Steve Clarke says Scotland have put a marker down of their bid to qualify for Euro 2024 after securing a well-known 2-0 victory over Spain at Hampden Park, however he warned there’s nonetheless an extended approach to go to seal qualification.
Scott McTominay scored a double because the Scots secured a primary win over Spain since 1984 to take management of their Euro 2024 qualifying marketing campaign.
Clarke’s males now sit prime of Group A after back-to-back wins, however he says there’s nonetheless loads of work to do for Scotland to achieve a second straight European Championships.
“You do not qualify with six factors so we have an extended approach to go,” he mentioned.
“Two good performances over the 9 days we have been collectively. It was vital to capitalise on the house video games as a lot as we might and we have managed to try this with most factors.
“All the credit score goes to the gamers, 16 on the pitch tonight and never one allow us to down. Seven gamers within the stand simply each bit as glad as everybody else.
“We have group and we’re working onerous to get higher and higher. Tonight was an opportunity to place our mark on the group.
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Scotland’s Scott Tominay and Andy Robertson rejoice after making it 1-0
“We wish to be aggressive towards the highest groups and that is what we did.”
He added: “It ought to give the gamers extra perception.
“That’s the final two prime groups, Spain and Norway in World Cup qualifying, have come to Hampden and left with no factors in order that’s a step ahead by way of believing in what we’re making an attempt to do.
“It’s essential to remain grounded as there’s nonetheless an extended approach to go within the group and, as we all know to our value, one sport can value you dearly.”
‘Scotland in an amazing place in Group A’
Former Scotland worldwide David Marshall on Sky Sports News:
“Historically, folks nonetheless speak concerning the Kenny Dalglish winner towards Spain in 1984 so they are going to be speaking about this win for years to return.
“However, the largest factor about this win is the place it places us in for the remainder of this marketing campaign and the arrogance the staff will take from it.
“Everybody has been speaking about us being in competitors with Norway and Georgia for the second spot on this group, however Scotland have a incredible squad now. There is actual depth. There have been a couple of accidents within the sport and the boys approaching are an analogous commonplace.
“It’s a superb evening for the followers and the gamers, however what a place it places Scotland in to qualify robotically for Euro 2024.”
‘The supervisor instructed us this was our probability’
Scotland hero McTominay continued his good scoring kind, netting twice for the second straight sport, and the Manchester United midfielder revealed that supervisor Clarke instructed the gamers they’d an opportunity to create their very own legacy towards Spain.
“We did actually, very well,” he mentioned. “We knew they’d have a lot of the ball, and the supervisor mentioned to be medical once we had the alternatives, and I assumed we had sufficient alternatives tonight to essentially harm them and rating some targets.
Scotland ahead Ryan Christie reacts after his facet beat Spain 2-0 of their Euro 2024 qualifying match.
“As a child, I used to be an attacking midfielder – I wish to get within the field. I’ve bought to maintain doing that, I do know I can add extra targets and assists to my sport.
“Look at this place – I’ve by no means seen something prefer it, unimaginable.
“The supervisor mentioned that is our probability to create legacies as Scotland gamers and these are the nights in 20, 30 years that individuals keep in mind. We cannot thank the followers sufficient.”
Marshall’s reward for McTominay…
Former Scotland worldwide David Marshall on Sky Sports News:
“There have been so many good performances from Scotland.
“But I’m glad for Scott [McTominay]. He works so onerous and is an unimaginable athlete.
“He proven over the past two video games that he is good for a objective as effectively. They have been two unimaginable strikes together with his left foot towards Spain.
“He produced a superb efficiency and I’m positive folks at Manchester United will probably be taking word forward of the weekend.”
‘Clarke deserves a lot credit score’
David Marshall claims that the 2-0 win over Spain at Hampden Park within the European Qualifier will probably be remembered for years to return and means that Steve Clarke’s facet are actually in an amazing place to qualify for the 2024 Euros.
