It was a night of redemption for Rangers star John Souttar as Scotland’s international misery continued against Croatia.
It’s now one win in 15 games for Scotland manager Steve Clarke whose side continue to put in spirited displays which repeatedly fall short.
A victim of his own success perhaps – Scotland’s competition in UEFA Nations League A is regular late stage competition participants Poland, Croatia and Portugal – the pressure is mounting on Clarke to turn the tide.
But with injury ravaging the Scotland squad, Rangers defender John Souttar impressed despite the nation succumbing to a 2-1 defeat in Zagreb.
‘Sure-footed’ John Souttar states Scotland ‘case’
The Glasgow Times claim that John Souttar ‘made his case’ for inclusion in Scotland’s starting XI going forward in the clash with Croatia.
Pointing to a ‘crucial block’ in the first half, Souttar’s siege defending impressed as did the centre-back’s ‘decent distribution of the ball’.
Claiming that Souttar ‘threw his body on the line throughout’ the game, the newspaper gave the defender 6/10 for his performance.
The Edinburgh Evening News were slightly more generous, giving John Souttar 7/10 for what they described as a ‘pretty sure-footed display’.
Whilst the outlet pointed to Igor Matanovic’s equaliser going through the Ibrox star’s legs, it was a largely positive review.
The paper also praised what they described as a ‘crucial late intervention’ as Scotland succumbed to defeat in Croatia, whilst they touched on a second half opportunity from an Andrew Robertson cross.
Ryan Christie had put Scotland ahead in the 32nd minute of the match before Matanovic equalised four minutes later.
Andrej Kramaric scored what proved to the winner 20 minutes from time, with Che Adams seeing a 95th minute equaliser ruled out for offside following a VAR review.
Rangers defender bounces back with Scotland
John Souttar has had quite a tough time of it as of late with the Scotland national team.
The 28-year-old Rangers centre-back was snubbed by Steve Clarke and left out of Scotland’s Euro 2024 squad in Germany.
It was a disastrous call that immediately backfired when Ryan Porteous was sent packing on an opening day humbling against the hosts.
An unused substitute in UEFA Nations League defeats to Poland and Portugal in September, heading into the clash with Croatia there was plenty of pro-Souttar chatter from within the Scotland camp.
Not least from Clarke’s assistant John Carver, who suggested Souttar had the bit between his teeth in training in the run up to the game.
Handed a start against Croatia, John Souttar put in a spirited display which hasn’t gone unnoticed by the Scottish press with the defender earning the plaudits come full-time.
This was Souttar’s first appearance for Scotland since coming off the bench against the Netherlands in March and the defender’s 10th cap for his country.
It’s the defender’s first start for Scotland since a UEFA Nations League clash with Armenia in August 2022, where Souttar also played the full 90 minutes.
The centre-back is a crucial part of the Rangers team with reports suggesting Souttar is set to be handed a new contract at Ibrox.
