Scotland’s Learning Experience and Aspirations for Improvement

Scotland’s head coach, Steve Clarke, is determined to build on his team’s sensational Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, despite their recent string of defeats. Friendly matches against England and France, sandwiching a qualifier against Spain, were designed to test the Scottish players against strong opposition. Although they suffered three losses in these matches, Clarke is optimistic about the lessons learned and areas for improvement. He emphasized that their intention was to learn and acknowledged that while they had promising moments in terms of possession, they lacked effectiveness in the final third.

Criticism of the Scottish team seems unfair considering their successful qualifying campaign, which saw them secure a place in the upcoming European Championship in Germany. They achieved this feat without having to go through playoffs or penalty shootouts, which is commendable. However, it is natural for any team and coach to strive for improvement, especially when already in a positive position.

Former Scotland captain Willie Miller believes that the matches against England and France provided a valuable learning experience for the team. He expects that facing top-level opposition in Germany next summer will prove beneficial. Miller acknowledged that the performances of England and France were at a much higher level, but reiterated that Scotland should aspire to be competitive in one-off games against such opponents. While the team conceded nine goals in the three matches and scored only two, an average possession of nearly 40% indicates progress in terms of territorial control, which Clarke will be encouraged by and seek to develop further.

The encounter with France, as World Cup runners-up, was perhaps an unfair assessment of Scotland’s capabilities. However, it also allowed Clarke to provide opportunities to players outside his core group. Making eight changes to the lineup demonstrated the taxing nature of the campaign so far, as well as the squad’s celebrations following qualification confirmation. Despite his struggles in the match, Clarke commended Lewis Ferguson, who showcased his quality alongside stand-in captain Scott McTominay and goalscorer Billy Gilmour. Another player highlighted by the coach was Jacob Brown, a Luton Town forward, who came close to scoring his first international goal on his seventh cap.

Debuts were also given to goalkeepers Liam Kelly and Zander Clark, who had a challenging time defending the goal as they conceded a combined four goals in their 45 minutes each. While Clarke will take valuable insights from these matches, the players, especially those newer to international football, will also benefit from the experience. Tweaks and improvements will be necessary, but this Scotland squad should not fear competing against top-level opponents in the upcoming European Championship, given their qualification.

According to former Scotland striker Steven Thompson, the team has consistently improved and evolved under Clarke’s guidance. He believes that these three games have been a valuable benchmark for identifying the areas in which Scotland needs to improve ahead of the Euros. The lessons learned from these matches will be crucial in preparing the team for the challenges that lie ahead.