Scotland boss Steve Clarke opens up on selection for Euro 2020 opener v Czech Republic

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Scotland boss Steve Clarke has 10 of his 11 starters picked for tomorrow’s first Euro 2020 game – and admits it’s been harder to pick which three players won’t get a place on the bench than his starting XI.

The Tartan Army are counting down the minutes until Scotland’s first game at a major tournament since 1998 and Clarke will tell the players tomorrow morning who the lucky XI are who will start.

Clarke insisted picking the three players from his 26-man squad to miss out has been the hardest choice – and reminded the players who feel disappointed at only making the bench that three of their team-mates are sat in the stand watching .

“I’ve picked my team except one position, but I’m pretty sure which way I’ll go with it,” Clarke said.

“The players won’t be told the team until the day of the game.

“But the more perceptive ones might work it out for themselves.

“I’ll tell them in the morning and that gives them the afternoon to rest in their rooms and prepare mentally for it.

“The ones who aren’t selected will prepare to be ready to be part of the squad.

“So everyone is together when we hit the dressing-room.

“That’s worked well for us so far so I don’t see any reason to change.

“The hardest part is picking the three who don’t make the bench.

“I try to explain to them that it’s easy picking the 11. Then I have to pick a bench.

“The ones who are disappointed to be subs have to realise that there are three sitting in the stand.”

Who will miss out on Scotland’s Euro 2020 opener?

Trying to figure out who will miss out for Scotland in their Euro 2020 opener is pretty difficult – although one of the three will almost certainly be a keeper.

That leaves two outfield players sat in the stands and there aren’t many obvious picks to be left out.

Celtic’s Greg Taylor may well be one given the likely starting roles handed to Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson.

Despite the clamour for his involvement, Nathan Patterson may well be the third player left out with Clarke likely to stick with Stephen O’Donnell at right-back as Scotland kick off their Euro 2020 campaign.