Scott McTominay on squad's mentality

26th Mar 2024 | Source: BBC.com/Sport

The Netherlands were the latest top-tier team Scotland have faced since qualifying for Euro 2024

Scott McTominay says "there's no doom and gloom" in the Scotland squad and the players are determined to show how good they are going into Euro 2024.

Scotland face Northern Ireland live on BBC Scotland on Tuesday seeking to end a six-game winless run.

The 4-0 defeat in the Netherlands on Friday took their tally of goals conceded to 18 in those six games.

"I don't think confidence has dipped. We know we played some really good stuff the other night," McTominay said.

"So it's not all doom and gloom. It may seem like it from the results, but we want to keep pushing - we want to show everyone we are a really good team and we're capable of that with the squad we have.

"The one thing the squad's got in abundance is big belief in each other that we're going to do well and never give up."

Friendly match: Scotland v Northern Ireland
Venue: Hampden Park Date: Tuesday, 26 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC Scotland television and BBC Three from 19:30, on BBC Radio Scotland and live text on the BBC Sport website and app The Manchester United midfielder does however admit that there were aspects of the match against Netherlands that the squad know must change. Scotland created several promising opportunities in Amsterdam but failed to convert them and were then punished by clinical opponents at the end. "I feel like we all know that we had clear cut chances in the game, myself included, and come Germany time we need to make sure that they hit in the back of the net for sure," the 27-year-old added. "We're on red alert now for every small detail in the game that we want to improve on. "The 4-0 result was a little bit of an injustice, but you can get complacent, you can get too excited, you can get too ahead of yourself and take your foot off the gas. "Sometimes a little kick in the teeth isn't the worst thing in the world to get everyone back to the standards that we know we're accountable for." Steve Clarke's side open Euro 2024 in just 11 weeks' time against Germany on 14 June, before games against Switzerland then Hungary, as they bid to become the first Scotland side to reach the knockout stage of a men's tournament. "We want to be the most successful Scottish team in history to go there and show that we can do it," said McTominay, who is poised to win his 49th cap on Tuesday. "I have full belief in the whole team and obviously the manager the coaching staff as well."

Friendly match: Scotland v Northern Ireland

Venue: Hampden Park Date: Tuesday, 26 March Kick-off: 19:45 GMT

Coverage: Live on BBC Scotland television and BBC Three from 19:30, on BBC Radio Scotland and live text on the BBC Sport website and app

The Manchester United midfielder does however admit that there were aspects of the match against Netherlands that the squad know must change.

Scotland created several promising opportunities in Amsterdam but failed to convert them and were then punished by clinical opponents at the end.

"I feel like we all know that we had clear cut chances in the game, myself included, and come Germany time we need to make sure that they hit in the back of the net for sure," the 27-year-old added.

"We're on red alert now for every small detail in the game that we want to improve on.

"The 4-0 result was a little bit of an injustice, but you can get complacent, you can get too excited, you can get too ahead of yourself and take your foot off the gas.

"Sometimes a little kick in the teeth isn't the worst thing in the world to get everyone back to the standards that we know we're accountable for."

Steve Clarke's side open Euro 2024 in just 11 weeks' time against Germany on 14 June, before games against Switzerland then Hungary, as they bid to become the first Scotland side to reach the knockout stage of a men's tournament.

"We want to be the most successful Scottish team in history to go there and show that we can do it," said McTominay, who is poised to win his 49th cap on Tuesday.

"I have full belief in the whole team and obviously the manager the coaching staff as well."