Steve Clarke believes there’s no need for Scotland to be too hard on themselves despite falling to a last-minute goal by Cristiano Ronaldo in their recent Nations League match against Portugal.
The Match Highlights
In a dramatic finish, Ronaldo netted his 901st career goal with an 88th-minute strike, securing a 2-1 victory for Portugal.
Scotland had initially taken the lead when Scott McTominay scored a stunning header just seven minutes into the game.
This goal was his tenth in his last 17 international appearances.
However, Scotland’s goalkeeper, Angus Gunn, allowed a long-range shot from Bruno Fernandes to slip through his fingers early in the second half.
Despite making several crucial saves afterwards, Gunn was unable to stop Ronaldo’s decisive goal after the Portuguese superstar came off the bench at halftime.
Clarke’s Reaction
Clarke expressed his disappointment at the loss, particularly since it seemed for much of the match that Scotland might secure a positive result.
He praised his players, acknowledging that they deserved more from the game.
“We’re trying to adjust and build for the future,” Clarke said.
“It’s disappointing not to get points or avoid conceding late goals, but that’s the level we’re at. The players know it’s tough to get results here.”
He emphasized the importance of staying positive and continuing to work towards their goal of qualifying for the tournament.
Despite the loss, Clarke noted that there were many positives to take from their performances and urged his team not to be too discouraged.
Looking Ahead
With Scotland currently at the bottom of their group with no points from two matches, Clarke and his team will need to regroup and analyze their performance before their next fixtures.
Their upcoming opponents, Croatia, recently secured a 1-0 win over Poland with a superb free-kick by Luka Modric.
“We’ll review these games and aim to provide our players with some useful pointers for next month’s matches,” Clarke added.
“Facing quality players off the bench, like Roberto Martinez can bring, always poses a risk.
But we managed the game well despite the result.”
Scotland’s journey continues, and Clarke remains hopeful for a turnaround in their upcoming fixtures.
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