QUALIFYING for back-to-back Euros is an achievement in itself and the Tartan Army are sure to make the most of it. The 2-0 win over Spain and the 15 other goals scored en route to Germany are decent reasons to believe Steve Clarke’s team can make an impact. But a run of seven games without a win, including a friendly defeat by Northern Ireland in March, suggests they should travel more in hope than expectation.
But if experienced players like captain Andy Robertson and goal machine Scott McTominay are fit and in form, the knockout stage is not beyond the Scots. Only Jock Stein, Andy Roxburgh and Craig Brown have managed Scotland in more games. The Aston Villa captain has reached new levels under the coaching of Unai Emery and is crucial to a midfield that provides most of Scotland’s goals.
We are likely to see Scotland line up in a 5-4-1 system with the Southampton striker Che Adams leading the attacking line. While Adams will run and work hard he is more used to making runs to drag defenders out of shape. It relies on players from the narrow three-man midfield and the attacking midfielder making runs behind him to stretch and open up the opposition.
McTominay and McGinn regularly make extremely long runs to get into the final third and they are often responsible for getting the goals. Scotland will typically look to build into wide areas with the full-backs and central midfielders working together. The players on the flanks then look to get the ball into the area or into.