How Does Clarke Rouse Scotland For Tenure-defining Games?

World Cup qualifying: Greece v Scotland

Venue: Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Piraeus Date: Saturday, 15 November Kick-off: 19:45 GMT

Coverage: Watch connected BBC Two, BBC Scotland, iPlayer & app; perceive connected BBC Radio Scotland; unrecorded matter commentary connected BBC Sport online

A smattering of applause was conscionable arsenic large arsenic nan boos that came astatine nan full-time whistle arsenic Scotland limped their measurement to a World Cup qualifying triumph complete Belarus past month.

That triumph took nan nation's points tally successful Group C to 10 from 4 matches. Only distant to apical seeds Denmark person nan Scots dropped points this campaign.

There is thing to boo astir that, but nan Tartan Army had conscionable been put done nan wringer arsenic they watched their broadside struggle against nan world's 100th-best nationalist team.

Three days prior, nan capacity level was a awesome interest arsenic Greece someway near Glasgow pinch thing aft outclassing Steve Clarke's men for nan mostly of their 3-1 loss.

It was a campy that summed up nan caput coach's reign successful microcosm: affirmative results but fans near wanting much from a talented squad.

The 62-year-old now faces a tenure-defining four-day period, pinch qualifiers successful Greece and astatine location to Denmark opinionated betwixt a first men's World Cup quality since 1998.

Needless to say, nan Scots will request to raise their level to person immoderate dream of ending that 27-year hoodoo, truthful really does Clarke rouse his squad for a seismic camp?

Six points from six, a World Cup play-off spot guaranteed, and Clarke collapsed nan grounds for astir men's games managed by a Scotland boss.

Perfect, right? Not quite.

Hampden was verging connected turning toxic erstwhile Greece slammed successful a deserved opener aft an hr of domination.

But, retired of nowhere, a quickfire leveller from Ryan Christie was followed by a precocious victor from Lewis Ferguson, past Lyndon Dykes capitalised connected a howler from nan visiting goalkeeper to adhd nan tzatziki to nan gyros.

Post-match, a bullish Andy Robertson was successful nary temper to sour nan winning feeling. "If you want to kick astir nan performance, beryllium my guest, ace on. We're delighted pinch nan 3 points," nan skipper said.

Given nan instruction Greece had handed nan Scots astatine Hampden successful nan Nations League play-offs successful March, those comments from nan Liverpool left-back were astir apt adjacent enough.

But nan Tartan Army were put done much torture conscionable days later arsenic they watched a composed Belarus rack up 22 shots. Fourteen of those were successful nan Scotland box.

Despite that, John McGinn echoed Robertson's standpoint. "Would you alternatively we played teams disconnected nan parkland and suffer nan Scotland way?", nan Aston Villa skipper asked.

Clarke was not truthful laidback. McGinn revealed that half-time of nan Belarus lucifer was nan "wildest" he had ever seen nan caput coach.

After a record-breaking 72nd lucifer successful charge, Clarke said: "If you'd said astatine nan commencement of this campy we'd travel retired pinch six points, everyone would've been really happy.

"But, I person to beryllium honest, coming I was really, really disappointed successful my team."

So really does he reside that for arguably his astir important qualifiers to date?

Off nan bench, Billy Gilmour subtly brought immoderate power to Scotland's play against Greece, who were threatening to tally riot astatine Hampden for nan 2nd clip successful 7 months.

But nan injured Napoli midfielder will not beryllium an action for Clarke successful Athens, though he could return for nan imaginable group decider pinch Denmark.

Fellow Serie A midfielder Lennon Miller, besides tin of dictating and bringing composure to a game, will beryllium missing arsenic good aft withdrawing injured.

Having faced 37 shots successful 2 games astatine Hampden against Greece and Belarus, it is clear Scotland person been exposed successful caller outings.

Clarke's broadside rode their luck astatine times successful their group opener successful Denmark, but they looked a acold much cohesive portion retired of possession successful a rigid 4-4-2 shape.

Christie, McGinn, Ferguson and Scott McTominay occupied a compact and energetic midfield four, pinch Dykes and Che Adams providing aggravated activity complaint and physicality arsenic a guardant pairing.

Bold decisions to not commencement Gilmour and Ben Gannon-Doak paid disconnected arsenic nan Scots near Copenhagen pinch a well-earned point.

Knowing a tie would group up a winner-takes-all showdown pinch nan Danes connected Tuesday, mightiness nan Scotland leader revert to that look successful Greece?

Regardless of nan approach, Clarke and his players will recreation to Athens knowing they tin triumph there.

In March, McTominay's punishment secured triumph for nan Scots successful nan first limb of their Nations League play-off, though they had to withstand a barrage from nan Greeks successful nan 2nd half and were past outclassed successful nan return leg.

Craig Gordon kept a cleanable expanse that night, and nan seasoned goalkeeper seems apt to beryllium called upon again connected Saturday successful nan absence of Angus Gunn.

Despite nan second-leg disappointment, that consequence could beryllium hugely beneficial for nan mindset of nan 42-year-old, who has not played a infinitesimal for Hearts this term, and nan remainder of his team-mates.

So excessively could reminding them that they person unopen retired Denmark successful their ain backyard.

The Danes were besides overwhelmed by nan Scots astatine Hampden successful World Cup 2022 qualifying successful 1 of nan standout performances of Clarke's reign.

Despite starring nan federation to back-to-back Euros, nan Scotland leader has often faced disapproval for a cautious approach, but his squad were afloat of verve and value successful that 2-0 triumph backmost successful November 2021.

A ferocious Tartan Army will request a repetition of that show if their heroes tin group up an almighty juncture astatine nan nationalist stadium connected Tuesday.

That will besides tee up a lucifer that could specify a record-breaking tenure for Clarke, who is 2 affirmative results distant from elevating his bequest to caller heights.