[ad_1]
Scotland beat Israel on penalties and won 1-0 against Slovakia and the Czech Republic last month.
Scotland’s players are “desperate” to boost the nation by beating Serbia to qualify for Euro 2020 next summer, says head coach Steve Clarke.
The national team will travel to Belgrade for the play-off match next Thursday.
Clarke has chosen a 27-man team with the goal of ending what would be a 23-year wait for a major final.
“I know the sentiment within the group: the players are desperate, desperate to lead their country to a great final,” Clarke told BBC Scotland.
- Scotland returns for Griffiths, Gordon and Hanley
“This group of players will not lack effort and effort, and the will and the attitude to cross that line and make sure we are involved in Euro 2020 next summer, which would be great for the nation and encourage everyone, especially in these difficult times. “
Scotland comes to the meeting with Serbia and the Nations League matches against Slovakia and Israel after eight games without defeat and having kept three goals in a row.
There are only three changes to the group that played in those games, with Celtic forward Leigh Griffiths, Hearts goalkeeper Craig Gordon and Norwich’s Grant Hanley the only additions.
Clarke told BBC Scotland’s Sportsound program that he has made a conscious effort to maintain consistency in the selection.
“It’s something I tried to work on from the lowest point when we lost 4-0 in Russia,” he said. “We had a little chat in the locker room and decided it had to be the lowest point.
“Since then I have tried to maintain coherence in the squad and I have tried to choose more or less the same group of players so that they know each other and not appear as strangers.
“The three games we won last month were crucial for the growth of the team and the squad.”
The September games laid the groundwork
The key to Scotland’s turnaround has been a formation change to 3-4-1-2, with Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay deployed as center back down the right side.
Despite starting with unconvincing displays in a Nations League goalless draw with Israel and a narrow win over a makeshift Czech team hit by Covid-19, Clarke says the September matches laid the groundwork.
“It wasn’t so long after the September games that everyone said we didn’t know what we were doing, we were a little confused and the equipment and form were not right,” he said.
“But those two games were crucial for us to be good for the October games and that’s how we used them and it worked well for us.
“You can’t go from being an idiot in September to a genius in October, there is a middle ground, and that’s where we are.”
Source: bbc.com
[ad_2]
