Clarke believes Scots still have it all to play for despite slip-ups
STEVE CLARKE says Scotland’s World Cup qualifying group is still wide open despite the national side taking just two points from their opening two games.
The Scots fell behind in Israel last night, but a Ryan Fraser goal in the second half gave Clarke’s men a point to follow up their opening day draw against Austria.
Denmark beat Moldova 8-0 and Austria saw off the Faroe Islands to pull clear of the Scots in the group’s early stages, but with the top two seeds meeting on Wednesday night, Clarke is hoping a win against the Faroe Islands will put Scotland right back in the mix.
“It’s two points from two games,” Clarke said. “Let’s see what happens later in the group.
“I can’t foresee the future. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future,
“I know Austria play Denmark in midweek so one or both of them will drop points.
“We have to pick up three points against the Faroes at home – and then the group’s open again.”
Despite his positive outlook overall, Clarke admitted he was frustrated with the slow start his team made to the game.
“I would be disappointed [overall],” he said. “We didn’t start well, got better control after making a slight tweak in game approaching half time.
“I made the changes at half time but it was disappointing to lose the goal just before the break.
“This group showed great character, as they always do, we were really good in the second half.
“With a bit of luck we could have got everything. But it’s another point on the road we want to go.
“There were times in the first half when it was too easy for the Israelis to get out the opposite side. Normally we work the press quite well.
“Credit to Israel, they got out, caused us a few problems with their width. When we made the switch to a more flat back three, we occupied the pitch better, controlled the game better.
“If we could have got to half time, maybe we could have won the game in the second half. But we take the point and move on.”
Clarke’s move to a 4-2-3-1 system at the interval proved key to the Scots clawing their way back into a match that was threatening to get away from them.
“At half time you make the change you think can affect the game,” he said. “I think it did affect the game.
“What you say to the players is you’re losing 1-0, we’ve lost the last twice we were here. So we asked the players to step up, show a little bit of character and get something out of the game.
“That’s what they credit to the players.”
Another pleasing aspect from did.
So the night for Clarke was the performance of Southampton striker Che Adams, who was given his first start for his country after making his debut from the bench in Thursday night’s game against Austria, and teed up Fraser for Scotland’s equaliser.
The Scotland manager was impressed by the way he led the line, and he feels it is only a matter of time before the goals begin to flow for the forward in a Scotland jersey.
“Che did well,” Clarke said. “I thought he was good.
“It’s obviously a different type and level of football, difficult to make a first start, I’d imagine.
“He did really well on the goal. I just spoke to him there and he’s a bit disappointed he didn’t get one himself.”