John McGinn feels friendly results do not matter if Scotland reach tournaments

Scotland midfielder John McGinn would “happily lose friendlies for the next 10 years” if it meant the country continued to qualify for major tournaments.

There were boos after Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Japan, the seventh defeat in the last 10 non-qualification games and 15th in the last 24, with just four victories in that period.

Manager Steve Clarke promising to make a raft of changes for the friendly against Ivory Coast at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, as part of his preparations for a first World Cup since 1998, reduces the chances of improving that record, but McGinn does not care.

“I’d happily lose friendlies for the next 10 years to make each major tournament – that might sound mental but that’s just the reality of it,” the Aston Villa captain said.

“While we want to win because we are aware our friendly record – or lack of it – is a little bit alarming, the priority is to get minutes into the boys’ legs, give people a chance to show what they can do leading into the summer.

“We would have deservedly come under criticism if we didn’t get through that Denmark game to get us there (to the World Cup).”

Asked whether results actually mattered in friendlies, he replied: “I don’t know if I can win with an answer.

“You’d probably say no because what matters is getting to tournaments and competing better in tournaments.

“You go into any game to win, you have professional pride and you are representing your country, but the priority in these games is to get minutes into the legs of players who are not playing at club level, which unfortunately for us is quite a few.

“So there is a balance there; whatever team the manager decides to pick will be aiming to win, but it’s a huge opportunity and probably a luxury we’ve not had before.

“I understand certain frustrations, but we won’t actually get a better chance than this.”

Fans were left dissatisfied with the performance against Japan, as well as the result, as Clarke’s tactics have prioritised substance over style.

McGinn defended those methods, pointing to their success in now regularly reaching tournaments, having qualified for the past two European Championships, and said there had to be a greater understanding of the bigger picture.

“I understand (booing),” he said. “There probably needs to be a bit of balance. There has a to be a realisation we need the opportunity to tinker a little bit.

“We have to be aware of the standard of the teams we are playing. We can go gung-ho and fling bodies forward and get embarrassed and that would be proper booing.

“I’ve experienced much worse booing than that during friendlies as a Scotland player – I remember Belgium at home and other matches when the booing was a lot more deserved.

“The onus is on us to get bums off seats and try to take games to teams, but we also have to be cautious and over the years, whether some people enjoy watching it or not, it’s what has got us to where we are now and what has made us successful.

“If anyone in the country, players included, had to choose playing attacking, free-flowing football or qualifying for major tournaments, I know what option we would choose.”