Steve Clarke has spent the previous few days “kicking a few backsides and giving a few cuddles” as Scotland try to maneuver on from their opening-night mauling by Germany at Euro 2024.
The Scots had been swept apart 5-1 on Friday because the event hosts dished out a harsh lesson to Clarke’s males in Munich.
Given their aim distinction, Scotland almost definitely want to choose up not less than 4 factors from their subsequent two video games, the following of which comes on Wednesday towards a Switzerland facet that opened with a 3-1 defeat of Hungary yesterday.
Reflecting on the Germany recreation, Clarke advised a information convention at the moment: “They perceive they’ve let everyone down, they’re dissatisfied, however they know they need to be prepared for the following recreation – that’s the character of being concerned in soccer.
“It was a disappointing evening. We received numerous issues unsuitable and we’ve received to place it proper within the subsequent recreation.
“If I may criticise myself, and I all the time criticise myself, I begin with myself, I possibly gave an excessive amount of info, which possibly clouded the gamers a bit on the pitch by way of what we do with the ball and what we do with out the ball.
“So we are able to work on that and we’ve labored on {that a} bit this morning. We’ll work on it within the subsequent two days.”
Full squad locked-in for coaching 🔒 💪#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/AglFzRBlLB
— Scotland Nationwide Workforce (@ScotlandNT) June 16, 2024
Requested what he has carried out to rally the troops since Friday, he added: “Kicking a few backsides, giving a few cuddles, getting them collectively as a bunch and making them perceive why we had that efficiency on Friday evening and ensuring we don’t have that efficiency once more.”
It might be straightforward for the Scotland gamers to lose confidence in what they’re making an attempt to attain however Clarke says morale stays excessive.
“We imagine in ourselves. There’s no hazard of that,” he stated.
“We all know it was a foul evening. Now we have to simply accept all of the criticism that comes our manner after which we’ve to place it proper.
“To be in soccer, it’s important to be very resilient.”
What’s Clarke’s view of Switzerland?
The Swiss current one other stern problem for Scotland with Murat Yakin’s males possessing loads of event expertise.
Clarke added: “Should you return to the qualifying marketing campaign, it was a little bit of a wrestle for the Swiss. They in all probability didn’t play in addition to they will.
“Folks all the time take a look at the Swiss and assume they’re a smaller footballing nation, however they’re all the time there on the main tournaments.
“So relating to event soccer, a bit like Germany, they had been on it – the identical with the Swiss group.
“They know learn how to survive in tournaments and they’re a nation we’ve to be taught from.”
