Steve Clarke is leading Scotland into the unknown with a stirring message that our Euro 2020 stars have nothing to fear.
The national team wrapped up a successful warm-up camp with a 1-0 win over Luxembourg and Clarke has sent his squad home for a couple days before final preparations for Monday’s Hampden opener against the Czech Republic begin in earnest.
And when they meet up at their base in Middlesbrough tomorrow, the national boss will tell them that they can make a massive impact on this, the first major tournament for Scotland in 23 years.
Clarke said: “We go into the tournament with a real positive attitude.
“We want to enjoy it and the best way to enjoy it is to go out there and play your best football.
“We will try to be on the front foot as much as we can – as much as the quality and the opponent allows us as well.
“I don’t think we have to be afraid.
“Over a period of time we have worked hard on trying to get better and better
“They gained confidence and definitely got a big shot in the arm when they managed to break the hoodoo and qualify in the game against Serbia.
“Since then they have started to believe in themselves a wee bit more and the more good results you get against good teams then the more you believe.
“We have worked hard over the last year or 18 months.
“We have put together a decent run of two defeats in 16 games. That is a reasonable run at any level of professional football.
“We’re in a good place going into the tournament and we just want to be competitive and do the very best we can.”
