Steve Clarke believes Scotland could not be in a better frame of mind as they head into Thursday’s Euro 2020 play-off with Serbia, a fixture that could bring them a first finals appearance in 23 years. Serbia are the favourites but Scotland arrive in Belgrade unbeaten in eight games.
“We have to continue to do what we’ve done before because what served us well last month will serve us well this month. We need to reach the same high standards,” Clarke said. “As we approach the game, I’m perfectly calm. We have prepared as well as we can prepare.
“We spoke about getting to this match in the best shape possible, with a good bit of positivity around us, and we’ve managed to do that. You can see that with the public and the media – everyone’s really positive about it – and hopefully we do ourselves justice.”
As Scotland edged past Israel on penalties to set up this showdown, Serbia surprisingly defeated Norway. “What I would say about Serbia is that they weren’t particularly great in the lead up to the Norway game,” Clarke said. “When the big one came around in Oslo they produced their best performance in five or six games. So we know to expect their best performance, their best players and their best team. We have to be ready for that. But we have identified one or two things that can maybe cause them a problem.”
His main selection choice surrounds Kieran Tierney, who could return to the team on the left of a now-preferred back three. “If I have to make the tough calls then I will be judged on the result of the game and not the team that I pick,” said Clarke. “That’s normal.”
