Steve Clarke expects to see players challenging for Euro 2024 places when Scotland take on France on Tuesday.
Describing the hosts as “probably the best team in the world”, the manager said he would make “a number of changes” to his team for the friendly in Lille.
“They will be determined to do well,” said Clarke.
“Everybody has to show between now and the summer that they can be part of the squad going to the championship.”
Both nations booked their places in Germany next summer over the past few days. France, last year’s World Cup finalists and number two in the Fifa rankings, with a 100% record from six games - Scotland with five wins from their six outings.
“I’m very proud to be head coach of these players because they have consistently delivered for their country,” said Clarke.
“It is fantastic for them to be at a second major finals after such a long barren period. It’s been pretty much the same core group and they deserve every bit of praise that they get.
“The last time we qualified for the Euros it was through the play-off system. It felt a little bit like sneaking in the back door.
“This time we can walk straight in the front door with our heads held high and look forward to a good tournament.”
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Scotland suffered their first defeat of the campaign in Spain last week, having been beaten by England at Hampden in a September friendly.
“We don’t want to lose three in a row,” said Clarke. “I expect a good showing but it’s a big ask against a top team. Whatever eleven they start, it will be a tough test.
“We want to get better and I’m a believer that to get better you have to challenge yourself against the best.
“It might mean that we lose, like we did against England and Spain, but we were competitive in those games and the more competitive you are against the better teams means we will improve.
“Momentum we can build in the remaining group matches next month [Georgia (A), Norway (H)]. It would be nice to finish with two more wins and finish on the same points tally as Spain.”
On the prospect of facing Paris St-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe, Clarke said: “We’ll give him as much respect as we can and obviously try to stop him. We won’t have any special man-marking. We have our system and hopefully that is enough to control his threat.”
Team news
Scotland have been hit hard in the full-back areas, with captain Andy Robertson and Aaron Hickey withdrawing, while Kieran Tierney was already absent through injury.
That means a first call up for Sturm Graz teenager Max Johnston, who is promoted from the under-21 squad.
Kevin Nisbet and Ryan Jack pulled out of the squad before the 2-0 defeat in Spain.
Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate and Marseille right-back Jonathan Clauss have been recalled by France. Arsenal defender William Saliba is out with a toe problem.
Pick your Scotland XI to face Spain
What they said
Scotland defender Jack Hendry: “We’re in a really good place at the moment but we want to continue building on what we’ve done so far. These games against top opposition will help us do that. We’ll learn from it and take the experience into next summer.”
MATCH STATS
- Scotland were last in France for a 3-0 friendly defeat in June 2016
- In 16 meetings overall there has never been a draw, with eight victories each
- The last competitive games came in Euro 2008 qualifying, Scotland winning 1-0 home and away
- Scotland have won just two of their last 16 friendlies (D4 L10) although both victories came away from home (Hungary in March 2018 & Luxembourg in June 2021)
- After winning five Euro qualifiers in a row between March and September, Scotland have now lost back-to-back against England and Spain. They’ve not lost three in a row since a run of four between June and October 2019.
- Scott McTominay has six goals and one assist in his last seven games for Scotland
- With 25 goals and nine assists, Kylian Mbappe has been involved in 34 goals in his last 23 appearances for France
