Scotland at Euro 2024: Latest from camp as Swiss game approaches – live text

Image source, PA Media

Steve Clarke came across well, he struck a decent balance of accepting blame for what went wrong while also sounding enough of a rallying cry ahead of Wednesday.

There was no insight on what he will alter for the Swiss, but he had his cheery face on which, to be fair, isn’t necessarily a positive. You always know that things aren’t quite what they should be when Clarke is smiling. A grumpier head is far more reassuring.

More than anybody, he will know that talk is cheap. It’s been the mantra of his coaching life and this, unquestionably, is one of the biggest weeks in all his years in the game.

Past history tells us not to write him off. He inherited an unholy mess and brought order and optimism.

His team hit the buffers after losing to Ukraine in a World Cup play-off and again to the Republic of Ireland in Dublin. The distress flares hit the skies in the wake of those performances, but Clarke was cool and composed and Scotland came again in a major way.

So, that’s where his belief in himself and his players comes from. They’ve been in bad places before and have found their way out.

Ultimately, that was his message on Sunday. Keep the faith. It’ll be better when Wednesday comes.