Steve Clarke 'pleased' with Adams amid major Carver update
Speaking post-match, Clarke reflected on the emphatic win, explaining how Sunday night's Nations League final proved how Scotland can still compete at the elite level: "I know my players, I trust my players... It's nice to finish this camp with a nice win," he told BBC.
Read more:
"Most teams will come here and win against Liechtenstein, but not many come here and score four goals.
"It's still a disappointing camp because we didn't play as we can play in the home game at Hampden.
"I'm certainly going to carry that into August. There was a little bit of hurt and anger in the dressing room, I think you saw that in the first 20 to 25 minutes when the players were really on it.
"If you look at the Nations League final between Portugal and Spain, in recent times, this Scotland team has shown how competitive it can be against that type of team.
"So, you look at the two best teams in Europe competing in a final, we can compete."
Forward Adams' display was perhaps his finest in dark blue. A perfect hat-trick, combined with a fine assist for strike partner George Hirst, meant the Torino man grabbed the headlines.
Despite making several substitutions throughout the 90, Clarke left a hungry Adams on: "I'm really pleased for Che," he added.
"We know what Che can bring. He's been with us for a couple of years now. He's a top-quality striker.
"I left him on because I knew he would be desperate for a hat-trick."
Question marks have hung over the future of Clarke's long-term lieutenant, Carver, for some time. The 60-year-old joined the Scotland set up in 2020 but recently took up a role with Polish Ekstraklasa outfit Lechia Gdansk, whom he successfully helped avoid the drop to the second-tier last season.
"I think the wave goodbye to the crowd was a giveaway," admitted Clarke post-match.
"The thing with John was that when I approached him to come and help us, I didn't think he'd be here for five years because he's a talented coach. We'll miss him, we'll have to look to replace him, and that'll be my job over the summer. We wish him every success."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Rhyl Journal
41 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
We can't ask any more in terms of character – Northern Ireland's Michael O'Neill
Isaac Price fired Northern Ireland in front in the 36th minute, but then had to make a goal-line clearance to deny Andri Gudjohnsen in the second half as O'Neill's side came under pressure following the sending-off of Brodie Spencer. That dismissal changed the game completely, but O'Neill was proud of the way his players responded as Northern Ireland won a match they finished with 10 men for the first time since their famous win over Spain in 1982. 'We didn't start the game well, we gave the ball away a lot,' O'Neill said. 'They pressed us and we didn't deal with that as well as we could… 'We struggled to get pressure on the ball, but really they didn't cause us any threat either. It's frustrating when you're at home that you're not having a bit more of a foothold and dominance. 'But we're going to have to play like that so I think this team, they've got a strong character and desire when things are going against them to stay in the game… 'There's a lot of things we can do better, but in terms of character, we can't ask any more. In terms of defending as a team and as a unit without the ball, I thought we were excellent.' Spencer was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity after tangling with Iceland skipper Hakon Haraldsson as he tried to break into the box, a decision which infuriated the Northern Ireland players as they surrounded referee Morten Krogh, and frustrated O'Neill. Isaac Price's goal makes him the youngest player to score 9 goals for Northern Ireland at 21 years 257 days 👏 #GAWA Stat: @NIStats — Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 10, 2025 'I think it's a poor decision,' O'Neill said. 'The referee doesn't have a very good view of it. Brodie and the attacking player, it's more like their legs get tangled than anything else. 'Daniel (Ballard) is a covering defender as well. And the first touch of the Iceland player goes right through Pierce (Charles), he doesn't have the ball under control. 'But you see when the incident happens the referee (isn't close) so he was very, very quick to produce a red card given he doesn't have the benefit of VAR. I was disappointed with it because it obviously changes the game.' Northern Ireland hung on well. As well as Price's clearance off the line, Charles made a stoppage-time save to keep out Isak Johannesson's header. Price's goal was another quality finish from the 21-year-old West Brom forward – his ninth international goal. George Saville won a challenge to prod it to him and after a couple of touches he bent a shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. 📸🤩 #GAWA — Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 10, 2025 'I don't think there's too many players come in and play international football and adapt to it as quickly as Isaac has,' O'Neill said. 'He has that ability just to do something a little bit different, a little bit special. The goal is an example of that. 'But his biggest contribution to the team is off the ball and his running ability, his ability to press. 'When you've got that type of player who can score goals and has that level of technical ability, you're always concerned about their off-the-ball play, but for him, it's not a problem.'
