QATAR HEROES

Clarke orders his Scots stars to blaze a trail towards 2022 World Cup berth

SCOTLAND boss Steve Clarke has challenged his players to double down on their Euro 2020 qualification by taking a step towards the next World Cup.

Fresh from their historic play-off victory in Serbia on Thursday night, Clarke’s team are back in action against Slovakia in Trnava this afternoon.

An away win would clinch promotion to Tier A of the Nations League, significantly enhancing the prospects of another play-off place for Qatar 2022.

‘We know better than anybody now how important these Nations League games are,’ said Clarke. ‘That’s what gave us the route to Euro 2020.

‘I interrupted the players’ celebrations the other night just to have five minutes of serious chat. I thanked them for their efforts, players and staff, and also reminded them that while we have qualified for Euro 2020, we can now park that one in the cupboard.

‘It gives us something to look forward to next summer but now it’s about the next tournament. The next tournament is Qatar 2022 and we want to be involved in that, too.’

Clarke (left) also revealed that he had thanked his predecessor Alex McLeish for paving the way for Euros qualification by topping a three-team Nations League section including Albania and Israel to secure the

play-off chance. ‘It started in 2018 with Alex McLeish and his staff and a lot of the players who were involved in those games are no longer with us,’ said Clarke.

‘But that’s where the journey started, in the Nations League C section.

‘I sent Alex a text this morning just to say thanks because he started the journey and thankfully we managed to finish the journey in Serbia.’

While the nation has waited more than two decades for a shot at a major finals, Clarke insists the current squad is young enough to make it to more tournaments.

He added: ‘Most of the squad are at a really good age and coming to a time in their lives where they have good international experience and are picking up more.

‘There is a nucleus there, the core of the squad can hopefully carry on for a few more years and hopefully take in another qualification.’