Scotland left wondering what might have been after cautious Euros exit… but there are encouraging signs for Steve Clarke’s side with Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney excelling in tandem and plenty of talent in midfield
- Scotland badly missed Billy Gilmour as they slumped to defeat against Croatia
- Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams could develop into a potent strike partnership
- Clarke may regret not starting Dykes and Adams against the Czech Republic
Steve Clarke needs strong relationships and in that sense, he is no different to any other manager at this tournament.
They have no time beforehand to develop understandings and fine tune those little tactical nuances that can alter the outcome of games at the highest level.
The biggest countries can rely on individualism to a degree – those game changers that turn it on. The best countries are those whose squad have been together for years – knowing each other’s game, responding as a team as if they were a club side.
Steve Clarke may look back with regret at Scotland’s overly cautious start to Euro 2020
Andy Robertson shows his disappointment as Scotland were knocked out of the Euros
Scotland are neither of those and so this tournament was always going to represent a tough ask for Clarke.
He has the duo of Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson down the left, a frightening pair who operate in tandem wonderfully, telepathically seesawing. But there are not too many other areas of the pitch in which Scotland absolutely excel in twos or packs.
There are some sections of this team that are showing encouraging signs. Their central midfielders can, and probably will, flourish in the future, although Billy Gilmour’s absent calm was felt on Tuesday.
The front two certainly have something between them, yet Clarke may look back on this group stage and wonder whether he has afforded them the maximum opportunity to effect Scotland’s progress.
Clarke appears to have found a good partnership in Lyndon Dykes (centre) and Che Adams
Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes have appeared as if they can grow into a reliable front line. Dykes is more brawn, Adams with added athleticism and a touch more goal threat.
They complemented each on Tuesday, the country’s biggest night for decades. Dykes won his headers early on, Adams picking up the bits and leaving Croatia fearful. Callum McGregor’s equaliser, a sweet hit from the edge of the box, arrived as a result of the two making nuisances of themselves. McGregor might not have been wheeling away had Clarke not started with two up.
Clarke could well look at the replay of that goal and admit a trick was missed at Hampden Park for the opener against Czech Republic. That was the game many had pinpointed as Scotland’s major chance to get out of this group yet Adams was left on the bench, Dykes ploughing a furrow alone, with Ryan Christie just off him.
Did they go for it enough then? Probably not. If Dykes and Adams were ultimately going to be the chosen pair, then they required minutes on the pitch from the off given they had started together only twice before the tournament – against Luxembourg and the Faroe Islands. It worked against England and Croatia. That will serve as a regret but ultimately offers future hope.