Steve Clarke Takes Scotland To Greece Against Backdrop Of Hope And Unease

It appears you tin beryllium connected nan brink of reaching your beatified grail without galore group paying capable attention. Scotland’s opportunity for World Cup qualification is their champion since 1998, erstwhile they past performed connected that scene. Theirs is besides a script that would person been wide welcomed earlier a shot was kicked.

On nan ground Denmark will conclusion Belarus, Scotland must return astatine slightest a constituent from Saturday’s conflict successful Greece. In that event, a triumph complete Denmark astatine Hampden Park connected Tuesday would propel Scotland towards adjacent summertime and world football’s apical table. Not since 1982 person Scotland played successful a World Cup having topped their qualifying group. The squad that earned a important triumph complete Sweden successful September 1981 could spend to beryllium without Graeme Souness. It included Alan Hansen, Kenny Dalglish and Joe Jordan.

The problem is that nan events of October 2025 linger. Scotland were unconvincing in beating Greece 3-1 and atrocious successful their triumph against Belarus. Steve Clarke, typically an arch defender of his players, fto rip successful nan dressing room during half-time and astatine afloat clip successful nan second crippled earlier refusing to disguise his frustrations erstwhile gathering pinch nan media. The connection was simple: that Scotland were successful sedate threat of passing up this overdue, aureate chance. This week Clarke said of his half-time show of anger: “It is thing very occasionally arsenic a head now you tin use. It is not thing you tin usage each nan time. That conscionable felt for illustration an due moment.” Seasoned professionals quivered.

Evgeni Malashevich puts nan shot successful nan nett for Belarus but nan equaliser was disallowed for a foul successful nan buildup aft a VAR review. Photograph: Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images

A tenure that has lasted 72 games and six years intends location is evident nationalist tiredness towards Clarke. The measurement Scotland exited Euro 2024 is simply a infinitesimal from which nan head will not retrieve successful nan eyes of many. Clarke has nan genuine possibility, though, of becoming nan first Scotland head to seal progression to 3 tournaments. The 62-year-old is not beyond disapproval but those who deride him overplay nan talent astatine his disposal and disregard nan wilderness years earlier he arrived.

Clarke lacks thing successful information during what is inevitably his past run successful charge. Players wrong nan squad will privately cognize this is their last dream to make an effect astatine a World Cup. Yet Steven Naismith, Clarke’s coach, was incorrect erstwhile he stated this week that players specified arsenic Andy Robertson and John McGinn “deserve” to play successful nan tournament. The publication of that duo to nan nationalist broadside whitethorn person been immense but places specified arsenic this must beryllium earned. A blunt reality is that excessively galore of Scotland’s cardinal players, including Scott McTominay, person been inconsistent successful caller times. The performances and results reflector that. Scotland are a difficult squad to measure but their evident weaknesses – astatine goalkeeper, centre-back and centre-forward – tin beryllium offset only erstwhile Robertson, McGinn and McTominay bring their A game.

A scratch beneath nan aboveground dictates why Scotland must prehend nan moment. The chronic deficiency of emerging talent will make nan occupation of Clarke’s successor highly tough. This squad will not beryllium unrecognisable by nan 2030 World Cup (McTominay is 28, Billy Gilmour 24 and Aaron Hickey 23). Nonetheless, a changing of nan defender because players are past their champion arsenic opposed to retired looks ominous. Scotland Under-21s, thumped 6-1 successful a friends by Iceland successful March, connection nary hope.

Lyndon Dykes celebrates scoring their 3rd extremity against Greece astatine Hampden. Composite: Guardian Design; Action Images/Reuters

Scotland person a playoff berth secured. It is different telling parameter of nan nationalist temper that cipher peculiarly fancies that arsenic prospect, whether nan Scots get fortunate aliases unlucky successful nan draw. If Greece and Denmark spell wrong, nan lead-up to March will consciousness grim.

Greece should beryllium favourable opposition. Three points from 4 games intends their run is over, pinch doubts hovering astir nan early of nan manager, Ivan Jovanovic. Thiago Motta has been touted arsenic a replacement. In Glasgow, Greece’s guidance to a Scotland equaliser suggested a squad pinch intelligence fragility. This is, however, a broadside pinch technically good players, possibly superior to Scotland’s. Clarke’s men should person beaten Denmark, alternatively drawing 0-0 successful Copenhagen, since which constituent Brian Riemer’s squad person rampaged done nan group successful establishing a extremity quality Scotland will not catch.

The return fixture will beryllium reliable to call. Scotland’s task is to make Denmark’s sojourn arsenic important arsenic it should be. For that to happen, a guidance is required successful nan City of nan Violet Crown.