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Real Betis want further talks with Man United over a deal for Antony - as LaLiga side propose ANOTHER loan with a £35m option to buy
Real Betis want further talks with Manchester United over a proposed deal for winger Antony following his successful loan spell. Betis are proposing another loan with option to buy around £35million. The Brazilian failed to live up to the £86m fee the Red Devils paid Ajax for his services in 2022, providing just 12 goals and five assists in 96 games at Old Trafford. Yet a brief sojourn in Seville in the second half of the season seems to have reinvigorated the player, who came up with 14 contributions in 26 appearances - just five shy of his entire United tally in nearly a quarter of the time. However that could come to help United this summer as they look to move him on, and an upturn in form appears to have reminded potential suitors that there is at least a talented attacker still in Antony. The 25-year-old played a crucial role in Betis' resurgence in the second half of the campaign and starred in their run to the Conference League final, where they suffered a 4-1 defeat by Chelsea. Following the loss, Antony posted an emotional farewell message to Real Betis and thanked them for helping him rediscover his 'joy'. Narrating over a series of highlight clips from his time at the club, he said: 'Today one of the most beautiful chapters of my life closes. And before I turn the last page, I need to tell you why you were and always will be so special to me. 'Since I was little, football wasn't just a dream or my only chance to change my life. As many people say. For me, it was much more than that. It was my joy. 'While others saw football as a way out, I saw it as a way to reach my destination. The only place where I felt complete. I counted the minutes until I could chase the ball. 'Playing wasn't an escape. It was destiny. It was pure happiness. Life took me far from the favela to the world. I left Brazil, played in Holland, in England, stopped being just a kid, and became a father. Many things changed. 'But football, football was always there. It was always my refuge. Until one day, everything fell apart. From heaven to hell. The ball stopped coming in. The joy faded. My world turned dark. And I began to doubt myself, my talent, my passion for football. 'And that's when football gave me something else: you. When I arrived here, I didn't know what to expect. But not even in my wildest dreams did I imagine finding what I found. From my first step at this club, I felt something different. 'It was like coming home, like reconnecting with a part of me I thought I'd lost. With you, I smiled again. With you, I became that kid again. The one who loved football with all my heart. With you, football became love again. True love. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Antony Santos (@antony00) Speaking after the Conference League final, Antony admitted he was unsure over his future 'Thank you for opening the doors to me as if I were one of the family. Thank you for giving me back the joy of playing. Thank you for reminding me why I fell in love with this game. My home. My people. Mucho Betis. Always.' Quizzed on his future after Betis' 4-1 defeat by Chelsea in the Conference League final in Wroclaw, Antony admitted he was still none the wiser. 'I don't what will happen in the future, only God knows,' he told CBS Sports. 'My work is playing and I'm doing that well. I have a lot of affection for Betis, for everyone, but I have a contract with United and I don't know what's going to happen. 'Now I will go to the national team and then on holiday then we will see what happens in the future. I'm very happy here, everyone knows that but I have a contract.'
Glasgow Times
2 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
We can't ask any more in terms of character – Northern Ireland's Michael O'Neill
Isaac Price fired Northern Ireland in front in the 36th minute, but then had to make a goal-line clearance to deny Andri Gudjohnsen in the second half as O'Neill's side came under pressure following the sending-off of Brodie Spencer. That dismissal changed the game completely, but O'Neill was proud of the way his players responded as Northern Ireland won a match they finished with 10 men for the first time since their famous win over Spain in 1982. Isaac Price celebrates scoring the winning goal (Liam McBurney/PA) 'We didn't start the game well, we gave the ball away a lot,' O'Neill said. 'They pressed us and we didn't deal with that as well as we could… 'We struggled to get pressure on the ball, but really they didn't cause us any threat either. It's frustrating when you're at home that you're not having a bit more of a foothold and dominance. 'But we're going to have to play like that so I think this team, they've got a strong character and desire when things are going against them to stay in the game… 'There's a lot of things we can do better, but in terms of character, we can't ask any more. In terms of defending as a team and as a unit without the ball, I thought we were excellent.' Spencer was sent off for denying a goalscoring opportunity after tangling with Iceland skipper Hakon Haraldsson as he tried to break into the box, a decision which infuriated the Northern Ireland players as they surrounded referee Morten Krogh, and frustrated O'Neill. Isaac Price's goal makes him the youngest player to score 9 goals for Northern Ireland at 21 years 257 days 👏 #GAWA Stat: @NIStats — Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 10, 2025 'I think it's a poor decision,' O'Neill said. 'The referee doesn't have a very good view of it. Brodie and the attacking player, it's more like their legs get tangled than anything else. 'Daniel (Ballard) is a covering defender as well. And the first touch of the Iceland player goes right through Pierce (Charles), he doesn't have the ball under control. 'But you see when the incident happens the referee (isn't close) so he was very, very quick to produce a red card given he doesn't have the benefit of VAR. I was disappointed with it because it obviously changes the game.' Northern Ireland hung on well. As well as Price's clearance off the line, Charles made a stoppage-time save to keep out Isak Johannesson's header. Price's goal was another quality finish from the 21-year-old West Brom forward – his ninth international goal. George Saville won a challenge to prod it to him and after a couple of touches he bent a shot into the bottom right-hand corner of the net. 'I don't think there's too many players come in and play international football and adapt to it as quickly as Isaac has,' O'Neill said. 'He has that ability just to do something a little bit different, a little bit special. The goal is an example of that. 'But his biggest contribution to the team is off the ball and his running ability, his ability to press. 'When you've got that type of player who can score goals and has that level of technical ability, you're always concerned about their off-the-ball play, but for him, it's not a problem.'
