Charlie Adam: Euros experience helps Scotland in bid to reach World Cup

Former Scotland midfielder Charlie Adam believes Steve Clarke’s squad will take massive confidence from reaching last year’s Euros as they face their World Cup qualifying play-off.

Scotland take on Ukraine at Hampden on Wednesday night, with the winner playing Wales in Cardiff for a place at the finals in Qatar later this year.

A Euro 2020 play-off proved to be the route to ending a 23-year wait for a major finals appearance in the last qualifying campaign and the majority of Clarke’s squad that faced Czech Republic, Croatia and England are part of the group aiming to do the job next week.

Adam says they’ll benefit from having been over the course before and knowing they are capable of making the elite stage, but also believes the success has lifted everyone’s mood and created a buzz around the team.

“We’re in a good place,” said Adam, who was speaking as an ambassador for the Scottish FA’s partnership with M&S Food.

“The Scotland boys are confident. They’ve got a good manager who is confident but knows what he wants.

“The confidence they can take out of the Euros not so long ago will be good.”

He told STV: “I think that’s huge. It makes a difference to the mindset, the country and the players.

“I think everybody now you see is looking forward to an international game. And it’s not just ‘Oh,Scotland are playing again’. It’s ‘When are Scotland playing?’. We’re looking forward to it and excited.

“There are big turnouts and crowds of supporters. It’s great to see and hopefully they can do it.”