Clarke sends a rallying call to the Tartan Army
Steve Clarke has appealed for the Tartan Army to turn out in force at Hampden Park on Tuesday night and cheer Scotland to a third win in a row.
Scotland host Kazakhstan in the final match of the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign and their last before the Nations League play-offs in March, which offer a backdoor route to the Finals.
And after watching his players follow up the win over San Marino with last night’s victory over Cyprus, the national coach is keen they continue to build momentum for the challenge ahead.
“We had 3,500 people here in Cyprus supporting us and they’ll go home with a smile on their face, which is important,” he said, revealing that Steven Naismith could be fit to make the game.
“It’ll be nice to see them and the rest back home get behind the players at Hampden against Kazakhstan and hopefully we can finish with three wins in a row.
“I’m reliably informed that it would be the first time in two years, so that’s another target for us.”
His comment was a reference to his stated desire that Scotland secure a third-top finish in Group I, behind Belgium and Russia, which they can do if they take all three points on Tuesday.
The Kazaks notoriously torpedoed the country’s hopes of qualifying in the traditional fashion with what was a wounding 3-0 win in Astana back in March when the Scots were still being led by Alex Mcleish.
Since Steve Clarke took over in June, there has been progress – especially in the midfield area.
It was to the fore again yesterday with John Mcginn picking up his fifth goal in five Scotland appearances and Ryan Christie netting his first with a stunning strike. “Both of our goals were great,” said Clarke. “We know what Ryan can do coming in off that right side because he’s got a wonderful left foot.
“I was surprised he got so much space and they sat off him because he can produce what he did.
“He also links the play and his work rate was fantastic, as was James Forrest’s on the other side as well.
“It’s really important to have two wide players that can create but also do a defensive job.
“But listen I can say we’re on the right track all the time but the proof will be in the pudding come March.
“It’s four months away and, as I’m learning in international football, you have to deal with the breaks.
“Sitting here now I’ve got a smile on my face because it was important to build on the San Marino victory.
“We knew coming here would be a difficult game because it was a difficult game at Hampden in June.
“A very similar game where we got ourselves in front and I thought when we went in front we were the better team.
“Second half we conceded to another set play or second phase from a set play but it was a wonderful strike; give the lad George Efrem credit.
“The reaction to that was great, getting ourselves back in front with a really good team goal.
“And then we showed resilience to get the three points we wanted.”
Efrem, ex-rangers and Dundee (on loan), was at the centre of controversy with his early effort which struck the crossbar appearing to go over the line but not being given.
“It was the decisive moment in the game,” said Cyprus coach Ran Ben Shimon.
“To lead after six minutes would have been crucial. It was half a metre inside. It was a poor performance from the referee
“It was a very close match and could have gone either way. The team that tried to play football lost this game.”
Clarke, though, was not won over by the force of his opposite number’s argument.
“I’ve seen the stills and the still are confusing eh?” he said.
“I wouldn’t go on the live pictures or the pictures that are in play, it’s very difficult to say that ball is over the line and if the officials have the same doubt then they can’t give the goal.
“You see now the modern game, players taking corner kicks and you are convinced the ball is outside the quadrant but it only has to overhang a little bit.
“So I am not sure the whole ball was over the line.”
Scorer John Mcginn likewise preferred to focus on the positive.
“There’s a lot of new faces, and there was a winning mentality, even though it wasn’t pretty near the end,” he said.
“It’s so important to try and build towards March and it’s a step forward – and hopefully we can do the same Tuesday against Kazakhstan.”
A Hampden win for Khazakhstan could give them third place in the group after they recorded a solid win over San Marino yesterday.
Goals from Zaynutdinov, Suyumbaev and Schetkin gave them an early 3-0 lead before Berardi pulled one back for San Marino late on. n