Clarke: It will be Spain-ful if we don’t improve
STEVE CLARKE wants his Scotland players to build on their encouraging 3-0 win over Cyprus when Spain visit Hampden Park on Tuesday night.
John Mcginn scored his 16th international goal after 21 minutes of their European Championship qualifying Group A opener but it was not until Scott Mctominay grabbed a late double that the Tartan Army could relax.
But boss Clarke wants to take the positives into what is sure to be a much tougher game.
“It’s a better start than we’ve had to a European Championship campaign in a long time,” said Clarke, who revealed Che Adams went off with a tight calf and that him recovering in time for Spain would be “optimistic”.
“Against the teams seeded lower than you it’s important to pick up maximum points at home.
“Cyprus were good and organised but we managed to contain them.
“There wasn’t much threat on our goal.
“But at 1-0 it’s always nervous. It’s a really good start but we have to try to back it up on Tuesday against the Spanish.
“When you are playing one of the Pot One teams you have to play as well as you can play.
“We will prepare the lads well, we will get them recovered and we will be ready to go again but we have to play as well as we can play.
“We always want to improve. You always want the perfect performance and it’s rare that you get it.
“But you have to look for it all the time. In saying that, if we don’t get it on Tuesday night and still get a result, we’ll be happy.
“There were some good things and other bits we need to get better at but overall it was very pleasing.
“It’s nice to start the campaign with what looks like a comprehensive home win with a 3-0 scoreline.
“I thought we were really good for half an hour but then I just felt we got a little bit sloppy and casual.
“I told them at half-time, ‘Maybe you feel it’s a bit too easy – but it’s not because the scoreline says it’s not’.
“The second half was about trying to pick up the momentum we had in the first 30.
“It took us a bit longer to do that than it should.
“You’re always looking for the second goal in a game like that because that will probably be the crucial one.”
On Mcginn moving into seventh place in the all-time Scotland scoring charts, Clarke said: “He knows when to arrive in the box and 16 goals is a great return.
“He also has six assists so it is a big contribution to what we are doing.”
Angus Gunn made his debut in goal and Clarke said: “His handling was clean, his kicking was good.”
Cyprus manager Temuri Ketsbaia said: “I’d like to congratulate the Scottish team, they won fairly. It was a very nice game.
“Steve Clarke has done a very good job since he has been with the national team.
“He qualified for the last Euros. They have good players – just imagine having a Manchester United player on the bench.”