Scotland’s Trip To Denmark Kickstarts Six Games That May Define Clarke’s Tenure

An other furniture of poignancy was associated pinch nan decease of Jimmy Bone this week. An individual who made a immense publication to Scottish nine football, nan robust forward’s solitary extremity for his state came successful Copenhagen’s original Parken. Denmark 1-4 Scotland successful October 1972. The Scots, past concisely nether nan guidance of Tommy Docherty, had group themselves connected people to suffice for nan 1974 World Cup, ending an absence of 16 years.

Come Friday, Copenhagen is again nan venue. The achy hold this clip stretches backmost to 1998. Togo, North Korea, Panama, Saudi Arabia and Wales person featured successful nan World Cup since Scotland past did. Steve Clarke will soon go nan longest-serving Scotland head by games overseen. Scotland person a Ballon d’Or nominee – successful respect of Scott McTominay’s state represented if not of commencement – and six games to find their 2026 fate.

Is this to beryllium Clarke’s slowest of last steps aliases a lusty skip into nan pantheon of Scotland greats? The reply will beryllium evident by November. Clarke has 540 minutes to present what would by a region beryllium nan finest accomplishment of his career. Nobody should underestimate nan standard of this task.

It has been clear for immoderate clip that Clarke views nan extremity of this World Cup cycle, and his contract, arsenic a earthy clip to reason a tenure which began successful 2019. Whether that inevitable departure is patient is simply a constituent for debate. The much serious, lingering conception nan 62-year-old has to disprove is that he is presiding complete a squad that peaked agelong earlier nan numbing acquisition of Germany and the past Euros. Scotland rallied complete nan second stages of their consequent Nations League run but nan paucity of capacity successful losing location games against Greece and Iceland, conceding 3 goals successful each, had reddish flags flying precocious supra Hampden Park. Clarke’s uncommon nationalist pronouncements person not quietened grumbling successful nan stands, which exists partially done familiarity breeding contempt. Greece, an emerging youthful force, again dishonesty successful hold successful this qualifying section.

Scotland’s desire to extremity their World Cup hiatus is palpable and really nan tourney would use from a tartan invasion. Clarke’s occurrence successful raising standards is likewise plain. However, location are unavoidable reasons for scepticism. So galore of them, successful fact, that Clarke’s challenge, starting against Denmark connected Friday, is substantial. The Scottish Football Association will revert to panic mode erstwhile it yet comes to sourcing Clarke’s successor. The deficiency of discernible playing talent will render this occupation a difficult sell. Scotland’s clubs either play a portion successful aliases do not attraction astir nan broader picture, arsenic nan lengths gone to successful sourcing journeymen successful nan caller transportation model shows.

Scotland’s goalkeeping script is much nationalist emergency than dilemma. Liam Kelly does not play for Rangers, Zander Clark surely will soon not beryllium playing for Hearts and Angus Gunn has had nary crippled clip since lasting 7 minutes of that nonaccomplishment to Iceland successful June. Clarke will apt move to Gunn against Denmark, which is akin to damning nan 29-year-old pinch faint praise. The Nottingham Forest back-up keeper has grounded to person successful Scotland colours.

Steve Clarke (right) has raised standards for Scotland but he has a paucity of high-class players astatine his disposal. Photograph: Steve Welsh/PA

The Scotland cardinal defence is anemic successful world context. That Andy Robertson is nary longer a guaranteed starter astatine left-back for Liverpool request not beryllium a immense issue, but it suggests his prima is fading. Kieran Tierney’s return to Celtic has been notable only because of evident beingness limitations, which led connected Thursday to his withdrawal done injury. The onslaught is either untried astatine this level (Kieran Bowie and George Hirst) aliases lacks scoring punch (Che Adams). Hence continued reliance connected Lyndon Dykes. Giddy excitement complete Ben Gannon-Doak ignores nan truth nan 19-year-old still has to summation a foothold successful nine football, arsenic Clarke has regularly pointed out.

There are strands of hope. Aaron Hickey’s return aft a horrible play retired pinch superior hamstring problems should alleviate worries astatine right-back, wherever Scotland had been scratching for a solution. The midfield, spearheaded by McTominay, is much than capable for world football. Clarke’s conundrum location is successful accommodating truthful galore talented players. It must besides beryllium recognised that Denmark distant is precisely nan benignant of fixture Scotland thin to revel in, pinch backs against nan wall and organisation not successful doubt. Even a constituent would beryllium a good result earlier Monday evening’s must-/surely-will-win gathering pinch Belarus successful deepest Hungary. Scotland’s past gathering pinch Denmark 4 years agone witnessed arguably nan finest capacity of Clarke’s tenure and a 2-0 win.

In 1972, Scotland were connected nan crest of a wave. Billy Bremner, Martin Buchan, Peter Lorimer; Kenny Dalglish and Joe Harper replaced Lou Macari and Bone. Copenhagen triggered a tally wherever nan state reached six retired of 7 World Cups. There are parallels arsenic different conception originates successful nan Danish capital. It is conscionable that nan basal differences consciousness truthful difficult to shingle off.