'Riding the wave': Scotland's Che Adams loving life in Italy

The 28-year-old joined Torino towards the end of the transfer window, and he's made a flying start with four goals in nine appearances.

Torino sit seventh in Italy's top flight. As a result, Adams returns to the Scotland set-up on a high and full of confidence ahead of the latest ties against Croatia and Portugal.

“Everything’s going well so far and hopefully we can keep it up,” he said in a video produced by the Scottish Football Association ahead of Saturday’s match in Zagreb. “I’m just, right now, riding the wave and enjoying every single minute of it.

“I was obviously delighted to get off to a good start. It was nice to get the first goal on home soil and the guy on the speakerphone, when you score, it’s an amazing feeling.”

Adams, who had previously spent his entire career in England, is glad he made the decision to go abroad, now living in the city of Turin in northern Italy.

“I knew there was some interest there at the start of the summer, and I let things kind of play out and just took my time in deciding,” he added. “I think it just came to a time where I thought it was the right time, and I’m thankful that I took the opportunity.

“I think it was always there in the back of my mind to go abroad. I just wanted to try something different in my career because football is a short career and you’ve got to maximise it as best as you can. When the opportunity came up, I was up for taking it.

“It just opens everyone’s mind up and shows that there is possibilities for people to go abroad and enjoy themselves and take on a different challenge.

“I think it’s easy to stay in your comfort zone and stay where you know best, but really expanding your life and the life skills you pick up along the way is massive.”

Meanwhile, iconic Croatia midfielder Luka Modric admits he loves that there will be an even elder statesman on the pitch tomorrow evening when both teams take to the field. 

The Real Madrid legend, 39, will win his 181st cap when he likely starts against the Scots at  the Stadion Maksimir on Saturday evening.

In doing so, Modric will almost certainly face 41-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon.

At Friday's pre-match media conference he broke into a huge smile when asked his feelings on the matter.

"I know Gordon from before," the former Tottenham player conveyed through an interpreter. "He’s an excellent goalkeeper. It’s a great thing for him and for Scotland that he is still playing.

“It’s nice to know that somebody actually older than me will be on the pitch.

“It’s love for football and for Croatia (that keeps me going). For me, playing for the national team is something special.

“It is the highest of honours, and that’s what motivates me to play my best.”

The last time the sides met, in 2021 during a Euro 2020 group stage encounter at Hampden Park, Modric scored to sink Scotland.

It was a rare victory for Croatia in the fixture, their first in six attempts. 

They may go into Saturday's Nations League match as favourites given Scotland's poor form, but Modric isn't paying much attention to their recent results.

He said: “The last match against Scotland brings excellent memories for all of us.

“It was important for the next round, I remember that it was a difficult game against the top opponent, which is always the case against Scotland. I was happy to score a really nice goal.

“Obviously results haven’t been the best for them in the last few matches, but that doesn’t mean anything for the game tomorrow.

“It’s always a very passionate, tough team to play against, they have good players.

“So we know it’s going to be a difficult game, but we are playing at home with our fans, and we accept the role of the favourites.

“But what I see is the main qualities are what I mentioned, passion, toughness, togetherness, and in a way, they remind me of Croatia because you can tell that playing for Scotland is a great honour and has huge importance.