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Clarke hopeful of Tierney return as Czechs leave Scots up Schick's Creek


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Scotland boss Steve Clarke has urged his side to be more clinical, after a Patrik Schick brace saw them lose to the Czech Republic at Euro 2020. 

The Bayer Leverkusen striker broke Scottish hearts, with his second goal a wonder-strike from just inside the hosts' half at Hampden.

Schick's first in terms of execution was just as fine, as he directed a Vladimir Coufal cross past David Marshall in the Scotland goal.

"I think the breaks went against us at the wrong time," Clarke said after the game.

"Obviously losing a goal five-minutes before half-time from a second phase off a set play was disappointing for us -  we normally defend that quite well.

"That was a blow. We came out second half - we tried to get back in it. Jack [Hendry] hit the bar, and then Jack had another shot that got blocked, fell straight to their striker and he produced a marvellous finish.

"From there, it becomes a long and a difficult afternoon.

"I thought we showed good invention. We had chances to get back into the game, and if we could have made it 2-1 it could have made a different end to the afternoon.

"Disappointed, but on to the next one."

Kieran Tierney missed out on a place in the matchday squad with what Clarke described in a pre-match interview as a "niggle".

Asked if the Arsenal defender could return against England at Wembley on Friday, the Scotland manager replied, "He's got a chance.

"We'll work on him over the next few days, and he's got a chance of being fit for Friday."

However, in a separate interview with the BBC, Clarke warned, "I wouldn't be getting over-excited about it."

He added, "He's been good, and an integral part of how we've played recently.

"Listen, the boys that came in I thought we defender - by and large - well. You take out the set play and the wonder-strike, or the clever play for their striker, then we defended reasonably well. We missed Kieran."

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Czech Republic England Euro 2020 Kieran Tierney Patrik Schick Scotland Steve Clarke

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