Scotland Men's Football Team

We asked for your reaction to the provisional 28-man Scotland squad picked by Steve Clarke for the Euros.

Here's what some of you said:

Mark: Why do managers always go to such extraordinary lengths not to include players who play in Scotland? Other than those who play for Celtic and Rangers, there's only one outfield player from a Scottish team, despite plenty of talent. No wonder we lose our best talent to the lower English leagues - they never get selected when they stay in Scotland.

James: Ryan Gauld and Lewis Morgan should be included on merit. Most players in the Scotland Squad are from leagues on par with the MLS and even from the English Championship none are standout. The players included returning from injury haven't proved they're on form.

Robin: Disappointed there's no place for Kevin Nisbet in the provisional squad. Clarke never gave him many minutes on the park when he was in the Euros squad. Looking at recent results, he seems to have been too loyal to some who got the game time and failed.

Anon: Centre-backs a problem, no genuine right-back and apart from Lawrence Shankland no goalscorer. It will be a struggle.

Alan: I am gutted to learn Ryan Jack has made the squad. He’s barely played this season. I feel we have to start going for a younger team now and not after the Euros. Any other team like a Germany or France give young players regular starts before older players finish careers. We have to change now.

Anon: I was puzzled by the inclusion of Ryan Jack and the amount of central defenders he named in the squad. With Ben Doak given a wildcard entry I would have liked to see another young up-and-coming player like Tommy Conway called up.

Alex: Hard to argue with many of Clarke's picks. However, the calibre of player isn't high enough to get out of our group in my opinion. I do feel for the manager, he hasn't got a lot to pick from at the moment.

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Andy Robertson admits it will be hard to treat the opening game of Euro 2024 against hosts Germany as anything other than a "special occasion".

The Liverpool left-back will become just the second Scotland skipper to lead his nation out at multiple major tournaments, after fellow Anfield stalwart Graeme Souness.

And while Robertson insists the primary objective will be to start the Euros with a positive result in Munich on 14 June, he expects emotions to be high inside the Allianz Arena.

"The easy answer is try to treat it as a normal game, but I don't think that's possible," the 30-year-old told Sky Sports.

"It's a special occasion. You're opening the tournament.

"Once our national anthem plays, there will be a lot of Tartan Army in there, but all of us will be singing it loud and proud.

"There will be that feeling in your stomach - that excitement - we don't want to take that away from all of us.

"It's important we use it to our advantage. We're ultimately there for our result and that's what we'll be fully focused on."

With more than 200,000 Scots reported to be travelling to Germany for a first major tournament without restrictions since the 1998 World Cup, Robertson hailed the support of the Tartan Army.

"The Tartan Army always surprise you," he said. "However many you think is going to be there, you can times it by five or 10. The way they support the team is unbelievable.

"Everyone you bump into in the street up here is going over. I don't know how they're all getting tickets. They believe their nation is back at major tournaments.

"I've had to block a few numbers. Everyone's trying to go."

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers reveals James Forrest has cancelled his summer holiday after being included in Steve Clarke's provisional Scotland squad for the Euros.

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James Forrest says he's looking to make more memories with Scotland after being named in the provisional squad for the Euros.

The winger's incredible end-of-season form caught the eye of national team boss Steve Clarke, who praised the 32-year-old as a role model to young footballers.

Forrest, whose previous most recent call-up came in 2021, says he's reaping the benefits for a successful period with Celtic.

"It's a massive bonus after the last couple of months," he told club media. "It's a great experience to go away with the national team for the Euros.

"I know most of the boys in the squad even though it's been a few years since I've been in the squad. I'm really looking forward to it.

"People were talking and asking me questions, but I've just loved the last couple of months. I've been really enjoying my football. You reap rewards with the national team.

"I've always loved it. You do well for Celtic and you get in. I've got a lot of memories playing for Scotland. Hopefully I can make another memory in the summer."

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Scot Gemmill says Ben Doak's inclusion in the provisional squad for Euro 2024 provides a "huge motivation" to Scotland's Under-21 players to impress Steve Clarke.

Liverpool forward Doak, 18, has six caps for Gemmill's Under-21s and has earned his first call-up to Clarke's squad for the finals in Germany next month.

With some fitness concerns present, he revealed any stand-by players would come from Gemmill's Scotland Under-21 squad which was named on Thursday morning for upcoming friendlies against Turkey and Austria.

