Ryan Fraser reveals half-time message that sparked Scotland equaliser in Israel

Steve Clarke got the necessary response from his Scotland players after his half-time pep talk inspired an improved second half against Israel.

Scotland's forwrad Ryan Fraser (C) is congratulated for his goal by teammates Che Adams (R) and Andrew Robertson during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier group F football match between Israel and Scotland at Bloomfield stadium in the Israeli Mediterranean coastal city of Tel Aviv on March 28, 2021. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP) (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Scotland fell behind after a below-par first period when Dor Peretz found the top corner from 25 yards moments from the interval. Ryan Fraser levelled ten minutes after the restart with Scotland re-shaped and reinvigorated when he tucked in Che Adams’ assist past Ofir Marciano.

The goalscorer revealed Clarke’s instructions at the interval – when he also replaced defender Jack Hendry with Celtic forward Ryan Christie – prompted Scotland’s improvements and a goal for the Newcastle winger to equalise.

“We showed character and the gaffer said at half-time we had to stand up and do a lot better,” revealed Fraser. “I thought we did that man-to-man. We could have sat in our shell at 1-0 and it could have got worse but the gaffer had us coming out fighting and I thought we dominated the game in the second half and our passages of play were brilliant.

"We had 12 shots and while I think on another day our final ball could have been a little better, the way we played and pressed and passed in the second half was a lot better.

“We took a little while to get going in the first half but when we got to grips in the second half we dominated and should have won in the end."

Fraser’s third international goal ensured Scotland remain undefeated and third in Group F, with the Faroe Islands to come on Wednesday at Hampden, and Fraser is relishing the next game and, hopefully, recording an overdue win.

"When I come away I love it,” he told Sky Sports. “The last trip I pulled my hamstring the week before and I missed it but when I come away I can’t get a smile off my face. Once you put the Scotland jersey on you give it everything.

"To score another goal, is very pleasing for me, but obviously I wanted to win tonight and I’d give my goal away for the win.

"Now it’s onto the Faroes and if I play I’ll do my best. We just want to go and win the game now.”

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