Game ‘needs decade- long shake-up’
The Celtic manager says it is in the interests of the national team – which hasn’t qualified for a major tournament since 1998.
“I’ve had a good look at the game up here now and it has been great,” he said.
“If you ask me for an assessment of its wellbeing, I’d say you have some very, very good coaches. Guys who prepare well and really set up well to try to stop you.
“There are also good, competitive players, the stadiums are great and the supporters are passionate.
“However, I think if you were going to try to change the game in Scotland you have to find a way of being different.
“There has to be a catalyst – you don’t need to wait any longer.
“You have to ask what’s going to be able to compete and beat all the others?
“It’s more than work rate. Most players will work. There’s an obligation to work, it’s not a choice.
“The Scottish boys will run and they’ll work, but how can we develop them to be better tactically and to think about the game?
“When the keeper’s got it, for them to split, to actually want the ball to the point where they give the goalie a choice to play short, to play long. To have midfield players who want the ball.
“Play that technical game, add the aggression and determination your players have here into the mix and you can progress, there is no doubt about it.
“But you have that collective mentality to do that throughout the levels.
“Gordon Strachan should be the last one involved. He has to bring all this together.
“But if you can start now – and it’s a decade thing. But it can be a decade that could prove worthwhile.
“Anyone who doesn’t believe it, then fine, but you have to go a different way.”
Rodgers insists changing the club game in Scotland would make a difference to the international team.
“There is absolutely no question of that,” he said.
“The Germans play the way they do – possession football – because it’s led from the federation.
“They play a high tempo game with possession and counterattack. That’s the way the national team play.
“The Spanish have had a golden era of 10 years based around how they played.
“In Scotland the reality is it hasn’t worked for 20 years. So being pragmatic you have to look to find a different way.”