Steve Clarke Hopes Scotland’s World Cup Qualification Will Inspire Next Generation

Steve Clarke hopes Scotland’s long-awaited qualification for a men’s World Cup will animate nan country’s young footballers.

Against a backdrop of euphoric scenes astatine Hampden Park connected Tuesday night, the Scots defeated Denmark 4-2 to seal a World Cup spot for nan first clip since 1998. Their head was delighted to extremity that agelong wait, particularly arsenic he believes it has harmed nan nation’s shot development. “This should stimulate aliases motivate young players to spell retired and go Scotland internationals successful nan future,” said Clarke. “Hopefully location is simply a bequest from this group of players to nan younger generations and we don’t hold truthful agelong to spell to nan adjacent tourney and nan adjacent tournament.

“By nan way, it is much difficult to suffice for nan World Cup than it utilized to be. If you look astatine nan stats, it is really difficult to qualify. It is incredible, moreover [versus] erstwhile nan boys went to France ’98. There were 15 European teams successful a 32-team tournament. That is almost 50%. But this 1 is 16 retired of 48, almost a third. You spot nan World Cup getting bigger and you think: ‘It must beryllium easier to get there.’ But it is not, it is much difficult to get there.”

Despite a lengthy profession astatine Chelsea, Clarke was overlooked for nan World Cups of 1990 and 1998. He utilized that lingering disappointment not only arsenic individual information but besides to animate his players successful nan squad edifice earlier nan crippled against ­Denmark. “The manager’s reside was ­unbelievable,” said Andy ­Robertson, nan captain. “He went into a small spot astir his life and nan lads were rather emotional. To do it for him, each nan staff, each our families, it will spell down arsenic 1 of nan top nights of our lives.”

Andy Robertson celebrates aft nan last whistle. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Uefa/Getty Images

“It was ever successful my mind that I would emotion to spell to a World Cup,” Clarke said. “I sewage adjacent successful 1990; I was successful nan squad that went to Italy for a pre-camp successful February and I didn’t make nan last selection. From there, location was a information to get there.

“When we messed up against Ukraine [in nan playoff for nan past World Cup] I was disappointed. I thought: ‘That was my chance, that was my chance.’ But I judge successful this group of players truthful I hung around. Eventually I sewage there. It is simply a lifelong ambition to spell to a World Cup pinch my state and because of this group of players and maine coaching unit I person managed to do it.”

Clarke has refused to contemplate what qualification whitethorn mean successful respect of his ain future. His statement expires astatine nan extremity of Scotland’s World Cup involvement, pinch nan wide anticipation being that he will depart astatine that point. The man himself is “75-25” of that mind. “My bosses whitethorn want to beryllium and person a chat,” Clarke said. “I don’t know. I don’t deliberation astir me. I haven’t fixed it immoderate thought.”