Adams acknowledges the supporters’ rage but thinks the team must move on and not wallow in their sorrows.
Che Adams is aware that Scotland’s team, which is headed to Euro 2024, has already proven its mettle and is too talented to waste the next two months picking apart the players.
The friendly losses to the Netherlands and Northern Ireland prolonged Steve Clarke’s team’s dismal winless streak to seven games. At the moment, the team is unable to purchase a victory. Following the Irish defeat, the players bound for Germany were jeered by the Tartan Army. Before Scotland travels to the finals this summer, Adams anticipates that the tide will have turned.
In June, they play two additional friendlies, one at home against Finland and the other against Gibraltar, to make amends. Adams said, “It’s understandable,” in response to a question concerning the supporters’ response. Sadly, we didn’t win the game as we had hoped when we entered it.
“I think we’ll be ready for that come the Euros in June. Those games will be so different. Different atmosphere and a different feeling around the place. We’re all looking forward to that and hopefully the fans are as well.”
Adams knows results need to improve but manager Clarke and the Scottish Football Association have gone all in to challenge this group. There have been big friendlies against England, France and Netherlands along with some tricky away Euro qualifiers in Spain and Georgia. It comes as they get ready for the real action where they face Germany, Switzerland and Hungary in their Euro qualifying group.
The Southampton forward stated: “The teams we’ve come up against have not been easy to play against. That’s testimony to the squad and how far we’ve come that we’re challenging ourselves. To get better as a nation, that’s what you have to do.
“Maybe, the high was so high and we were in a good place and then it’s hard to take losses at that stage. We just have to stay positive and hopefully we’ve got a lot more positives coming up.”
The Northern Ireland defeat was probably the hardest one to take. Scotland were expected to win that one but couldn’t turn their possession into goals against a nation that is 40 places below them in the rankings.
Adams stated: “I thought we played well. We didn’t create enough chances to go and score but they defended well. They were a hard team to break down but we knew that going into the game.
“They were really well drilled and set up. One goal separated the teams and unfortunately they got it, but we’ve got plenty of positives to look forward to and a lot of time to get things right for June.
“The message is to not get too down. We’ve got a lot of happy moments to come. We’ll take some positives from the other night and just keep going.”
Manager Clarke was down after the two defeats but stated there are plenty of positives ahead for this group of players and the nation.
The 27-year-old confirmed: “He was a bit deflated and down, but there are plenty of positives to come. You don’t become a bad side overnight. The gaffer wanted two wins in this camp and unfortunately we couldn’t do that. Some positives will come out of it and some negatives too.
“We’re ready for that when we come back together again in June. The manager will have some decisions to make then.”
The current form is in sharp contrast to the unbeaten five game winning streak that Scotland opened up with to seal their place at Euro 2024. Adams was a big figure under Steve Clarke. He also was part of the Euro 2020 squad and believes this team is in better shape.
Adams claimed: “I think so, yeah. We’ve got a strong squad now. We’ve come up against some great nations recently and difficult teams to play against. We just have to take the positives from that.”
