Steve Clarke lifts lid on Scotland training as manager mulls over another call-up
Steve Clarke has disclosed that his Scotland team has been putting in maximum effort to earn a spot in the squad for the upcoming Euros this summer.
Currently in Amsterdam for a friendly against the Netherlands, followed by a match against Northern Ireland at Hampden Park next Tuesday, the team is gearing up for the European Championship in Germany. Clarke has observed a heightened level of determination during training sessions.
“The training sessions have been exceptionally intense, which is typical when we come together,” Clarke commented. “There’s a strong sense of camaraderie that we’ve built over the past four-and-a-half years. The players understand that only 23 can be selected, so they’re all striving to showcase their abilities in training.”
He added, “This group of players is always competitive when they come together, aiming for success every time. With the approaching major tournament, there’s an extra edge as they all aspire to be part of the Scotland squad heading to Germany this summer. However, I’m keeping focus on the present, concentrating on these friendly matches first before we think about the pre-tournament friendlies.”
Reflecting on recent results, including draws with Norway and Georgia, a defeat against Spain, and losses to England and France, Clarke emphasized the need to put those outcomes in perspective. “The draws in the competitive matches are disappointing, as those are games we should win if we want to progress. However, each game had its unique circumstances,” he explained.
“We acknowledge the challenges we faced, such as England’s strong performance and the quick turnaround to face France after qualifying. Despite the results, we’ve shown glimpses of competitiveness against top teams, and we aim to demonstrate that again against the Netherlands, expecting a tough but positive game.
