Roberto Martinez highlights Steve Clarke’s ‘incredible’ Scotland record

Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez believes Steve Clarke’s “incredible record” in getting Scotland to Euro 2024 should outshine their recent downturn in results.

Scotland travel to Lisbon for Sunday’s Nations League Group A1 game on the back of an opening 3-2 home defeat by Poland and one win in 13 outings after failing to qualify from the group stage in Germany.

“I think it is important to measure what Steve Clark has done to the national team,” Martinez said. “He qualifies with an incredible record – an impressive way to the Euros is something to believe and to support.

“International football, it’s not easy to go to big tournaments and I think my experience tells me that it is well worth it to carry on and and believe in a project well beyond the emotional results of a big tournament where you’ve got the best players in Europe.

“But obviously Steve Clark has got a lot of experience, someone that has been in big dressing rooms and I think it’s more about what he’s done right than highlighting the recent results.”

Martinez inflicted Clarke’s first defeat as Scotland head coach with a 3-0 win as Belgium boss in June 2019 but suggested the Euro qualifying win over Spain showed they have improved since.

“They got a real understanding, they’ve got very good age group, a lot of caps in that starting XI and obviously Steve Clarke knows the players really well,” he added.

“The game against Spain will obviously be a standout for me. I think what was achieved against Spain at Hampden and away in Spain I think the performance showed that this Scottish game is a very competitive group.”