GOAL HOLL S TUNS SCOTS
| Published date | 23 March 2024 |
| Publication title | Daily Star (England) |
And it certainly didn't just come from the nation who invented it.
Scotland still haven't won in Holland since the late 50s but they've never come here and had as much of the ball and created as many chances.
But if these pre-Euros knockabouts are about gaining confidence and learning lessons, this was a more than worthwhile exercise.
Steve Clarke's men took on the Dutch at their own game - and had more attempts on goal than the hosts.
Getting hit for four was as bewildering as it was brutal.
It was an agonising example of why these teams are at the very top and our side is scrapping to join them.
The Netherlands were so much more clinical. Tijjani Reijnders' wonder strike just before half-time was their first dig on target.
Georginio Wijnaldum grabbed the second after Lawrence Shankland and a few others passed up sitters to level.
Scotland let them offthe hook and then suffered a complete collapse at the end. But those were the moments that matter - and will matter in a few months.
Clarke hinted beforehand at having something up his sleeve.
Shankland getting his opportunity was a smart move.
The Hearts frontman is arguably the one question mark at this level and the one who perhaps needed the run out.
As for the rest. This lot are more comfortable than your favourite pair of slippers.
We know the midfield is where our real strength lies and that is where Clarke can get interesting.
You think Ryan Christie will play deeper like he has with Bournemouth.
Instead he was pushed right up.
Scott McTominay has been advanced of late but he was an anchor.
Mind you, none of them were sitting particularly deep.
It was high pressing, possession football from Clarke's men.
Up until the opener, Scotland had so much of the ball you would have thought the sides had swapped shirts.
There were a few sniffs as well.
Shankland got an early chance with a header he looped over.
And Scotland would have been ahead in that period if not for a sensational stop from keeper Mark Flekken when he managed to contort himself to scoop Christie's close range header on to the bar.
John McGinn wasn't far offeither when he prodded Christie's cross over.
Weirdly, it was the Dutch who were sitting in and looking to hit on the break. They looked fairly dangerous on a couple of raids.
Eventually it was going to dawn on Holland they were in a game and sure enough, they really switched on.
It was almost nonchalant the...
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