Ex-Scotland star blasts ‘incompetent’ Clarke and players in foul-mouthed rant

SCOTLAND’S defeat to Hungary and our early Euro 2024 exit left fans, players and staff alike gutted.

And one former international defender in particular struggled to hide his own disappointment as he unleashed a remarkable foul-mouthed rant after the dismal Stuttgart loss.

Knowing a win would’ve all but secured a place in the last 16, Steve Clarke’s men instead slumped to a 1-0 defeat, with Kevin Csoboth scoring the only goal with the last meaningful kick of the game.

With dreams of making history, it instead ended up a familiar tale as Scotland crashed out at the group stage with just a solitary point to show from three matches.

Despite it being a game Scotland had to win, it was a slow and ponderous performance with practically no attacking threat.

Clarke‘s men barely laid a glove on the Hungarians and didn’t have a shot on target until the 97th minute – and that came from defender Grant Hanley.

The Scotland boss wasn’t happy with referee Facundo Tello who failed to award his team a penalty when Stuart Armstrong went down under pressure from Willi Orban.

But former Scotland defender Paul Ritchie is in no doubt as to who he holds responsible for our devastating Euros exit.

The 48-year old, who won seven caps for his country, launched an incredible tirade on X.

And he certainly didn’t hold back as he told Clarke and this players they should be “f******* embarrassed.”

In a series of posts, Ritchie vented: “F*** off Scotland.

“F******* joke. Absolute disgrace.

“Speechless right now. Never seen such an incompetent performance. Absolutely devastated. From Clarke to all players.

“You should be f****** embarrassed. Awful.

“I have never felt such a low as I’m feeling right now.

“That was an absolutely devastating defeat. I am without words that would be constructive in an way.”

Ritchie got his first team bow at Hearts and made 133 league appearances between 1992 and 2000.

He won his maiden Scotland cap during this time with his last international appearance coming in 2004.

After leaving Tynecastle, Ritchie played for Bolton, Rangers, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Derby County, Walsall, Dundee United, AC Omonia and Carolina RailHawks in the USA.

These days, he remains in the USA as the academy director of City SC in San Diego, California.

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page