Che Adams
SCOTLAND boss Steve Clarke offered a blunt eight-word response when asked why Che Adams was not selected from the start for his side’s Euro 2020 opener against Czech Republic. Leicester-born Adams, who only declared allegiance to Scotland in March, came into the tournament having scored twice in his four international appearances. That included the winning goal against Luxembourg earlier this month. Asked for his thoughts on the contribution of Adams and if there was an argument for him starting the game,
Steve Clarke replied: “Hindsight is a wonderful gift. Nobody’s got it.”
Scotland’s preparations were hampered by an injury to Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney in the build-up to the fixture. That saw the Tartan Army start with a back three, with Saints star Stuart Armstrong implemented from central midfield.
Steve Clarke said: “Obviously we’d done a lot of work on team shape and Kieran was involved in that. With 48 hours to go when he picks up the little niggle that kept him out, it does take a little bit of changing, it changes the dynamic of the team. Kieran has been an integral part of how we have played recently but I don’t think we defended too badly. The moments in the game that got away from us; the first one is preventable, the second is really good. The dynamic was okay in the rest of the team. I went with Stuart Armstrong to get someone driving from midfield. The way the game panned out, there wasn’t much midfield play in the first half. It was only when the game opened up and when we started to get the opportunity to play through midfield that I thought we were decent and created some good chances. Sometimes a football match doesn’t go your way. I don’t think there was much between the two sides if I am being honest. You look at our attempts at goal, our possession was good, we weren’t quite clinical enough.”
Scotland head to Wembley to take on England on Friday (8pm).
