Portugal 2-1 Scotland: Analysis

From the outset, Scotland were up against it.

Penned back on the edge of their own box, they were forced into playing a back-six at times as Bernardo Silva and Fernandes tried to pick holes in the defence.

The Scots stood strong in that low block, though. Bodies were thrown on the line, but extreme caution was used when tackling after two penalties were conceded on Thursday against Poland.

One problem was ball retention. When Scotland did win the ball, they rarely kept it for very long and struggled to hit either McTominay or Lyndon Dykes.

Occasionally though, they were able to string a passing move together and get it up the pitch.

Another issue for Clarke is the nagging, inevitable feeling that they will eventually concede.

That’s now 33 goals shipped in 14 games. In the last six, they have been breached after the 85th minute on five occasions. There is a fragility that needs addressed.

There’s also the small matter of this winless run. They are now without a victory in their last eight competitive fixtures, the longest such run in their history.

With four tough fixtures to come in the Nations League – Croatia home and away, plus Portugal at Hampden and a trip to Poland – it doesn’t look like ending soon.

As for Ronaldo, what can you say? Maligned after a poor Euros, he was influential here.

He has now scored against 48 different countries, and stretched his lead at the top of the all-time international goalscorer chart in men’s football.

Surely no one will catch him.