GORDON Strachan has lost his enthusiasm for regular games against England after losing twice and conceding six goals in back-to-back Auld Enemy matches in 15 months.
Scotland versus England is gradually returning as a regular contest after two largely trouble-free matches at Wembley and Celtic Park. Police Scotland said 26 arrests were made after Tuesday night's game but there was no widespread disorder on the night. More than 200 arrests were made when England last played in Glasgow 15 years ago.
The England manager Roy Hodgson was open to the prospect of more frequent meetings but said finding space in his team's schedule would be a significant obstacle. The availability of dates is less of an issue for Scotland but manager Strachan admitted his appetite for facing England more often had suffered after being outplayed in this week's 3-1 defeat.
Asked if the result affected his enthusiasm for regular games against England, he said: "Right now? Yes it does. It affects my enthusiasm for football [in general] at the moment, as I stand here. But in a couple of days I'll be fine and we'll go again. I'll take in all the good stuff from the year."
Strachan revealed that after the match - in which England inflicted only Scotland's second defeat in 11 games - he told his younger players they should have a career goal to reach the level of Hodgson's men. "That England team . . . I said to the younger players 'if you want to aspire to the Champions League, that's the strength and pace you have to play at'. They kept nicking balls off us, winning things and winning headers and knock-downs. Previously we've been able to do something about that, but not this time. And when we did get the ball there were too many unforced errors."
Scotland, meanwhile, are considering a friendly in the midweek before their next match, the Euro 2016 qualifier against Gibraltar at Hampden on Sunday, March 29.
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