STEVE Clarke has ordered his Scotland players to focus fully on their remaining Euro 2024 qualifiers and insisted Spain are still favourites to win Group A.
The Tartan Army rejoiced at Hampden on Tuesday night as the former World Cup winners and European champions were defeated 2-0 thanks to a glorious Scott McTominay double.
The triumph, which came three days after Cyprus were beaten 3-0 at home, sent the national team three points clear of their celebrated opponents at the top of their section and five ahead of Norway and Georgia.
The first and second-placed teams in Group A will go through to the finals in Germany next year automatically and the Spain win put Scotland in a strong position to achieve their ultimate objective.
However, Clarke, whose team is guaranteed a place in the play-offs after topping their Nations League group last year, has put all celebrations on hold until qualification is secured.
He is looking no further ahead than the meetings with Norway in Oslo and Georgia in Glasgow in June and he wants his players to do adopt exactly the same mindset.
Asked if he knew how many points it would take to cement a top two spot, Clarke said: “No, because you don’t really know how the other games are going to go.
“Norway obviously dropped points in Georgia last night (they were held to a 1-1 draw in Batumi). It is a tough place to go and we still have to go there.
“It was important to capitalise on our two home games and we have done that, with maximum points which is great. But we don’t look too far ahead. I think we just focus on the games.”
Clarke added: “It was important to win the home games. We have got two more home games here and if we can capitalise on those it will take us to a point in the group where we can be competitive.
“We’re not going to get carried away, we’re going to stay calm and focused. I think Spain will still be favourites to top the group.
“The boys enjoyed it last night. But everyone is scattering back to their clubs. Yeah, it was a big result, but we will celebrate properly when we get to Germany. The end goal is Germany 2024.”
