Hope Craig: As their 2-0 win against Spain showed, Scotland are very good. Steve Clark deserves more praise than he often receives and his emotional intelligence brings out the best in his players
- Scotland looks set to qualify for the European Championship again
- Steve Clark has made them a solid team that currently looks impressive
- The 59-year-old is a good coach and the future is bright under his management
It’s irrelevant, really, in the midst of a bloody and barbaric story, but if Russia hadn’t invaded Ukraine, Scotland probably would have qualified for the World Cup.
Their absence from Qatar eroded the memory of what came before, when Steve Clarke’s side were the brightest in Europe, winning their last six qualifying matches to set up a semi-final play-off against Ukraine.
That match was understandably delayed, and Scotland, with momentum waning and key players missing, lost 3-1 on a strange night in Glasgow, when proud Scots like Graeme Souness wanted Ukraine to win.
So, when they beat Spain 2-0 on Tuesday night – to great fanfare and wider applause – it came as no surprise to regular observers. Scotland is very good, and even that statement can be harmful.
Many may have forgotten, to replace England in the Nations League A in 2024, a year that is also likely to include participation in the European Championship in Germany. Long-hungry for success, Scotland is ready to dine at the top table, and not just by picking those reservations aside.
Scott McTominay made Scottish history by scoring twice in a 2-0 win over Spain on Tuesday
Scotland lost to Ukraine in a World Cup play-off last year when they tried to qualify for the tournament
Coach Steve Clarke has made Scotland into a menacing team likely to be in the European Championship again
For that, Clark deserves more credit than he often gets. When he signed a new contract after the 2026 World Cup last week, there were some grumbles. His menacing demeanor does little to quicken the pulse of supporters. But given the consistency of his message, and thus his team’s performance, the flapping of old Scottish teams is now less common.
Take Saturday’s 3-0 win over Cyprus, for example, where excitement derived from boredom. Was this really a Scottish team marching towards a routine victory? It was like one of those quiet afternoons at the Etihad Stadium when Manchester City beat Southampton without having to refill their lungs.
Clark built his reputation as a good coach. But his team’s development in four years as coach hasn’t been accelerated by his work on the training ground, even if he admits it is. How do you see players once every few months?
The eyebrows were raised when Clarke signed a new contract, but he has had two wins from two since then
The 59-year-old has continued to develop as a coach and allows fans to feel connected to the team
Instead, at the age of 59, he showed that an old dog can learn new tricks, and that it is the tricks of the mind that make tartan tails wag. Developing Clark’s emotional intelligence was the core of her improvement. He spends one-on-one time with each player and puts as much emphasis on dining room dynamics as he does in the dressing room.
To spend time around Scotland camp is to experience club friendship. Their elite players are centered like mighty oaks. Captain Andy Robertson has been known to work the ticket office at Hampden Park, while Kieran Tierney used to carry his boots to Arsenal matches in a Tesco bag.
Fans feel connected to the team, and for the first time in a generation, every home game is sold out. It helps if these players grow an inch and earn a yard blue for their country. Otherwise, how do you explain Scott McTominay’s four goals in one hour during those matches against Cyprus and Spain? His last four appearances for Manchester United date back 15 months.
But Scotland under Clarke is concerned only with the future and not with the past.. It would be wrong to call this the beginning of their journey either. It has been picking up pace for some time now. It only takes nights like Tuesday for others to notice.