“I think it is really exciting," Gemmill said. "Steve spoke about it yesterday, with the squad obviously raised to 26, he named 28, it is a provisional squad so I think it is really exciting and a brilliant opportunity for him, same as all the other players."

On the potential for more of his squad, which includes the likes of Josh Doig, Connor Barron, Max Johnston and Tommy Conway, to join Doak, Gemmill said: “It is huge motivation and it is fantastic that they know the national team manager is watching the Under-21s so closely.

“We said many times, he knows better than anybody, who is in the squad, what level they are at and the potential that they have and, as he said, anything can happen in football so the players have to be ready.

“The players are very intelligent, they will have watched Steve speaking and are watching the senior squad very closely.

“There will be players in our squad disappointed that they are not in Steve’s squad and I think that’s good, that’s healthy.

“We want to be working with players with that mentality and they need to keep pushing, they know that.”

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Craig Gordon shouldn't be taken to the Euros out of "sentiment" and must be ready to play, says former Scotland team-mate James McFadden.

The 41-year-old Hearts captain was named alongside fellow Tynecastle goalkeeper Zander Clark - as well as Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly - in Steve Clarke's provisional squad for next month's tournament.

Having returned to action earlier this year following a double leg break at the tail end of 2022, Gordon has struggled to force his way back into the Hearts team, which concerns McFadden.

"The best Craig Gordon is better than Zander Clarke, but if Craig's back to his best, he should be playing every week for Hearts and he hasn't been," he told BBC's Football Daily podcast.

"I get the experience, a fantastic goalkeeper. One of the best I've played with. I'd love him to go to the Euros, but not out of sentiment.

"He has to be at the level to be ready to play. If he's not, as terrible as this sounds, he shouldn't be there."

The Times' Scottish football correspondent Michael Grant expects Gordon's wealth of experience to earn him a seat on the plane.

"I don't think Craig Gordon is back in the squad for no reason, he said. "I think Craig's experience will count heavily is his favour with Steve Clarke.

"Gunn is the first choice goalkeeper, I suspect if he goes down to three goalkeepers it'll be Clark and Gordon who go with him."

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Kenny Miller believes Scotland's upcoming friendlies will go a long way in determining selection for the Euros, particularly in the troublesome right wing-back position.

Scotland face Gibraltar (3 June) and Finland (7 June) before they open the tournament proper against host nation Germany on 14 June, but will do so without Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson, who are both out injured.

Celtic's Anthony Ralston and Bristol City's Ross McCrorie are the two right-sided defenders in Steve Clarke's provisional 28-man squad, and Miller says McCrorie's "physicality" is what sets him apart.

"We'll see in these friendlies exactly where Steve Clarke's head's going to be at in terms of that position," the former Scotland striker said.

"Ross McCrorie has not got any caps, he's been in the squad, but he's not made onto the pitch yet. So if you see him getting a run out in these next games, it could be a test to see how he is going to fit in. Is it going to suit him?

"The problem is there is actually no other options that are all of the same level [of Hickey and Patterson]. So Steve Clarke's having to find a workaround at a really bad time.

"There's one thing for sure he'll suit, McCrorie has got the physicality to go all day up and down that right side, there's no questions about it.

"He's not going to have the same types of attacking qualities as what Hickey or Patterson have got; in that first game that might not be required too much.

"It'll be about being aggressive, being a good presence in the box, dealing with crosses or set-plays."

Former Scotland striker Kenny Miller is backing Steve Clarke's side to make history at Euro 2024 by progressing beyond the group stage.

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Scotland boss Steve Clarke is braced for "very difficult" face-to-face conversations next month when he has to cut two players from his squad for Euro 2024.

Clarke has announced a provisional pool of 28 ahead of warm-up friendlies against Gibraltar on 3 June and Finland on 7 June, the day he has to reduce the squad.

"More than a third of the squad have still got games to play this week, be involved in games before we meet up,” he said.

"There's probably five or six players who we have maybe a doubt about.

"Let's see how the pre-camp pans out and then we will take it from there. But ultimately there is going to be two very difficult conversations.

“The good thing about it is it won't be a telephone call. It will be a sit down, face to face and I will just have to tell it as it is. But it will be two difficult conversations.

"But I am really pleased I can sit here and put out those names. It makes the tournament feel a little bit more real."

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Scotland manager Steve Clarke has been speaking to the media after naming his provisional 28-man squad for Euro 2024.

