Clarke’s Scots have to show same belief as my great Danes
IENJOYED my Sunday evening. Working for Danish television, I watched our national side hammer eight goals past Moldova to continue a very positive start to the World Cup qualifying group we share with Scotland.
A standard is being set. It was a record victory for Denmark in a qualifier but, perhaps more importantly, it summed up the depth of talent — and the belief — that exists in the country right now.
Coach Kasper Hjulmand changed all ten outfield players from the opening 2-0 win over Israel but the performance level didn’t drop. To me, it felt a little bit like a glimpse of the future. Young, talented, attack-minded players stepped into the side and delivered the goods.
Andreas Skov Olsen of Bologna and Sampdoria’s Mikkel Damsgaard, aged 21 and 20 respectively, were just a joy to watch. The potential in this squad is huge.
In delivering all of this praise, I have to be clear about the opposition. Moldova are one of the poorest teams I have ever watched in a qualification group. Even so, Denmark played them off the park. They took the chances that came their way. And did so with real conviction.
I’m not going to lie, seeing
Scotland paid Israel too much respect. I don’t understand that approach
Scotland then fail to win in Israel counted as another good result for Denmark.
I certainly don’t rule Steve Clarke’s side out of the qualification race. Not yet. There is plenty of time for the situation to be turned around.
For that to happen, though, they need to show a bit more of the belief and conviction that I mentioned in connection with Denmark.
Scotland paid Israel too much respect in the first half of Sunday’s match. And I didn’t understand that approach.
Look at the starting line-up picked in Tel Aviv. There were six players from the English Premier League. More than half the team.
There were talents from Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, Southampton, Aston Villa and Newcastle United. A lot of international managers around the world would love to have guys of that standard within their team.
But it took Scotland 45 minutes before they imposed themselves on the game. To me, it’s not because of a lack of ability. So was it something else that kept the handbrake on their performance?
I saw Scott McTominay talking last week about the need for Scotland to show a bit more arrogance and faith in themselves. It’s an important point.
The good thing about being a small nation like Scotland or Denmark is feeling that you are the underdog. But it can also play into a more negative mindset.
Scottish football took so many knocks over the two decades the national side didn’t qualify for a major finals. People were saying that things were no use, that the players weren’t there.
But the players are there now. They are operating as key men for some of the biggest clubs in the richest league in the world. And, crucially, these players have already qualified for a tournament.
I’m sure they will beat the Faroe Islands tomorrow night before the World Cup qualifiers go into hibernation. Then comes this summer’s Euros. And I think there is a chance that Scotland could emerge in a different shape for the actual experience of playing at major finals.
It can do a lot for a player. And for a country. I know that from personal experience. If Scotland can go to the Euros and perform well, a switch might be flicked in terms of mindset before they come to Denmark on September 1.
I’m not talking about winning the tournament or even reaching the latter stages. I just mean that if they can show they deserve to be back on the big stage this summer — creating excitement among their supporters — then it could be transformational in terms of how those crucial remaining World Cup qualifiers are approached.
It’s about realising that, yes, Scotland is a small nation — but it also has some big talents.
To be honest, I would love to see them really flourish in their Euro group games against the Czech Republic, England and Croatia... qualifying alone doesn’t quite seem to have created that additional faith.
Last week’s 2-2 draw at home to Austria wasn’t the worst result to start a World Cup campaign. Twice coming back from a goal down showed character and was certainly something positive for Scotland to take forward.
But they had to follow that up with a good result against a side who are no world-beaters. Israel are ranked 87th by FIFA for a reason.
Don’t get me wrong, they have some decent players — particularly Manor Solomon and Eran Zahavi — and they put Denmark under pressure at times. They went for it in the second half but Hjulmand’s team defended well in Tel Aviv, took their chances and got the job done without ever really having to hit top form.
It could still be a tricky place for Austria to go, but I’m not certain they will drop points against Israel. So from a Scottish perspective, I don’t think you can dress up Sunday as anything other than a disappointing result.
It’s why I think the Tartan Army should join me in hoping for a Denmark win in Vienna tomorrow evening. Or at least a draw. With how the group looks right now, it might be better for Scotland’s chances of reaching the top two if Austria don’t pick up three points.
It’s a delicate situation. Denmark are looking at this match — away to the second seeds — as being a real key for the section.
No one is getting carried away yet because there is respect for Austria’s strength. I watched their giant striker Sasa Kalajdzic cause all sorts of problems at Hampden last week. So, to me, a point would be a very satisfactory way for Denmark to extend their good start.
Regardless of the outcome in Vienna, Scotland will have some catching up to do in the months ahead. Surely the first step is to genuinely believe you have what it takes.