Nations League: Scotland coach Steve Clarke wants 'evolution, not revolution' as Andy Robertson calls for positivity | Football news

Steve Clarke wants an “evolution, not a revolution” for Scotland as the team returns to action for the first time since their Euro 2024 disappointment.

They open their Nations League campaign with a visit to Poland at Hampden Park before travelling to face Portugal in Lisbon on Sunday.

After a disappointing summer in Germany, Clarke also looks ahead to World Cup qualification and his hopes of reaching the 2026 tournament.

The manager has to do without the injury-related loss of Che Adams and the Celtic duo James Forrest and Greg Taylor, while Hoops captain Callum McGregor has withdrawn from international duty, but is seeing things in a positive light.

“This is our first game. The players who played for their clubs at the beginning of the season are still a bit fresher,” he said.

“It's been a long summer but we're looking forward to the game to see what we get from the players and I'm sure the reaction will be great.

“It's an evolution, not a revolution. We've had a significant number of injuries which have probably impacted my squad a little bit. That means I've had to call on the U21 squad, probably too often if I'm honest, because the U21s have some very important games coming up as well.

“That brings its own freshness and I've mentioned it before. We respect the core group that managed to qualify for two consecutive European Championships, but within that core group you have to try to add a little bit more.

“I look at this Nations League season and think it's a chance to develop the group so that when we get to the World Cup qualifiers we're in better shape, ready to go again and qualify for our third of four tournaments.”

Robertson: “We have to perform to feel the love again”

Scotland captain Andy Robertson says the team must perform in the Nations League if they want to feel “the love” of the fans again.

“The summer was a low point for all of us,” he said.

“But we have to get over it. We have to stay positive, otherwise there is no point in being here. We have to believe in it.”

“Okay, maybe there are some doubters in our country again. Our country was fully behind us in the summer.

“We understand that they are disappointed and now it is up to us to get them back on our feet. It is up to us to show on the pitch that we are ready to fight, win games and really put in the effort.”

“If we succeed in doing this, we know that our fans will come with us.

“We have now taken part in two tournaments and achieved only two draws. We have not made the progress we would have liked.”

“We have to look at that. And in preparation, when we played against the stronger nations like England and France, we didn't show how good we can be.”

“But not long ago we beat the European champions here at Hampden, we also beat a really good Danish team. We also played against Spain away.

“We need to be more consistent in this. We have done this before, but not always. We need to get better at this, especially in tournaments.”

The entire Scottish squad

Goalkeeper: Zander Clark (Heart of Midlothian), Angus Gunn (Norwich City), Jon McCracken (Dundee).

Defender: Grant Hanley (Norwich City), Max Johnston (SK Sturm Graz), Scott McKenna (UD Las Palmas), Ryan Porteous (Watford), Anthony Ralston (Celtic), Andrew Robertson (Liverpool), John Souttar (Rangers).

Midfielder: Ryan Christie (AFC Bournemouth), Ben Doak (Liverpool), Ryan Gauld (Vancouver Whitecaps), Billy Gilmour (Brighton & Hove Albion FC), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Kenny McLean (Norwich City), Scott McTominay (Manchester United) , Lewis Morgan (New York Red Bulls), Connor Barron (Rangers), Josh Doig (Sassuolo).

Forward: Tommy Conway (Middlesborough), Lyndon Dykes (Queens Park Rangers), Lawrence Shankland (Heart of Midlothian).

Scotland's Nations League matches

• Poland (h) – 5 September
• Portugal (a) – 8 September
• Croatia (a) – 12 October
• Portugal (h) – 15 October
• Croatia (h) – 15 November
• Poland (a) – 18 November

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