Euro 2024 news: Key talking points after another lacklustre Scotland display

Scotland scraped a 2-0 win over Gibraltar on Monday in their first warm-up game ahead of their journey to Germany for this year's European Championship.

The game told the story Scotland fans have become accustomed to over the last few months, with the side lacking a clinical touch in front of goal.

Despite a lacklustre performance, Steve Clarke’s men managed to end their win drought, with the 2-0 victory securing their first win in eight games.

Here, Sports News Blitz outlines some of the key talking points from the game.

The Tartan Army must be more clinical in Germany

Despite a healthy-looking scoreline, Steve Clarke will almost definitely be full of concern.

Despite 25 shots at goal, the Tartan Army missed 20 of them, only finding the back of the net twice.

In order to win games, you must first score goals and if you can't even hit the ball in the right direction, then defeat will almost definitely follow.

It has been an ongoing problem for the squad this year. An inability to capitalise led to a 4-0 battering against the Netherlands early in the year, despite multiple clear-cut chances at goal. It highlighted that against the international titans, there is no room for error in the attacking third.

Yet even against a punch-bag team like Gibraltar, Scotland's attacking threats were unable to take advantage of what felt like an unlimited supply of opportunities at goal.

In Germany, Scotland won’t be supplied with chance after chance, and unless they can regain the clinical streak shown in the qualifying campaign, it could be a tough couple of weeks for Clarke’s side.

Liam Cooper injured as squad continues to thin

Perhaps the worst news possible for the Tartan Army as yet another player’s Euros appears to be in jeopardy.

Liam Cooper came off the bench at half-time, but his time on the pitch was shortlived, being forced off in the 76th minute with an apparent knee injury.

It is unclear whether the issue is little more than a knock, with fans having to wait to hear Cooper’s Euros prognosis.

Another injury would be less than welcome as Lyndon Dykes has recently been added to the growing list of unfit players. The striker was stretchered out of training after suffering a leg injury on Friday.

With the side already missing key players, Clarke will surely be hoping the knock is nothing serious.

Will Anthony Ralston get game time in Germany?

With Aaron Hickey out for the tournament, and Nathan Patterson also following suit, Scotland has been struggling to fill a gaping void down the right-hand side. It was assumed Celtic ace Anthony Ralston would be the first name on Clarke’s team sheet, to replace the right-back duo.

However, Ralston never left the bench last night in Gibraltar. Instead, the right-back spot was gifted to Bristol City defender Ross McCrorie, who made his first appearance in a Scotland shirt.

After a steady debut performance for McCrorie, Ralston's spot in the squad looks to be on shaky legs. Former Scotland and Rangers right-back Alan Hutton revealed he feels either man could be given the starting spot in Germany.

"I would imagine we see Ralston against Finland. We'd been speaking beforehand that we felt the Finland game would be close to the starting line-up against Germany so it is a huge game for him,” Hutton told Premier Sports.

"I think the battle is between those two. You are going to miss a bit going forward with the likes of Hickey and Patterson not being there, so it is up to the boys in the squad at this moment in time to go and show the manager they are capable, which of course they are.

“It was a big opportunity for Ross and it will be a big opportunity on Friday for Anthony.

"I think both have attributes that fill that [spot] perfectly. They both like to defend, they like one-v-ones, they can get forward and get involved in attacks.

“McCrorie plays that way down at Bristol and Ralston has played at a high level.

"I was edging towards Ralston because he has the experience, he has the caps under his belt. But it is a huge game on Friday.

“They might both get time and it will be about who comes out on top. It is a great battle between the two of them."

READ MORE: Euro 2024: A look at England’s fixtures, opponents and their path to glory