We must all take the blame for not emulating Croatia or even Iceland

We need to break down the barriers

Former SFA supremo Gordon Smith says the game’s ruling bodies must shoulder their share of responsibility for Scotland’s shortcomings over the last 20 years.

A generation has watched on enviously as other smaller countries, such as Croatia and Iceland, have grabbed the chance to join the World Cup party.

And the situation has been brought into even sharper focus through the success of England in reaching the last four in Russia.

“It is tough and it is something I had plenty of direct experience of myself when I was chief executive of the SFA,” said Smith.

“I have always wanted us to succeed. I am Scottish and football has been my life. “However when it is your job and the country isn’t being as successful as you would want them to be, it becomes all-consuming.

“There are many different factors as to why things don’t go as we would hope on the pitch. We are all to blame and must all shoulder responsibility.

A look at the FIFA World Rankings over the past 20 years shows that Croatia have been a model of consistency, while Scotland have been more like a rollercoaster

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

“Short-term, it can come down to manager’s tactics, player availability or even just luck on the day.

“In the longer run, though, it is about making sure there is the pathway to get as many players of international standard through as we possibly can to give us the very best chance of success.

“So then you are talking about youth development, and almost every aspect of the club game.

“I was very keen for change, and lobbied inside the SFA as well as outside it.

“The example that comes to mind was my view that we should allow the big clubs to run B teams in the lower leagues.

“It would have made a big difference because it would have allowed young players to get experience of competitive football. “David Longmuir, who was in charge of the League, took it to the clubs. But they didn’t want to know because – wrongly in my opinion – they believed it would take interest away from their teams because they would be all too easily beaten.

“Unfortunately, getting football people to move away from the

Gordon Smith, Alex Mcleish and SFA president George Peat on their way to the draw for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers

Davor Suker starred for Croatia when they finished third at the World Cup Finals in France 20 years ago