Naismith: Failure still hurts

Steven Naismith says Scotland’s role as Euro 2016 “warm-up act” has increased the pain of their failure to qualify for the tournament.

The Scots play Italy and France in friendly matches in the next 10 days to help prepare their opponents for the championships.

Both teams will use their encounter with Scotland to ready themselves for their march to Paris – but that has only reminded Naismith of what his side has missed out on by finishing fourth in qualifying group D.

“That is the worst part of it,” said the Norwich forward. “It’s good to meet up and test ourselves against two world-class countries – but we are the preparation and that is it.

“That is a massive disappointment but it stretches all the way back to …

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