SOUTABLY IMPRESSED
Naisy: Belgium raise bar for kids like John
“There were some positives when we got to grips with the game and tried to play at the right time.
“But when we tried to play at the wrong times we got punished every single time.
“That’s going to happen when you want to change the way you play. The majority of the squad has been changed from the last campaign.
“Yes, it was a punishing night but one that we will learn from.”
Naismith faced off against his former gaffer at Everton, Roberto Martinez.
Although he didn’t get the chance to lord it over the Spaniard, Naismith insists it was a happy reunion.
He claimed the relentless style of play was typical of a team coached by the former Motherwel l man. And he credited Martinez for teaching him more than any other manager.
Naismith said: “Belgium punish you by making you chase the ball then when they see the time is right, they’ll move through the gears. That’s when you’re at your most vulnerable.
“They punish you. I learned that firsthand through their manager. It was good to catch up with him at the end.
“My time under him was fantastic and it was probably the most I’ve learned in the game.
“The players you’re coming up against are the cream of the crop. But they’ve had a good two to four years to work at playing that way.
“The Belgian team have had a full campaign and they have been to the World Cup.”
Back in the international fold after 18 months without a cap, Naismith is delighted to pull on the dark blue again.
His last appearance in a Scotland jersey came in March 2017, coming off the bench in a 1- 0 win against Slovenia.
And the veteran admits the time spent out in the cold did get to him.
But a string of impressive performances for loan club Hearts has seen him fight his way back into gaffer Alex McLeish’s plans.
Naismith, who is still on the books of Norwich City, said: “The last few days since I met up with the squad has been fantastic.
“During the summer and in the last campaign when I wasn’t involved with the Scots, it did take its toll.
“But coming back starts by doing well at club level. The manager spoke to me and said he has seen me getting involved.
“I’ve just got to work hard but since I’ve been back in the squad I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Naismith and Scotland now look to tomorrow’s Nations League opener against Albania.
Christian Panucci’s side got off to a winning start on Friday with a 1- 0 win over the other team in group C1, Israel.
Naismith refuses to call the clash against the team that qualified for Euro 2016 a must-win game.
But he does believe that the new competition is a route Scotland must pursue to break their 20-year major tournament hoodoo.
He added: “International football in general is more of a chess game than club football.
“You definitely need to wait until the moment is right. There needs to be patience.
“But if you look back over the last two campaigns they’ve had a good team. A lot of their players play in Italy and are comfortable on the ball.
“We’ve got to make the tempo happen at our level rather than suffer at their level. I wouldn’t say that it’s a definite must win but we’re looking at it confidently.
“In my time in the international squad this is the best chance we’ve got. You have to grasp it and take the opportunity.”