Steve Clarke bemoans ‘painful’ loss as Scotland crumble against the Netherlands

Signal as much as Miguel Delaney’s Studying the Recreation e-newsletter despatched straight to your inbox totally free

Signal as much as Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly e-newsletter

Steve Clarke spoke of his ache after Scotland misplaced 4-0 to the Netherlands of their pleasant encounter in Amsterdam which served as the beginning of preparations for Euro 2024.

The guests began nicely and hit the aim body by way of Ryan Christie however the Dutch took the lead 5 minutes from the break with a Tijjani Reijnders drive.

Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland hit the bar within the 62nd minute with solely goalkeeper Mark Flekken to beat they usually had been made to pay 10 minutes later when Georginio Wijnaldum headed in a second.

Objectives from substitutes Wout Weghorst and Donyell Malen within the 84th and 86th minutes then made it six video games with out a win for the Scots, with 18 objectives conceded forward of the pleasant towards Northern Eire at Hampden Park on Tuesday night time.

Scotland haven’t gone six matches with out a win since a run from October 2007 to September 2008 and Clarke stated: “We misplaced 4-0 which is painful.

“The gamers are struggling and I’m struggling however there was lot of excellent stuff, we had been very aggressive with a superb Dutch crew for 70 minutes.

“It’s lots of objectives (18) and should you concede that quantity of objectives you aren’t going to win video games.

“We spoke about it earlier than so clearly we all know we have now to tighten up.

“The response to the second aim so most likely one thing we want to consider, how we dig in and present we’re arduous to beat and if it finishes 2-0 it finishes 2-0.

“We’ve got to be a bit extra streetwise towards the highest groups and they’re a prime crew.

“I didn’t say so much after it, when feelings are as excessive as they’re after a sore defeat it’s higher to return to the lodge.

“I’ll sit with my workers, analyse the sport and attempt to put together one thing that we are able to present to the gamers tomorrow.

“No wins in six so we have now to cease that on Tuesday night time.

“However there’s a lot to be constructive about. Folks can take a look at the scoreline and go detrimental, that’s as much as them.

“For 70 minutes… actually aggressive towards a prime aspect, we are able to take so much from that. We’ve got to analyse the final 20 minutes or so and look to do higher.”

There had been a clamour for Shankland to start out and regardless of his evident miss, Clarke gave his backing to the Hearts captain.

He stated: “He’s a striker, individuals overlook strikers miss so much in addition to rating lots of objectives, they gave to be in the suitable place and do the suitable factor.

“Lawrence will rating objectives sooner or later.

“I assumed his all-round play was good, he didn’t let his aspect down.”