Scotland closes gap on top teams, says assistant coach John Carver

“We should be here with more points, so that there is confidence in the group. If the results go in our favor and, for example, we win both games, we could have a chance of finishing second.”

Carver considered that Scotland “came close to achieving something also in Croatia” before losing 2-1 and does not approach this match “with fear” despite facing what he considers “a superior team.”

“I think we are closing the gap with these teams and the results have been quite close and they showed it,” he said. “But now we have to go one step further.

“It’s very good to have good performances and draw with Portugal, but it’s time to win. Normally at this time of year, our form has been good in the past and the important thing is that we get something out of this.” first game and see where it takes us.

Carver said his experience competing at the top level of the Nations League had shown how taking advantage of limited opportunities, or preventing them, could be the difference between victory and defeat.

With this in mind, Che Adams’ injury loss is “a tough blow” given the striker’s confident start to his time in Italy with Torino.

However, Carver emphasized that: “With Jack Hendry back, with John McGinn back and Stuart Armstrong back, it shows how competitive the team is when you think about how well we did in the last two camps.”

“We had a lot of different faces and they all did well, so the guys who have been with us for a long time, with more caps, can be encouraging. It’s quite refreshing.”