What questions do Clarke's Scots face in Portugal?

Scotland caput to Portugal to look possibly nan toughest trial of their Nations League group connected nan backmost of a tally of conscionable 1 triumph successful 13 matches.

After losing their Nations League Group A1 opener 3-2 to Poland astatine Hampden Park connected Thursday, Scotland person now mislaid 5 of their 8 matches successful 2024, pinch their only triumph coming successful a friends against Gibraltar successful June.

Now, Cristiano Ronaldo, Bernardo Silva and Bruno Fernandes caput an all-star formed waiting ominously successful Lisbon for Steve Clarke's broadside connected Sunday.

So what questions must beryllium asked of Scotland's caput coach earlier Sunday’s lucifer against a squad classed number 8 successful nan world?

BBC Radio Scotland's Sportsound sheet person been giving their thoughts.

Clarke's preferred statement is usually immoderate variety of a five-back formation. However, Scotland lined up pinch a backmost 4 against nan Poles.

With nary Kieran Tierney, Aaron Hickey aliases Nathan Patterson successful nan squad done injury, tin we expect that to beryllium nan lawsuit again successful Portugal?

Former Scotland head Craig Levein: "I'm not 100% sure. We tried to crowbar [Andy] Robertson and [Kieran] Tierney onto nan aforesaid side. I thought we had recovered a solution by playing a backmost 5 pinch 1 astatine near wing-back and 1 astatine near centre-back.

"However, Tierney isn't available, truthful I'm not sure. The 5 gives america a wee spot much safety, but if you play a five, your helping backs person to beryllium adventurous. If they’re not, past advancement up nan transportation is limited."

Former Scotland midfielder Leanne Crichton: "I don't deliberation nan unit lends itself to a backmost five. I don’t deliberation we’ve sewage a right-sided helping back.

"It's not Anthony Ralston's position. He needs to beryllium deeper erstwhile receiving nan ball.

"Max Johnston could beryllium a wing-back, but he has not capable minutes played this season. Would it beryllium reckless to commencement him?

"When you don't person Aaron Hickey aliases Nathan Patterson, it’s a existent struggle to spell pinch a backmost five."

Former Scotland centre-half Willie Miller: "It would beryllium nan 3 centre backs for maine aft watching america play pinch 2 connected Thursday.

"I'm not judge astir nan personnel, aliases nan formation, but you've sewage overmuch much work if it's only nan 2 of you.

"Another centre-back contracts nan abstraction that nan guidance tin expose and you request to do that astatine nan apical level. I would inquire Grant Hanley to play successful nan middle, pinch Scott McKenna connected 1 broadside and either John Souttar aliases Ryan Porteous connected nan different side."

Angus Gunn is Scotland's number one, pinch Zander Clark called up ahead of Craig Gordon contempt nan veteran, who has been near retired of nan existent Scotland squad, being first prime pinch Heart of Midlothian.

However, aft nan Norwich City goalkeeper shipped 10 goals successful nan past 4 matches, is it clip for a alteration betwixt nan sticks?

Craig Levein: "Craig Gordon is nan champion goalkeeper Scotland have.

"He still wants to beryllium successful Scotland squads. I said to him not agelong agone - that was nan belief I got.

"It would calm everybody down - that's what I'd say. He's 42 successful December. This is wherever we’re at. He is our champion goalkeeper."

Leanne Crichton: "I don’t deliberation Gunn has been convincing. When I look backmost astatine his goals conceded astatine this level, I don’t deliberation he anticipates capable aliases moves his feet speedy enough.

"If you’re going to criticise Hanley and Ralston, you request to speak astir nan goalkeeper. I wonderment astatine what constituent he [Steve Clarke] looks astatine it and thinks it’s clip to return him retired of nan firing line?

"Zander Clark is simply a bully goalkeeper. He’s not successful squads to not astatine slightest beryllium a information astatine immoderate point."

Clarke has led this Scotland squad to back-to-back European Championship qualifications, but performances complete nan past 12 months person not precisely been inspiring.

One triumph successful 13 conscionable adds to nan misery of a dismal Euro 2024 run successful which Scotland earned conscionable 1 constituent retired of a imaginable nine.

Craig Levein: "I deliberation he's nan correct feline for nan job, I do. The players are putting a displacement successful - they are each in."

Leanne Crichton: "He's nan correct man for nan occupation correct now. I don’t deliberation he'd beryllium location otherwise.

"His remit is to suffice for awesome tournaments and he's taken nan men's nationalist squad to two. He has group his sights connected nan World Cup, truthful let's springiness him that chance. I don't spot anyone that I'd person travel successful instead."

Willie Miller: "The players are still connected his side. The Euros were very disappointing, but that capacity connected Thursday nighttime was much encouraging.

"His occupation is to suffice for nan World Cup. We've sewage to springiness him nan opportunity to do that.

"Irrespective of really this Nations League run goes, I deliberation we should enactment pinch Steve Clarke."