ROBERT Snodgrass, the Scotland midfielder, has urged supporters to judge Gordon Strachan, the national team’s manager, on their Russia 2018 qualifying campaign.
Strachan has come in for scathing criticism from some members of the Tartan Army following the disappointing friendly defeats to Euro 2016 finalists Italy and France.
His side only managed a paltry two shots on goal in 180 minutes of football in Malta eight days ago and Metz on Saturday – and both of those attempts were off target.
The displays were alarming given that Scotland get their bid to reach the next World Cup underway with an away game against Malta in September.
However, Snodgrass, the Hull City player who started against Didier Deschamps’s side at the weekend, has defended Strachan and insisted they will do better in their Group F games.
“I think he has done a terrific job,” he said. “I think he is the best man to take us forward. He has proved that when we have beaten some good teams. You can't judge anyone based on friendlies. It's as simple as that.'
“I don't think you can sit and talk about this manager or that manager. As a team we have got to do better in certain stages of the game. We can't concede three goals in the first half.
“If you do that it doesn't matter if you have ten top managers on the sidelines. That's what your job is, it's what you have to avoid and ultimately that's what you have to do to win games.
“We can sit here and talk about this or that, but the manager is shaping things up nicely for the World Cup campaign.”
Snodgrass continued: “It's been all friendlies I have come back to. When I went out injured we were beating Croatia back to back and they were fourth best in the world at the time.
“We have had two good results against the Czech Rep and Denmark. But we have gone that step further taking on two favourites for the tournament. We have lost, but only when the campaign starts will we see if there is progress or not.
“These games are against teams preparing for the Euros and we have not quite made it. The manager was trying to give debuts to people. It's not the full squad or the side that you would say will start in games.
“He is trying different things with Russell Martin at right back and Barrie McKay making his debut. Stephen Kingsley and Callum Paterson as well. It's all things the manager wants to try out.”
Snodgrass, who made his Scotland comeback against the Czech Republic in Prague back in March after spending over a year on the sidelines with a dislocated kneecap, believes taking on quality opposition like Italy and France will be invaluable.
The 28-year-old, who took his haul of caps for his country to 17 with his appearance in the Stade Saint-Symphorien, believes France will challenge strongly in the Euro 2016 finals in the coming weeks.
The former Livingston, Leeds United and Norwich City man feels the outstanding displays of Oliver Giroud, Paul Pogba and Bacary Sagna in front of over 25,000 of their supporters in their final warm-up game in Metz has shown Scotland the levels they need to excel in to succeed at international level.
“It's difficult, but you want to test yourself against guys like these,” he said. “They are one of the favourites. It's small margins and if you don't track a run or defend a cross these guys punish you.
"They have some of the best players in the world and a team full of stars. It's difficult because they are great players preparing for the Euros. It's personal pride on the line for us. We are turning up and wanting to do well. I thought in stages we passed it well.
“Some lads are carrying knocks, but still want to work hard for each other. That was a lesson for us tonight. That's the level we need to try and get to. It's about hard work and determination and all that stuff but ultimately it's moments of quality that win games."
Snodgrass continued: “They are probably favourites and they will think they have a good chance of winning it. That's the benchmark we want to try and get to.
"The first half there were things we could probably have done better. That's the frustrating part. It wasn't that we weren't trying to get on the ball or anything. Sure, we didn't create as much as we would have liked, but they are a good side. We matched them in certain areas, but it's those small things that make the difference.”
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