Clarke 'already Looking Ahead' After Solid Start

Scotland caput coach Steve Clarke says he is "already reasoning astir adjacent month" erstwhile his broadside look Greece astatine Hampden aft 4 points from their first 2 games successful World Cup qualifying.

Monday's 2-0 triumph complete Belarus successful Hungary backed up a hard-fought goalless tie distant to Denmark connected Friday and has Scotland level connected 4 points pinch nan Danes successful Group C.

Greece are 1 constituent further backmost aft their daze 3-0 conclusion by Denmark successful Athens, and they are Scotland's adjacent opponents successful Glasgow connected 9 October.

Belarus besides sojourn Hampden 3 days later, earlier Scotland decorativeness pinch a travel to Greece and Denmark astatine location successful November arsenic they bid to extremity a 28-year absence from nan World Cup.

"It's a bully start, a coagulated start," Clarke told BBC Scotland.

"Four points will ne'er suffice you for anything. It's bully to spell location pinch a grin connected your face, but I'm already reasoning astir adjacent month."

Clarke is not nan only 1 looking ahead, pinch nan Tartan Army now dreaming of returning to football's biggest show adjacent summer.

After a difficult clip successful nan outpouring and summer, nan tie successful Copenhagen group Scotland up nicely, and though nan capacity successful beating Belarus was acold from flashy, it was master and delivered a captious result.

Che Adams' extremity conscionable earlier half-time calmed nan nerves, and his beautiful walk helped unit an ain extremity which saw Scotland complete nan statement successful a crippled played successful Hungary down closed doors.

Although Belarus did not connection a awesome deal, goalkeeper Angus Gunn only made 1 meaningful save, a 3rd cleanable expanse successful a statement was welcomed by Clarke.

It is simply a motion of Scotland returning to nan much shape which helped them suffice for 2 European Championships.

"Clean sheets are what we person to build our run on," nan Scotland caput coach said.

"If we tin support nan shot retired nan nett we've ever sewage capable to people 1 aliases 2 goals."

Scotland person seldom put immoderate squad to nan beard nether Clarke's tenure, but wide they person been effective successful building connected a coagulated guidelines and being objective successful cardinal moments.

"It's going to springiness nan full squad a batch of confidence," erstwhile Scotland skipper Scott Brown said connected Sportscene.

"There were 4 changes arsenic well, which shows you he tin manipulate nan squad good too.

"That's in installments to Steve. He's not going to 4-3-3, afloat throttle, he's ever been astir making judge his protect portion is there, having building successful midfield, and erstwhile they do get opportunities return them."

While location is justified optimism aft a coagulated first 3rd of nan campaign, location is ever a statement of caution.

While Greece were good beaten astatine location by Denmark, Scotland cognize each excessively good nan threat they still pose.

In nan Nations League play-offs successful March they overturned a 1-0 first limb shortage to triumph 3-0 successful nan return connected a sobering nighttime astatine Hampden.

Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis is among their stars and scored that night, arsenic did teenage prima Konstantinos Karetsas.

The Greeks will return to Glasgow hopeless to re-ignite their run aft their location humbling.

"We're successful a awesome position," erstwhile Scotland guardant James McFadden said connected Sportscene.

"The squad and temper are successful a bully place. They defended good arsenic a squad connected Friday, it's a squad that is together and fighting for each other.

"So they're successful a bully spot and they'll beryllium assured going into nan adjacent double header."

Stuart: Wasn't pretty, but didn't request to be. Felt for illustration playing a non convention broadside successful nan cup. Score first and you win. 4 points from 2 distant games is nan cleanable start. On to Hampden successful October.

Michael: A bully result, but frustratingly blimpish again from Scotland. We should beryllium looking to get much than 2 against Belarus, and erstwhile nan crippled was won, we should person had Miller and Bowie connected to springiness them immoderate acquisition and remainder nan starters. I dream we don't extremity up losing retired connected extremity difference, arsenic Denmark will apt demolish our opponents tonight.

Geoff: Brilliant commencement but we request to triumph our location games aliases its each successful vain.

Andrew: Three location wins astatine Hampden and Scotland qualify.