RUSSIA SCOTLAND, 7.45, LIVE ON SKY SPORTS

visas and whatever. They have gone through a lot of trouble to get here. So that is an objective: to perform well and play well and try to give those boys something to smile and cheer about on the way home, then that’s important. “It is also important – and we touched on this after the last games – that we finish at least third in this group. That is important because we’re the third ranked team in the group. That is the minimum we should finish in. “So we have to put ourselves under pressure to finish third and it is also important to remember we are only potentially two games away from Euro 2020; we need to use these games to make sure we are in the best possible shape going into those games in March.

“From November to March is a very long time but from October to November is short. Hopefully in this short space of time, four games, we can pick up enough points to finish third.

“We can pick up enough points to feel good about ourselves, knowing that whoever we play in March we are going to give them a hell of a game, and give ourselves a chance of qualifying.

“Yes, it has been disappointing up to now, there is no getting away from it. It has been a disappointing campaign points-wise but we still have the capability and possibility of qualifying.

“So we can beat ourselves up and knock ourselves down if we want, but let’s try and remain a little bit positive and work to be even more positive come March.”

Which is all fine in theory but it’s just that all seems a very long way away from the point Clarke’s Scotland now finds itself at. Tonight, here in Moscow, would seem like as good a place as any to take the first step back towards making a happier home.