The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
YOU CAN BE PRIDE OF SCOTLAND, CLARKE TELLS EUROS SQUAD
Scotland national team boss Steve Clarke has challenged his players to do the country proud on their long-awaited return to major tournament football today.
The national team kick off against the Czech Republic at 2pm this afternoon, in what will be their first game at a World Cup or European Championships for 23 years.
Clarke and his Scotland squad travelled up from their Darlington training base to Hampden Park yesterday, getting a first-hand taste of the growing support north of the border.
“Everyone is good and we’re all looking forward to the game,” said Clarke. “We can’t wait, really, to be honest.
“It feels like everyone in the country is excited about the tournament and that’s fantastic.
“Like we keep saying, we just want to get to the game and get started – and hopefully we can achieve a little bit more and do the country proud.”
Clarke has stayed true to his methodical nature in the build-up to the game, with his team already picked well in advance.
“I’ve known the team for a few days now, to be honest,” he said. “But listen, you have to wait and see what happens.
“You never know what can happen in football. But I’ve always had a fair idea of what the team would be for this game.
“I’m aware that the first game is different to the second game and it’s different to the third one.
“We have a 26-man squad and I’m hesitant to say I’m going to need all the players. But I’m going to need the vast majority in the squad.
“But the more perceptive within the group might have worked out what the team is by now.”
Like many around the football world, he passed on his best wishes to Christian Eriksen and his family, after the Denmark midfielder collapsed on the field during their game with Finland on Saturday.
Clarke said: “It was a horrible incident.
“Listen, the only thing for me to say on behalf of my staff, my players and everybody at the Scottish FA is that we wish Christian Eriksen a full and quick recovery.
“I hope his family – who must have found the whole ordeal extremely traumatic – are OK. I hope they get a lot of support and they come through it together.”