The 'insane' Scotland mentality change Che Adams can't get enough of despite Croatia rescue act being cut short

Adams thoguht he'd levelled at the death in Zagreb only for a VAR check to deny him an equaliser

Che Adams thought he’d swooped to Scotland’s rescue and at last provided the nation with a last-gasp hero of their own in Zagreb.

In the end, the narrowest of VAR calls denied the striker the plaudits for saving the day against Croatia. But the fact it was yet more stoppage-time heartache for Steve Clarke’s side has only convinced the Torino hitman that the national team are ticking forward in the right direction.

It’s four straight losses now for the Scots and while that woeful sequence has equalled the country’s worst ever run of defeats, they have all come by the narrowest of margins at the worst possible moment. From Kevin Csoboth’s 100th-minute strike for Hungary that burried the final nail in our Euros coffin to late agony in the Nations League defeats to Poland and Portugal, it’s been nothing but stomach-wrenching blows in the final stages for Clarke and co.

And on Saturday, it was Scotland pushing for a draw as Adams forced Kristijan Jakic to fire the ball into his own net at the Stadion Maksimir. But the end result was just as frustrating as Adams was flagged offside by the telly officials and the point-saving goal chopped off.

“Yes, it's definitely frustrating,” said the frontman. “That shows how much we've grown as a nation to come up against these teams.

“For it to go down to the last millisecond or the last decisive moment is a huge bonus to us. It definitely changes everyone's mentality to believe in the right things and what the manager wants from us.

“I think it's credit to us and it's credit to the coaching staff to put us in that situation. It was an amazing feeling to think we had the draw there in Zagreb.

“I just thought the ball was there and I had to go for it. I've obviously kicked it off the guy.

“I thought I was onside. I'm not sure why it took so long to be honest. I think they were probably looking at a few events before that. The feeling was great.”

It didn’t last though and Scotland now facing having pick themselves off the floor as they welcome another top-class opponent to Hampden. Clarke has been attempting to put a brave face on it as he battles to convince the more cynical members of the Tartan Army that he remains the man to lead the team forward despite a wretched run of just one win in the last 15 games.

But at least he can count on the backing of the players who clearly have not given up on their boss. Adams said: “I think we've got a good enough group now to acknowledge when things are going bad and to put a positive spin on things.

“So, the dressing room has been OK. We're just looking forward to now to putting things right tomorrow. We're just excited about Tuesday's game.

“We're working on things day in and day out to produce positive results. I think the games have been really positive. We've not got the rub of green, in some cases, like my one yard offside the other day.

“Things like that, small margins, just impact your whole mentality a lot. So tomorrow is another chance to come up against one of the best nations in the world, some would say, so we're looking forward to that.”

Injury meant Adams was forced to watch last month’s narrow losses to Poland and Portugal from the couch in his new Turin apartment. And it wasn’t a pleasant watch for the former Southampton striker, who made the move to Seria A this summer.

“Yes, it was definitely hard to see how much effort went into both the games, especially to get to Portugal and lose so late in the game,” he said.

"It was devastating and definitely hard for the team as well, but as I said, we're going to learn from these experiences. There's another chance for us to put things right tomorrow, so that's what we're looking forward to.”

The stinging criticism aimed at Clarke over the squad’s abject performance in Germany over the summer was intensified amid frustration with what many felt was a restrained approach from the coach. But no-one can fault the approach the boss has taken in the Nations League so far, with his side more than prepared to mix it with some of the best sides in Europe.

And Adams expects his side to have a go against Cristiano Ronaldo’s men too. He said: ”Exactly. I think that's what we've been focusing on in the past two days, ever since the Croatia game.

“We know how good of a nation they are and how many amazing stars they've got, but it's down to us and what we do on the pitch. We've definitely got the team to hurt them and shake them about. That's what we proved against Croatia, against the top nation as well.

“Tomorrow is going to be no different. I've definitely seen the changes in the mentality in the attacking play against Croatia. We played in the back four and we were definitely on the front foot.

“Getting after them is insane. I think it just helps having more bodies on the pitch to put them under pressure and create chances.

“I think we created a few against Croatia the other day and I think it just puts a positive spin on things if you have more people on the pitch to help in attack and get the ball back.”

Adams could have a key role himself if he can rekindle his form in Italy at Hampden. With four goals already for his new side, Adams is loving life on the continent.

Asked to explain the secret to his impressive start, the 28-year-old said: "I think they like to play the ball forwards quickly. That obviously gives the strikers and the forward players enough chances to create and score goals.

“I think between Scotland and Torino where I'm at, it's just the mentality in terms of not giving up anything easy and being hard to play against. I think that goes well in Italy because everything is so tactical and so defensively set up. I think the two go well together.”