Steve Clarke aims to stop Scotland defeats ahead of Euro 2024
Scotland's 4-1 loss to France was their third straight defeat
Steve Clarke has told his Scotland players to "stop this run" of defeats next month after losing 4-1 to France in Lille.
The Scots went into the friendly knowing they had qualified for the 2024 European Championships at the weekend after Spain beat Norway to ensure Steve Clarke's side a top-two finish in Group A.
Scotland had lost 2-0 to Spain last week on the back of a 3-1 loss to England at Hampden Park in the 150th Heritage Anniversary match and the French were even classier.
Clarke made eight changes from Seville - goalkeepers Liam Kelly and Zander Clark played a half each to make their debuts and they stunned the home side when midfielder Billy Gilmour guided in the opener after 11 minutes - his first ever senior goal.
However, France defender Benjamin Pavard scored twice with headers, skipper Kylian Mbappe added a third from the spot before the break
after a VAR intervention saw referee Tobias Stieler judge Scotland defender Liam Cooper had held Olivier Giroud inside the penalty area and
Substitute Kingsley Coman hammered in a fourth to seal a commanding win for the superior home side.
After winning their first five Euro qualifiers, Scotland have lost three in a row and Clarke want to get that winning feeling back in the final two qualifiers against Georgia and Norway next month.
He said: "We can take the memory of the qualification but we lost two games in the camp.
"We don't like losing. I don't want them to be comfortable losing or happy to lose.
"We spoke about that after the game.
"It is important we set our standards higher than that.
"We have lost three in a row now and I have asked them to make sure that when we got to Georgia that we stop this run.
"We want to run of losing and finish on the same points as Spain so the target is to finish with 21 point which will make it a good campaign."
Clarke, who was "happy" with his team selection acknowledged the superiority of the home side.
He said: "I thought we started the game really well, the first 15 minute was good and we got ourselves in front.
"To concede a goal from a corner was disappointing because we know France can score from open play and we try not to give goals away from set plays.
"The third goal - I don't think VAR should have got involved in the decision, it was soft and when the referee goes there he has to be strong to stick with his original decision.
"Both players were at it and that takes the game away from us.
"The second half was okay but France are always a threat with their pace and power and quality.
"So lots to learn, lots to improve. We know we are not at that level yet.
"It is level we are going to strive to get to and the harder we strive the better team we will be."
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