Concerned Charlie Nicholas reckons Scotland still show a "mental insecurity" in big games under Steve Clarke - but can shake it off with a shock result against Spain.
Scotland face the European heavyweights on Tuesday looking to build on their opening day success against Cyprus and take a big step towards Euro 2024 with a landmark result by putting a dent Luis de la Fuente's hopes of topping the group. However, the Spanish have shown they will be a tough test as they bounced back from a disappointing World Cup campaign to see off Norway on opening day with a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Clarke can take confidence from an impressive record at Hampden - losing just once in their last 17 games - and Nicholas has called for the boss to leave the Group A favourites "rattled" by taking the game to their top talent. Writing for the Scottish Daily Express, Nicholas said: "This is the best Scotland squad in as many as 25 years - now let's see them prove it by getting a result against Spain at Hampden tonight. Steve Clarke's side need to start making their reputation against stronger countries.
"This is an opportunity we must grasp in the race to qualify for Euro 2024. We can't treat Group A as a battle for runners-up spot by waiting for Norway to turn up and then putting all our efforts into trying to beat them.
"Scotland must have a go at Spain. They are an elite country and it would be seen as the ultimate scalp and a major statement of intent if we took three points off them.
"Following the weekend's opening 3-0 win over Cyprus, this evening's match is a golden opportunity. It's the type of against-all-odds contest Scotland win every so often, like we did against France home and away in 2006 and 2007.
"We have definitely improved as a national team, so it's about seeing just how far we've come. Scotland have a habit of suffering from a bit of a stage fright against the bigger nations.
"But the players need to realise that a positive result against our Spanish visitors would put us in a fantastic position after matchday two. For the current Scotland team, though, question marks remain when it comes to the big games.
"Even in the so-called easier games such as Cyprus at the weekend, we had a 20 to 25-minute period when we struggled and didn't have the tools to finish the job. This is where Clarke has to earn his money and make changes - the right changes.
"He did just that last time out, with our substitutes all having a major impact, culminating in Scott McTominay's late double. We could pull off a shock against Spain if we force the game early on. Get them rattled rather than worry about their technical gifts.
"If we do that and score the first goal then it would come down to discipline and defensive shape, which is the part of the game Clarke excels at. Spain are still trying to grow as a team and there is a vulnerability in their defence, a softness."
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