Steve Clarke: Top class Scotland performance can take us to Euro 2024

Scotland require a draw against Spain to reach the tournament in Germany

Author: Gabriel AntoniazziPublished 11th Oct 2023

Steve Clarke believes a top class performance against Spain could get Scotland the point they need to qualify for Euro 2024.

The Scots have won their first five qualifiers including a morale-boosting 2-0 victory over the Spanish at Hampden Park in March.

Scotland are six points clear of Luis de la Fuente's side at the top of the table and will qualify for next summer's finals in Germany if they avoid defeat in Spain or if Norway fail to beat Cyprus on the same night while Scots have Georgia away and Norway at home in November.

Clarke said: "Belief will be part of it, obviously we have to get the tactics right.

"The players have to put into practise on the pitch what we have spoken about on the training ground.

"They have to play to our maximum and belief is a part of that as well.

"We have to play our game as well as we can and I believe that will be good enough to get something from the game

"Very good team. Obviously they win the Nations League in the summer.

"I think when we played them in March they were probably a little bit in transition between the previous coach and new coach.

"They had a disappointing World Cup campaign so we maybe got them at a good time in March.

"We know we have to be very good to get a positive result tomorrow night.

"I think we have been constantly improving over ,my tenure as head coach.

We are improving all the time. we are striving to improve, trying to add little bit to our game that will make us more competitive against the top teams but we understand we still have a bit to go."

"But we don't come here thinking that we have to sit in and defend all night.

"We have to be as effective with the ball as we were at Hampden.

"We want to get the job done as quickly as possible.

"If we are good enough to get it done tomorrow night that would be great. If not we have two more chances in November and we have those chances because we started the group so well.

"We have 15 points from five games, that is a good start.

"We know we have to get more points to get over the line. Do I think this team will finish the group on 15 points? No, I think we will get more points. Whether that is tomorrow or in November."

Thursday's game at Estadio de la Cartuja kicks off at 7.45pm.

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