Clarke backs Scotland to embrace underdog tag

Steve Clarke says Scotland are more comfortable when they are written off as underdogs ahead of their World Cup Group C game with Morocco; the Scotland boss also backed Scott McTominay to bounce back after a difficult opening game against Haiti

>Steve Clarke believes Scotland are often at their best when expectations are against them as they prepare for a World Cup showdown with Morocco.

>Scotland opened their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Haiti and know another positive result would leave them in a strong position to qualify for the knockout stages for the first time in their history.

>However, Clarke admits his side may be better suited to facing one of the tournament's strongest teams than they were when carrying the burden of expectation against Haiti.

>"Sometimes the Scottish mentality is that we're a little more comfortable when we're the underdogs.

>"We were the favourites against Haiti and we found that game difficult. This time we're not the favourites to win and sometimes Scotland prefer it that way."

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>Morocco arrive having reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and Clarke believes the current side may be even stronger than the one that made history four years ago.

>"Morocco reached the last four of the World Cup in Qatar. This Morocco side is every bit as good, if not better. They'll have aspirations of reaching the last four again. It's a big challenge for us."

>The Scotland boss has repeatedly stressed the quality of Mohamed Ouahbi's side and expects his players to be tested both in and out of possession.

>"Any time you play a team that's inside the world's top 10, you know you're going to have to be good in what you do both without the ball and with the ball. We're under no illusion about the size of the task.

>Clarke also defended Scott McTominay following Scotland's opening win over Haiti, insisting the midfielder was not the only player to find the match difficult.

>McTominay played the full 90 minutes in the victory but Clarke felt Haiti's performance limited the impact of several Scotland players.

>"The Haiti game was a struggle for many of our players, not just Scott McTominay," he said.

>"Haiti controlled our midfield. You have to give credit to them. Sometimes you don't get the chance to bring your attributes to the game because of what the opposition do, and that might have been the case the other night."

>Despite that, Clarke has no concerns over the midfielder's mindset heading into Scotland's biggest game of the tournament so far.

>"Scott's in a good place and ready to go again."

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