Scotland had been left to rue missed probabilities as they fell to a heavy defeat towards the Netherlands in Amsterdam.
Steve Clarke’s aspect impressed for lengthy spells however had been wasteful in entrance of objective as they had been reminded of the problem they may face at Euro 2024.
Ryan Christie hit the bar earlier than Tijjani Reijnders’ beautiful strike noticed the Dutch take the lead earlier than the break.
Gini Wijnaldum headed of their second after Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland handed up an ideal alternative to degree the sport with Wout Weghorst and Donyell Malen including to Scotland’s woes late on.
Scotland have now conceded 18 objectives in six video games, with simply three friendlies earlier than they tackle hosts Germany within the opening recreation of Euro 2024 on June 14.
Scotland with classes to study after late collapse
Most of the Tartan Military had clamoured for in-form Hearts striker Shankland to be handed a begin and he’ll know he ought to have scored to cap off a very good efficiency.
Keeper Angus Gunn was again after harm together with a number of acquainted faces together with captain Andrew Robertson and Kieran Tierney, with the guests backed by round 2,400 travelling followers.
Ronald Koeman’s aspect had a combination of youth and expertise however included prime names akin to captain Virgil van Dijk and one other former Celtic defender, Jeremie Frimpong, with Memphis Depay main the road.
However the Scots began with confidence, Shankland’s touches had been assured, full-back Nathan Patterson stretched the Dutch down the right-hand aspect with Robertson working the left flank.
Nonetheless, there was hazard when Cody Gakpo went clear via on the Scotland objective however he failed to complete and was finally flagged offside.
Ryan Christie got here shut for Scotland
After midfielder Scott McTominay was booked after simply 9 minutes for fouling Xavi Simons, Shankland headed a Patterson cross over the bar.
Then, within the 18th minute, midfielder Billy Gilmour raced down the suitable and his cross was met by the top of Christie however Netherlands keeper Flekken tipped the ball on to the bar and it didn’t fall kindly for Shankland.
Gakpo’s blatant dive contained in the Scotland penalty space didn’t idiot Belgian referee Erik Lambrechts and moments later on the different finish McGinn flicked a Christie cross over the bar.
Nonetheless, the Scots walked right into a sucker punch simply earlier than the break when AC Milan midfielder Reijnders took a move from Gakpo and, with little stress on him, measured his shot from 25 yards and arrowed it excessive previous the helpless
Gunn.
Tijjani Reijnders’ beautiful strike opened the scoring for the Netherlands
McTominay had a shot blocked by Reijnders contained in the Netherlands field initially of the second half however Gunn needed to make an incredible save from Depay’s shot on the flip.
Extra pleasure adopted at each ends as McGinn’s shot was parried by Flekken earlier than Christie headed a cross from the Villa participant previous a put up, after which Gunn saved from Gakpo’s 20-yard drive.
When Shankland discovered himself via towards Flekken with the objective beckoning, his shot clipped the bar on the way in which over and he was quickly changed by Che Adams, with John Souttar and Lewis Ferguson additionally approaching.
Wout Weghorst scored to make it 3-0 Netherlands
Nonetheless, the Netherlands doubled their lead with a easy objective, Gakpo’s cross being headed in by Wijnaldum from eight yards out.
McTominay headed a cross from substitute Anthony Ralston over the bar to proceed the theme of missed probabilities earlier than Scotland folded as Weghorst headed in a nook and fellow substitute Malen ran via to seize a fourth – and the injury might have been larger.
Clarke: Sore defeat more likely to change plans for Northern Eire on Tuesday
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke: “It is a unusual one. Clearly sore, shedding 4-0 you may’t actually costume it up, it was painful. For 70 minutes it was actually good, then we concede a poor second objective. The most important distinction between the perimeters was scientific ending. We created lots towards a very good aspect.
“It’s one to go away and digest however not get too emotional. I’ve acquired to clear my head. I had an thought in thoughts what I would do on Tuesday night time however the recreation tonight may need simply modified that.
“Now we have to be a bit extra streetwise towards the highest groups and they’re a prime group. I did not say lots after it, when feelings are as excessive as they’re after a sore defeat it’s higher to return to the lodge.
“However there’s a lot to be optimistic about. Folks can take a look at the scoreline and go unfavorable, that is as much as them.
“For 70 minutes… actually aggressive towards a prime aspect, we will take lots from that. Now we have to analyse the final 20 minutes or so and look to do higher.”
‘No means we will play like that’
Scotland captain Andrew Robertson desires a fast return to profitable methods
Scotland captain Andrew Robertson on Viaplay:
“You’ll be able to’t come away to those massive groups and play the way in which we did. Now we have to take coronary heart from the 60, 70 minutes however the final 20 minutes just isn’t how we need to play.
“The truth that now we have walked off that pitch 4-0 is unbelievable. We will not maintain doing this, going into our outdated methods towards the massive groups. There isn’t a means we will play like that as a result of individuals will take a look at that outcome and suppose it is extremely one sided.
“Whenever you go to main tournaments then you need to be lots higher than that.
“Should you do get beat, you need to maintain your objective distinction down. We don’t need to be the group that simply qualifies for tournaments, we need to be competing.
“Now we have to get again to profitable methods and it wants to start out rapidly.
“At present we tried to deal with it like a rehearsal for the Euros and for big components we did nicely however the recreation is over 90 minutes.
“Now we have acquired the vitality, it isn’t as if we drained, we saved the ball very well and we simply switched off. In a recreation we performed nicely we might have walked off at 6-0.”
‘We have to be extra streetwise’
Scotland’s John McGinn was embarrassed by their late collapse
Scotland midfielder John McGinn on Viaplay:
“A lot to take from the sport however clearly the scoreline is an embarrassing one for us.
“We had good probabilities and one among them has acquired to go in.
“You’ll be able to say you’ve got had good probabilities however we have to be extra streetwise and when it goes to 2-0 shut up store a little bit bit extra.
“We’ll go right into a event the place objective distinction issues a lot.
“I feel over the piece we will take positives within the sense we did not really feel that the Netherlands had been one million miles from us, however these moments in direction of the top of the sport are actually not what we glance of with many positives.
“We’re on a nasty run of outcomes in the intervening time, it is occurred to us too many instances and we won’t let these dangerous habits creep again in.”
What’s next for Scotland?
Scotland are again in motion once more on Tuesday once they tackle Northern Eire at Hampden Park in a global pleasant; kick-off 7.45pm.
Steve Clarke’s aspect then play two extra worldwide friendlies towards Gibraltar away on June 3 and Finland at dwelling on June 7 earlier than starting their Euro 2024 marketing campaign towards hosts Germany on June 14.
