Steve Clarke's Euro 2024 approach dismantled as ex-Scotland star pinpoints 4 big changes he would’ve made

Former Scotland star Barry Bannan insists Steve Clarke hasn’t done enough at his two major tournaments and insists the set-up was far too cautious against Hungary as he picked out a raft of things he would have done differently in the tournament.

And the 34-year-old Sheffield Wednesday captain – capped 27 times for his country – admitted it’s down to the SFA what happens next with the manager with speculation over Clarke’s future as national team boss with two years left on his contract.

Scotland were hit with a sucker punch late on as they crashed out of Euro 2024 with the least shots on target in European Championships history. Scotland were thumped by Germany 5-1 in their opening game before a battling 1-1 draw against Switzerland offered hope of making history and qualifying for the knockout stage but it ended in failure. And that came on the back of picking up a single point at the same tournament three years ago and Bannan questioned why Clarke didn’t:

• Switch to a back four for the do-or-die clash with the Magyars in Stuttgart after Kieran Tierney’s injury

• James Forrest didn’t start after going into the tournament on the back of blistering end of season for for Celtic

• John McGinn and Scott McTominay were not deployed in positions that got the best out of them

• Lawrence Shankland wasn’t given enough time on the pitch after netting 30 goals for Hearts last season

Bannan, speaking to talkSPORT radio, said: “Tactically, we were very defensive-minded. I was watching the Hungary game and we were building up with SEVEN players from the back at times with the back five and two sitting midfielders. And you had John McGinn and Scott McTominay playing behind the striker but McGinn and McTominay are all-action midfielders. I don’t think they are No. 10s. They need to be in the thick of it and and that’s where we let ourselves down a bit.

“We play the five because we have Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson but with Tierney getting injured that was a chance to go to a back four and go more attacking and have two winger and a striker and a midfield three but because of how we’ve done previously with the five he stuck to that and I get that but the other night was the perfect opportunity to change that and go a bit more attacking and especially needing to win the game.

“We could have gone for it a bit more. The last 20 minutes was the only time we really went about Hungary and that’s when people like Stuart Armstrong and Lawrence Shankland came on and did really well in the 20 minutes they came on but it was too late. Hungary were starting to dominate and had the better chances and it’s hard to turn the game. I’d have liked us to have started more on the front foot.

“Shankland was brilliant against Hungary when he came on. He caused problems and had a few chances at the back post with headers. You know when he’s on the pitch and the ball comes into the box there will be a chance he’ll fashion himself. The width was coming from the full backs who were too deep. We’re struggling for wingers.

“Ben Doak had to pull out injured. But there’s different ways of having width. We lacked runners and pace in behind. Could Stuart Armstrong maybe have played off one of the sides and told him to get in behind with his pace? James Forrest was arguably the most in-form player going into the tournament and never got a minute.

"You could have played him as a right wing back - I know he won’t do you a job defensively but we were there to attack and we dominated the ball. Half time would have been an opportunity to put him or Lewis Morgan in one of the full back areas and not worry about the defensive side of things.

“It was frustrating because when you look back, Hungary were there for the taking. It wasn’t a great game to watch with two nervy teams but we had more than enough to win the game if we took off the handbrake.

“After the first game we had to lick our wounds. The Germany game they turned up in front of their fans and put on a real good performance. I know Scotland weren’t great but you kind of half expect against it sometimes when you play against the top teams that if they turn up then you’re not going to be able to live with them.

“I feel the last two games in the group we were probably stronger than both teams we played against but we never really turned up. We beat better teams in the group to get there so it’s disappointing when you actually get there, going into that last game against Hungary knowing if you won you were through, you would have taken that before the tournament. So it was a big disappointment.

On Clarke’s future, Bannon said: “Steve Clarke has done an unbelievable job. You can’t underestimate the job this group of players have done. They’ve got to major tournaments and done well in getting there but you are judged on how you do at major tournaments and we have struggled. I don’t know what will happen. It will be down to the SFA what happens next but Clarke and the boys have given us hope again but we haven’t stamped our authority on the tournament.”