Clarke to name Scotland squad for upcoming Nations League matches

Steve Clarke will unveil his Scotland squad later on Tuesday for next month’s Nations League matches.

The Scots take on Poland at Hampden in their group opener on Thursday, September 5 before travelling to Lisbon for a clash against Portugal on Sunday, September 8.

It will be the first gathering of the national side since this summer’s European Championship in Germany, where the Scots went out at the group stage having only mustered three shots on target during the entire tournament.

Scotland were thrashed 5-1 by host nation Germany in the opening match and then earned a point in a hard-fought draw with Switzerland in Cologne.

But any hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages for the first time were dashed in the final game when Hungary scored deep into stoppage time to seal a 1-0 win and condemn Clarke’s team to the bottom of Group A.

The Tartan Army will be listening intently on Tuesday as the Scotland boss speaks for the first time since that dispiriting night in Stuttgart.

Clarke can no longer call upon the services of Celtic midfielder Callum McGregor after the 31-year-old called time on his international career in the summer.

Speaking last week, McGregor said: “We just had the one chat and he was respectful to what I was giving him on the phone and the chat that we had,” McGregor said.

“We’re both experienced people, he’s an experienced manager and I’m an experienced player.

“I try not to be too high maintenance as a player. So when I gave him my thoughts then he was happy to respect that.

“I’ve got an enormous amount of respect for Steve and what he’s done for the national team and what he’s done for my national team career as well.”

This year’s Nations League is partially linked with European qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

Scotland are in League A after being promoted during the last Nations League campaign, when Clarke’s side won a group that included Ukraine, the Republic of Ireland and Armenia.