Former Scotland goalkeeper David Marshall, who watched Scotland’s win over Spain for Sky Sports News, believes the Scots now have an amazing mix of youth and expertise within the squad and says supervisor Clarke deserves loads of credit score for the modifications he is made.
“It’s straightforward to say how effectively it has gone when you find yourself successful video games,” Marshall mentioned.
“Initially we struggled. We gained our first sport underneath Clarke however then we had Belgium and Russia twice and misplaced 4 video games.
“He made a whole lot of modifications to the squad. He knew precisely what he needed and what kind of character he needed inside the squad, and he constructed it.
“It was an actual close-knit squad that bought us to the Euros and with worldwide soccer there’s at all times a whole lot of turnover however he is added to it.
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Scotland gamers rejoice at full-time
“There are incredible younger gamers coming in and it’s only a nice combine. It’s an amazing mix of gamers and the supervisor has to take monumental credit score for what he is executed. It’s so huge for Scotland that he is signed a brand new contract.
“We’ve had loads of disappointments previously however that may be a enormous win. Let’s hope we are able to kick on now, qualify for Euro 2024 after which make it a daily incidence at main tournaments.
He added: “Clarke would not present a lot emotion. He’s very a lot for the gamers. He backs his gamers, and that dressing room will probably be bouncing.
“It will probably be an especially glad camp after that.
“The ways have been spot on and Spain did not actually lay a glove on Scotland. The win might have been by extra and an enormous quantity of credit score has to go to the supervisor.”
‘The method they play is garbage’
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Rodri criticised Scotland’s type of play after his misplaced 2-0 at Hampden Park
Spain had not been crushed in Euro qualifying since 2014, after they have been crushed 2-1 by Slovakia forward of the 2016 event in France.
They had gained 34 of their final 38 European qualifying matches, with three attracts, however at Hampden Park they seemed unsettled.
Man City midfielder Rodri skippered a facet that includes eight modifications from their earlier sport, and he criticised the way in which Scotland went about their work.
“We did many good issues to win,” he mentioned on Viaplay. “We conceded straightforward targets – that is soccer, in case you concede straightforward targets you might be penalised.
“It’s the way in which they play, however for me it is garbage, at all times losing time, upsetting you, at all times they fall. For me, this isn’t soccer. The referee has to tackle this, however he says nothing.
“We will be taught for the subsequent time. We wish to go for duels, for battles – we at all times struggle, however this isn’t about preventing. It’s about losing time – 4, 5 gamers on the ground, however this depends upon the referee, not on us.
“Today we did many good issues, however what’s vital is the objective, and we did not rating.”
It was a troublesome evening for us. We could not benefit from our probabilities they usually bought the targets in transitions.
Spain midfielder Mikel Merino
‘Euros qualification is now life like for Scotland’ | Steve Clarke created togetherness
The Mirror’s John Cross and Sam Wallace from the Daily Telegraph focus on Scotland’s 2-0 win over Spain in European Championship qualification.
Opta stats: A primary win over Spain since 1984, 5 wins in a row at dwelling – Scotland’s beautiful evening in stats…
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Scotland secured a win over Spain for the primary time since 1984
Scotland earned their first win over Spain since November 1984 (3-1 in a World Cup qualifier), whereas this was simply their third ever aggressive victory towards them (1957, 1984 and 2023).Scotland have gained 5 consecutive dwelling matches for the primary time since September 2006-October 2007, after they gained six in a row between tenures of Walter Smith and Alex McLeish.Spain suffered their first defeat in a Euro qualifying match since October 2014 (1-2 v Slovakia), having gained 17 of their final 19 such fixtures (D2) and by no means conceding greater than as soon as in a sport on this run.
What’s subsequent?
Scotland’s subsequent Euro 2024 qualifiers are in June.
They are away to Norway on June 17 earlier than a match towards Georgia at Hampden Park on June 20.
