Steve Clarke wants his side tested by the best before facing the ultimate examination at Euro 2024.

The Scotland boss will ignore the chance to rack up easy wins going into next summer’s finals by trying to fix up friendlies that will push his men to the limit. With a party at Hampden on Sunday concluding the qualification campaign, Clarke will turn his focus to organising four tough friendlies next year. And the 60-year-old will get to work on it as soon as Scotland’s group rivals in Germany are confirmed at the draw in Hamburg on December 2.

Convincing defeats to Gareth Southgate’s England and France in friendly action preceded signing off Group A with draws away to Georgia and home to Norway. But the national boss is adamant continuing to be tested against elite teams is the best policy, rather than friendlies that may boost confidence in terms of a scoreline but offer up little else of value.

Scotland will play two games during the next international break in March before pencilling in another couple as the Euros approach in June. Clarke said: “We will go away, we will wait for the draw, we will see who is around, we will see who wants to play us, we will look for teams we want to play as well and then we will see what is the best way to go about it. But I would like competitive matches because, like I said before, you need that competitive edge, we need that competitive edge. Hopefully I will pick four decent friendlies.”

Asked if there would be any benefit from arranging “easier” games, the national boss added: “No, not really. We want competitive games.

“There are not too many easy games at international level – France might think there are one or two easier games! But I don’t think you learn enough from a game like that or playing a pot five or pot six team or whatever.

“I will be looking for pot one, pot two, pot three, pot four teams. It would be better if it was against teams that aren’t going to the Euros.”