WE WON’T NEED THE PLAY-OFFS

Bullish Clarke backs Scots to qualify for Euros via groups

STEVE CLARKE insists Scotland will not need a play-off to seal their place at the Euro 2024 finals.

A battling point against Ukraine in Poland saw the national team win Group B1 of the Nations League.

The prize for securing top spot is promotion to the Group A elite and the safety net of a qualification play-off for the European Championships in Germany.

Buoyed by Scotland’s recovery from an agonising World Cup exit to Ukraine in June, however, Clarke expects his revitalised team to take advantage of their Pot Two seeding and qualify automatically for the Euros without the drama of a play-off.

‘I don’t think with this group of players that we will need it, that’s my honest opinion,’ said the manager, who led the nation to their first major finals in 23 years when a play-off victory in Serbia sealed their place at Euro 2020.

‘I think we want to improve. You see it in the players and their performances this week.

‘It’s nice to have the safety net of the play-offs — but I feel we can qualify outright.

‘I said we would (qualify for the World Cup in Qatar) but we didn’t qualify, so I said to the lads: “Let’s get second in the group”.

‘They did that and now we are seeded two (for the Euro qualifiers). I would expect this team to qualify directly.’

The draw for the Euro 2024 finals takes place

in Frankfurt next weekend. After wins over Ukraine and the Republic of Ireland at Hampden, and Wednesday night’s draw with the Ukrainians in Krakow, Clarke sees no reason to feel anxious over Scotland’s likely opponents. Keen to continue the progress made by a team who are steadily improving, he added: ‘I haven’t looked at who is there yet or who we can get. I want to enjoy this week. I want the Scottish public to enjoy this week. ‘I want the players to go away feeling absolutely brilliant about themselves. ‘But let’s not just think that’s enough. Let’s push for more. ‘That’s the message I want to get across. Yes, it’s fantastic, but let’s see if we can get even better.’