Steve Clarke urges Scotland not to underestimate Belarus

Steve Clarke is hoping Scotland do not get caught on the hop in Hungary when they face beaten-up Belarus on Monday night.

The Scots fought out a goalless draw in their 2026 World Cup qualifying opener against Denmark in Copenhagen on Friday night while the Group C minnows were being thrashed 5-1 by Greece in the Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis, Piraeus.

As a UEFA punishment for the support shown by Belarus to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Scotland’s second section fixture match against the Belarusians will take place behind closed doors at the ZTE Arena, Zalaegerszeg.

After such an encouraging start against the talented Danes, the Scots’ boss is keen not to drop the guard for what on the face of it is an easier task.

Clarke said: “Obviously we’ve played Greece home and away in the March play-off games for the Nations League.

“They’re a very good side. They won quite comfortably (against Belarus) at home. So Greece are a good side.

“So I think ourselves, Greece and Denmark can fight it out and Belarus are in there with the capability, maybe, to bring a surprise on somebody.  We just hope it’s not us.

“The first thing we have to do is respect Belarus.

“Respect the conditions of the game, which will be behind closed doors, so totally different from Friday, where even the opposition crowd give you that momentum to keep going.

“Obviously, the Scotland fans, the Tartan Army, you could hear them all night.

“So that gives the players that little bit incentive as they are starting to flag physically. They’ve always got that.

“So it’s a different scenario going to Hungary to play Belarus behind closed doors.

“But what we have to do is make sure that we approach the game with the same intensity and try to get the points that we need.”