STEVE Clarke is keen for Scotland to develop a nasty streak before the Euro 2020 play-offs next March, writes Matthew Lindsay.
Clarke, who conceded the national team have no chance of qualifying for next summer’s finals following their back-to-back defeats to Russia and Belgium at Hampden last month, has been struck by the lack of steel in his side since being appointed in May.
The country can still end a wait to reach the finals of a major tournament that stretches back to France ‘98 if they successfully negotiate the play-off semi-final and final next year.
However, Clarke, who yesterday named a 25 man squad for the Group G matches against Russia away and San Marino at home next week, believes Scotland must become far tougher opponents in their final four fixtures to stand any chance of doing so.
“What we have to do is stop conceding goals, first and foremost,” he said. “We lost six goals in the last two games and we could’ve conceded a few more. The type of goal we lost against Belgium particularly, upset me.
“After a reasonable start to the game, from our free-kick into the box, we got done on counter-attack. It was a soft goal to lose. The next two are from corner kicks. There are little individual responsibilities, like man-marking.
“And against top teams like Belgium you can’t give them three goals, which we did. Belgium can pick you open at any time and you have to make sure you don’t give soft goals away, and that’s what we did. We have to tighten up, be more ruthless. We have to be more streetwise, more horrible.
Clarke added: “Nobody’s allowed to kick anymore. So maybe we need to be more internationally streetwise. These guys are all streetwise for their clubs. You see the level of player we have.
“I have to find a solution to getting them to perform at that level at international level. I feel they have to start to produce what they show on the training pitch.”
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