Steve Clarke expressed his disappointment after some Scotland fans booed the team following a 1-0 loss to Japan at Hampden Park. The defeat, decided by an 84th-minute Junya Ito goal, marked the first home match since Scotland qualified for the World Cup finals in November.
Clarke said he was surprised by the reaction, stating: “It disappointed me to be honest. It's just the modern way, it seems to be now if you lose a game you get booed.” The Tartan Army had cheered the team off in November after a dramatic 4-2 win over Denmark secured World Cup qualification.
Scotland had early chances, with Scott McTominay hitting the post in the eighth minute. Japan also struck the woodwork through Kodai Sano before Ito broke the deadlock late on. Clarke praised the level of opposition, noting the match was part of preparations for the World Cup in North America.
Scotland face Ivory Coast in Liverpool on Tuesday in their next warm-up game. Clarke plans to make six or seven changes and emphasised the importance of playing strong teams to prepare for group matches against Haiti, Morocco and Brazil.
