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Steve Clarke credited Scotland’s defensive resilience after they boosted their hopes of remaining within the high tier of the Nations League by beating Croatia 1-0 at Hampden Park.
John McGinn got here off the bench to attain the all-important purpose as Scotland took benefit of Petar Sucic’s sending-off to say their first win of the 2024-25 Nations League marketing campaign.
The consequence – coupled with Poland’s crushing 5-1 defeat in Portugal – means Scotland will stave off automated relegation to League B in the event that they win in Warsaw on Monday.
Whereas Clarke felt Scotland may have accomplished extra with the ball, he was impressed each with their off-the-ball work and with the impression of tremendous sub McGinn.
“My first ideas after I got here off the pitch had been that we may play higher,” Clarke stated.
“We could possibly be extra scientific after we get to the ultimate third of the pitch. The sending off modified the sport, however we had been due a bit of break.
“It is a group of gamers that wish to achieve success, wish to do nicely for his or her nation.
“That’s one other clear sheet, two in a row. In the event you don’t concede targets, you all the time have an opportunity to win the sport.
“It was good to get John on the pitch and I believed his end was actually good as a result of it wasn’t simple. It was good to have the ability to take a look at the bench behind and know we had individuals who may come on and have an effect on the sport. It’s good after we get everyone match and out there.”
The victory was Scotland’s first in a aggressive match since September 2023, after they beat Cyprus 3-0 in Euro 2024 qualifying.
They’d gone 10 video games and not using a aggressive victory since then, drawing 4 and shedding six, together with a return of only one level from three outings at Euro 2024.