Here are the key lines from the press conference:

• Clarke says he chose 28 players - two have to be omitted by 7 June - to "buy a little time", adding: "I've probably got half a dozen who are not playing regularly or coming back form injury. So it's just to go a little bit bigger and give us more breathing space. We can take a look at them over our 10 days together in the pre-camp".

• Uncapped 18-year-old Liverpool forward Ben Doak has "a lot of talent" and pace, which Scotland "haven't got in abundance".

• Clarke hints Doak will make the final squad by saying: "He's something a little bit different, he's young and has a lot to learn in the game. It just seemed like the right opportunity with the squad going from 23 to 26."

• On calling up uncapped Ross McCrorie: "I lost my two first-choice right backs/right wing-backs. Ross got back in the [Bristol City] team in the second half of the season, acquitted himself well and got some minutes under his belt."

• Rangers midfielder Ryan Jack brings experience and "deserves" to be in the squad, with Clarke adding: "He hasn't had the best end to the season for Rangers but he's been fit the past two or three weeks. He's a midfield player that's a little bit different."

• On recalling Celtic winger James Forrest: "If ever there's an example to young players on how to conduct yourself if things aren't going well at your club, James epitomises that. He's had a fantastic finish to the season. You're looking and thinking: 'Wow, James is back to where he was three or four years ago.' That was something I couldn't overlook."

• Going from 23 to a 26-man squad amid injuries to the likes of Lewis Ferguson and Aaron Hickey made the squad selection "more difficult" for Clarke.

• He says Scotland are "capable" of reaching the knockout stage for the first time, adding: "That would be a magnificent achievement. That'll be the aim."

Steve Clarke has shown his hand and picked his provisional 28-man Scotland squad for the Euros.

What do you make of his selection? Any glaring omissions? Any inclusions you're puzzled by?

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Ben Doak - the 'wildcard' in Steve Clark's squad for Euro 2024 - is the most exciting Scottish talent to emerge in years.

There's been a buzz about the precocious youngster with the electric pace ever since he was thrown on by Ange Postecoglou for a Celtic debut at the age of just 16 years and two months.

That was back in January 2020, and just a few months later he was lured away by Liverpool amid a deluge of interest from top cubs.

Now 18, Doak has had an injury-interrupted year at Anfield, but Clarke clearly has faith in the forward, who has previously been likened to Wayne Rooney.

Doak's agent, Jackie McNamara, told BBC Sport 18 months ago: "He's a Scottish Rooney. That's what I said to Ange at Celtic, I told him I've never seen anything like Ben."

Tommy McIntyre, the former Celtic B team manager, coached Doak in the club's academy ranks.

"He wasn't with me long before Ange took him up to the first team," said McIntyre. "He's so exciting because he's a player that gets fans off their seat - when he gets the ball, he's so direct.

"He's got blistering pace and has a trick as well. He can get past people, he provides crosses into the box, he creates chances, he finishes.

"He has a real winning mentality and you could see that with the way he played. He was a joy to work with."

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Captain Andy Robertson says getting past the group stage of a major tournament for the first time is Scotland's aim at Euro 2024 next month.

The Scots face hosts Germany in the tournament opener on 14 June and also take on Switzerland (19 June) and Hungary (23 June) in Group A.

"We have to be the team that creates history," the Liverpool left-back told Sky Sports.

"Getting out the group has to be our aim. It's a tough group but we believe we can give any team a game.

"If we do that and manage to get out the group, we'll be the first Scotland team to ever do that.

"We've been trying to create our own history and our own story within a nation with a lot of good teams in the past and legends of the game.

"We're aiming to create a small part of history and we've done that by reaching two tournaments.

"But being able to qualify outside the group would be a massive step, accelerate us further and give us more belief than we've already got."

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Not that he had much choice, but Steve Clarke must be crossing his fingers about the fitness and match sharpness of some of the players in his provisional squad.

Grant Hanley has played eight minutes since 6 March. Ryan Jack has not played since 7 March.

Stuart Armstrong has not played since 20 April. And then there's Ben Doak, a flying machine when fit, which he hasn't been for a while.

Doak has not played for Liverpool since 14 December. Clarke must have had encouraging updates about him, though, or else he wouldn't be near this squad.

Uncapped Liverpool winger Ben Doak, 18, is the big surprise in the provisional 28-man Scotland squad named by Steve Clarke for Euro 2024.

Another uncapped player, Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie, has also been picked and Celtic winger James Forrest – who won the last of his 36 caps in June 2021 – earns a recall.

Clarke has until 7 June to trim the squad to 26 players.

Follow all the reaction here.