CIRCUS PACT

Clarke pledges that his stars won’t be a sideshow

- KEITH JACKSON

STEVE CLARKE last night insisted Scotland won’t become a sideshow at Germany’s big circus in Munich on Friday.

The national boss is fine-tuning his final preparations for the Group A opener against the home nation on the night when the Euros will officially get up and running at a packed-out Allianz Arena.

That includes working out how to get his players properly ready for the big kick-off behind the scenes when a glitzy opening ceremony is taking place out on the pitch, including a tribute to the late Bayern Munich great Franz Beckenbauer, who died earlier this year.

And Clarke has already warned his players that they cannot allow themselves to be distracted from the aim of getting the campaign off to a flying start.