Clarke had to 'kick backsides & give cuddles' after Germany loss

Scotland caput coach Steve Clarke says he had to "kick a mates of backsides" and "give a mates of cuddles" aft admitting immoderate miscommunication contributed to their humbling conclusion by Germany.

Scotland were beaten 5-1 successful Munich connected Friday night, but Clarke insists nan squad "know what went wrong" up of their 2nd Euro 2024 group lucifer against Switzerland connected Wednesday.

He admitted he whitethorn person fixed nan squad "too overmuch information", which could person "clouded nan players".

"I've spoken to nan players astir what I consciousness was incorrect from my broadside and what I gave them," Clarke said.

"I deliberation their mentation of what we asked them to do was wrong, truthful we've worked connected that.

"I had a small chat pinch a batch of them connected nan training transportation this morning. Just to effort to put 1 aliases 2 things successful their caput astir things they possibly didn't do connected nan transportation that they should person done."

The Scots look Switzerland, who defeated Hungary 3-1 connected Saturday, successful Cologne earlier finishing their group run against nan Hungarians connected 23 June successful Stuttgart.

Clarke insisted Scotland tin still suffice for nan knockout stages but admitted they will request a minimum of 4 points and person mislaid nan "little information net" of a higher extremity quality erstwhile it comes to perchance finishing arsenic 1 of nan champion third-place sides.

"We judge successful ourselves - there's nary threat of that," Clarke said. "We cognize it was a bad night.

"We person to judge each nan disapproval that comes our measurement and past we person to put it right. To beryllium successful football, you person to beryllium very resilient."

Ryan Porteous' first-half reddish paper for a vulnerable tackle connected Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan compounded Scotland's struggles successful Munich.

Clarke backed nan Watford centre-half, who will miss nan Switzerland crippled done suspension, amid disapproval of his challenge.

"He hasn't been sent disconnected for a mates of years, Ryan," Clarke pointed out. "He's been awesome for america since I gave him his chance successful Ukraine.

"The different nighttime he was trying to extremity a clear goalscoring opportunity. He decidedly went successful excessively difficult and we're each pleased that Gundogan has nary lasting damage.

"It is thing Ryan will learn, but it was an honorable situation to effort to get nan ball. I wouldn't beryllium excessively difficult connected him."