END OF THE EUROS WAS BRUTAL
CLARKE ADMITS IT TOOK HIM A WEEK TO GET OVER THE AGONY OF THAT HAMPDEN EXIT TO CROATIANS
FOR Steve Clarke, the comedown from Scotland’s Euro 2020 campaign was as brutal and traumatic as a spell in cold turkey.
Hopes of progression to the second stage of a major tournament were raised by a 0-0 draw with England at Wembley, but a Luka Modric masterclass at Hampden ended our involvement prematurely as Scotland lost 3-1 to Croatia in the final group game.
One of only eight teams to exit the competition after the first stage, Scotland were no strangers to an anti-climactic ending. In ten previous outings at the World Cup and Euros, they had failed to make it out of the group stage each and every time.
Yet, for Clarke and his players, the slings and arrows of tournament football were a new experience entirely.
Participating in the nation’s first finals for 23 years, the first game was a let-down, the second was a highlight and the third a lesson in how savage international football can be.
‘It took me about a week to come down,’ pondered Clarke in his first chat with the media since the Croatia game. ‘The ending of a tournament is brutal.
‘You go to the game and you have plans for the next game.
‘We came here to Hampden with a realistic chance of getting a result against Croatia that would put us through.
‘At the end of that game, it’s back to the team hotel, a couple of beers, shake everybody’s hands and then they are scattering all over the place. So the ending is quite brutal.’
Those who know him say Clarke found the aftermath difficult. After all the talk of history and heroics, home advantage came to nothing in the end. If they reach the World Cup finals in Qatar in 16 months time — and it’s a big if — the manager visualises a different ending.
‘It took me about a week when I just went home,’ he said. ‘I chilled out and then started thinking about what I was going to do in the future.
‘I’ve got to be honest. My thoughts were about the World Cup and trying to get to Qatar.
‘I then had a little chat with my bosses here and decided a contract extension would be a good idea.’
When the Euros ended, not everyone shared the SFA faith in the manager’s abilities. There was criticism of the team selection against the Czech Republic. There were plenty who felt Clarke’s inherent caution — allied to an untimely brush with Covid for Billy Gilmour — had blown a glorious chance to make history.
Yet amongst members of the board on Hampden’s sixth floor, there’s a different perception.
The manager’s reward for leading the nation to a first major finals since France ’98 is a contract extension until 2024.
When new deals are signed, the practice is to cite security for the family. And after the Euros, the Clarke brood welcomed in another new member.
‘Little baby Ivor makes it four now,’ says the proud grandfather, ‘that’s three boys and a girl. So it has been a nice summer.’
How long the bonhomie lasts hinges, as always, on results. With Denmark and Austria on the horizon, those of a cynical bent might think the new contract and added security is both timely and necessary. The SFA might feel less well disposed towards the manager after these games. For his part, Clarke hopes that both he and his players have learned something from the intense, claustrophobic demands of a major tournament.
‘I think you always look at your own performance,’ he ventured. ‘You always analyse what you have done. Could you have done things better?
‘A bit of tournament nous would help. Maybe a bit of composure in the final third.
‘We created quite a lot of chances in the tournament and only managed to score one goal, which was probably the most disappointing aspect.
‘We also conceded some goals that I think we could have defended better. We can work on aspects at both ends of the pitch, but we were competitive in all of the matches.
‘I was disappointed we could not get the points which maybe might have made another bit of history, but you have to take it on the chin and move on.
‘If you take the tournament itself, our best performance was probably against the most difficult opponent (England), which, in a way, is pleasing because, in recent years, that hasn’t been the case.
‘But I feel we expended a lot of energy in that game and suffered in the third game. So, things to learn. Maybe, from my own point of view, utilise the squad a bit more over a short period of time.
‘Denmark had a great tournament. It was obviously a very difficult start for them and they did well to finish really well and push England all the way in the semi-final.’
When Scotland fly to Copenhagen next week they will do so with new faces on the flight. Austin MacPhee replaces Steven Reid as No 3 coach, while former Rangers and England keeper Chris Woods fills the boots left vacant by Celtic’s Stevie Woods.
‘Bringing in someone like Austin will help us,’ said Clarke. ‘He went to Aston Villa as a specialist set-piece coach.
‘I mean, he comes to me as a coach but, obviously, I can utilise that knowledge he has of that area of the game. He did very well when he went to the Danish club, Midtjylland.
‘Then Villa recognised that he was bringing something to the game that was different. It’s an area, when Steven Reid and I would talk with John Carver, we’d discuss.
‘We used to speak about scoring more off set-plays because, at this level, it can be absolutely crucial. Also, we also have to stop conceding off set-plays.
‘The first goal against the Czech Republic came from the third phase of a set-play.
‘So if we can improve our organisation and our ability to defend in those situations then it’ll make us a bigger threat to score off set-plays.
‘That could see us pick up the two or three extra points that we need to qualify.’
David Marshall’s lack of firstteam football means Craig Gordon reclaims the No 1 jersey.
With Jon McLaughlin of Rangers injured, St Johnstone goalkeeper Zander Clark comes in along with Liam Kelly of Motherwell.
The loss of Scott McTominay is a blow, meaning a call-up for Aberdeen’s Lewis Ferguson. Approaching the games with cautious optimism, Clarke added: ‘We’ve got a chance. It’s obviously a big week for us. Two really tough away games and a home fixture in between.
‘We have to look to get three points and then have to get points from the other games that gives us a realistic chance of qualifying from the section.’