Moldova win would equal Serbia glory
Moldova in Chisinau on Friday. Clarke is adamant that if they can get the result they need, it will match the penalty shootout victory in Serbia that got them to the Euros.
He said: “I keep telling people, these players are desperate to go to the World Cup with Scotland.
“We also have a coach who is desperate to go and that’s a pretty potent mix.
“Hopefully we continue getting results because we want to go to the play-offs in a good place.
“If we do – and it’s an if – qualify for the play- offs and get to the World Cup it will be a fantastic achievement because qualification for the World Cup now is difficult for a nation like Scotland.
“The last time we finished second in a World Cup qualifying group, we went straight to the finals.
“Now if you finish second it’s a play- off system but f inishing second in this group would be as good an achievement as getting to the Euros, via the play-offs.
“In a tough group we’ll have managed to jump from third seed to second but we have to do it.”
When Clarke took the job in 2019 his remit was to take Scotland back to tournaments for the first time in a quar ter of a century. Victory over Moldova will put them within touching distance of the World Cup next winter and Clarke insists he has always believed in his group of players.
The Scots gaffer admits a 4- 0 defeat to Russia two years ago was a pivotal moment for the squad but reckons they haven’t looked back since.
Clarke said: “I just looked at the squad when I got the job and asked: ‘Can we do better?’ Since that night long ago in Moscow, we’ve been on the right path.
“We spoke as a group that night and said: ‘Right, this has to be the lowest.’
“From there, there’s been slow but steady progress.
“You’re starting to see that now with the points we’ve got and the fact we’re going into the final stage of a campaign with a realistic chance of getting a play-off.
“I’ve had criticism but that comes with the job. Everyone has an opinion, everyone wants to tell you what to do, especially when it’s a national team job.
“You just have to close your ears and plough on, do what you believe in.
“It’s been steady progress since that night in Moscow but there’s always that bit in the back of your mind that says: ‘ We’re Scotland, don’t trip up now.’
“We have to get through the next two games and hopefully we can be sitting here talking about the play-offs in March.”
Despite picking up two draws in their f irst two games of this campaign, Cl a rk e was a lway s convinced that they’d be in the mix for the play-offs.
He said: “Even when we got a little bit of criticism for only getting five points from the first three games, I said ‘ Wait and see where we are in November.’
“Now we need the required points from this window and hopefully we will have a play-off. We have to finish the job.”