sunday Mail), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views after Scotland's abject 3-1 friendly defeat at home to Iceland.

Here are more of your views:

Alexander: I really feel we need to start playing younger players. Grant Hanley is clearly at the end of his career and it's shown in every international since the Euros. Over the next two years, four or five others will be in the same position as Hanley and Steve Clarke seems to be doing no planning for the future.

David: Clarke just isn't inventive, he is absolutely devoid of any ideas and should've walked after the Germany debacle.

Martin: The pool of players in the Scottish team have all been successful at their respective clubs. And yet, they are unable to play a co-ordinated organised game for Scotland. The strikers consistently miss, the defence fails to defend, and the midfield lacks co-ordination. Our stand-in goalkeeper had a bad game. However, Scotland was having success with these players in the past, so what has changed? Why do they no longer gel as a team? I think the root of the problem lies with the coaching staff, the tactics employed, and poor preparation. Somewhere along the way management and coaches have fallen short of the fans expectations and, in performance terms, have failed.

Bob: Ross Doohan should be called up. He had some top performances at Aberdeen last season and is a more experienced goalkeeper. And he's played in Under-21 squads.

Scott: Clarke has to go. Now. How many excuses for insipid performances? He sticks with people who are not delivering. There is loyalty and stubborn stupidity. His selections are unadventurous and uninspiring. The crowd now expects failure. He cannot get a performance out of these players - see the Euros. Time for a change now before we lose the first two World Cup qualifiers and have nothing to do for the next two years.

Alan: An absolute shocker of a performance against Iceland, with the horrific goalkeeping situation coming to the fore. Only George Hirst came close to pass marks. World Cup qualification hopes look slim at best, and Clarke's future as manager surely has to be in doubt. The team look to be lacking any ambition and inspiration.

Injured striker Lyndon Dykes says Scotland need to "stay strong" and get their "hunger back" after Friday's abject defeat to Iceland.

• Read match report & watch highlights

Nick McPheat
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Life could have easier for Lennon Miller when he was thrown on for his Scotland debut.

Despite Friday's match being a non-competitive encounter, there was nothing friendly about the mood at Hampden when the Motherwell teenager entered the pitch with Steve Clarke's side 3-1 down to Iceland.

It would have been easy for the 18-year-old to hide in a challenging atmosphere, but the midfielder constantly made himself available as an option as the Scots desperately searched for a way back into the game.

In only 22 minutes on the pitch, the youngster had 30 touches. He created one chance and misplaced just five of his 27 passes, putting six of them into the final third.

By contrast, fellow midfielder Billy Gilmour managed nine passes into the attack in a 90-minute display. Lewis Ferguson, who also played the entire match, registered eight.

Miller caused a stir when he said he had hopes of becoming Scotland's "best player" in the near future after being called up to the senior squad for the first time in March.

Scotland assistant coach John Carver said those remarks were a mistake by the teenager. Clarke, meanwhile, backed the midfielder for showing ambition.

Three months on, a brave and fearless cameo did Miller's talking for him as he delivered a bright display on a dark night for Scotland.

It remains to be seen whether that brief outing will reward him with a start in Liechtenstein on Monday, but any doubts about his capability of starting international games will now be somewhat quieter.

We asked for your views after Scotland's abject 3-1 friendly defeat at home to Iceland.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Franny: That is as bad a performance as I have witnessed in six decades as a Scotland fan. We have been woeful recently. Creatively barren and boring. Time for a new coaching team with fresh ideas? Definitely.

Jim: Steve Clarke should have gone after the Hungary game last year and should go now before the World Cup campaign starts, or we definitely won't qualify. That was awful again at Hampden last night and for how much longer are the SFA going to sit back and expect fans to pay good money to watch abject performances like that? They need to act now and get someone in who can put some fire in the bellies of the players and get the Tartan Army back behind the team. This just can't go on any longer.

Ronald: Time for change. Clarke sticking with players who are not good enough. I don't like managers being sacked but his time is up. Should have gone after Euros. Time for some fresh ideas.

Ian: Scotland looked like an ageing team coming to the end of their cycle. Clarke has to realise its time up for Grant Hanley and the Kieran Tierney/Andy Robertson set-up is done. A younger injection was needed after the last Euros. I see no chance of reaching the World Cup.

Gary: A game that should not have been played. Tired players who needed a break forced to play meaningless games. When Clarke spoke of players being injured did it not dawn on him that they are all needing a break? Some players will be resuming training for their clubs in a fortnight. Stupid and pointless exercise playing those games. The SFA are pathetic and are short-changing the fans.

Jarek: Very disappointing and uninspiring. We need to find a way to attack far more effectively as we look toothless. As for the defending and goalkeeping - don't get me started. Only saving grace is we tend to be far better in qualifying matches than the dreaded friendlies.

Image source, SNS

John Souttar said Scotland fans were entitled to boo off the side after a "poor" all-round display in the 3-1 home defeat to Iceland.

The Rangers centre-back's header levelled the friendly match at Hampden, but an abject performance from Steve Clarke's men resulted in a sobering loss.

A number of the near 33,000 crowd launched into boos on both the half-time and full-time whistles.

Goalkeeper Cieran Slicker endured a nightmare debut after replacing the injured Angus Gunn in the opening stages, but many of the Scotland team failed to reach their standards and Souttar preferred to focus on the general display.

"Look, the result was collective," said the defender. "I don't think any of us could say we were great in the game. So it's on all of us. Everyone's got to take responsibility

"It was the exact opposite of what we wanted to happen. We wanted to start the game fast, press high, dominate the ball, and I think we were poor.

"Games like this at Hampden, we want to dominate, we want to press high and get the crowd on our side and we didn't do that.

"You don't want to be part of that, but the fans have paid their money and they can boo if they want.

"When we win, they're behind us so it's part and parcel of football."

Sunderland have their eyes on Sturm Graz right-back Max Johnston, but only if Trai Hume seals a transfer to Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Lens and Nice are also closely watching the 21-year-old Scotland defender. (Ekrem Konur on X), external

Sturm Graz would be looking for a transfer fee of around £3m before parting with Scotland full-back Max Johnston. (The Scotsman), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.