Clarke pleased with how far his side have come but insists they still have to do more
Scotland manager says plaudits will fall on deaf ears until Scotland qualify for World Cup
SCOTLAND’S 1-1 draw with Poland on Thursday night – after the softest penalty that has been awarded all season in the fourth minute of injury-time – was desperately disappointing for manager Steve Clarke.
A victory would have extended a six-game winning run – the hottest streak of form the national team has enjoyed since way back in 1930 – and bolstered confidence further ahead of their involvement in the Qatar 2022 play-off finals this year.
Yet, the deflation that Clarke and his charges felt at being denied a triumph in such a cruel manner was nothing in comparison with the devastation they experienced following back-to-back 4-0 defeats to Belgium at home and Russia away in Euro 2020 qualifying back in 2019.
Scotland, who are within two wins of reaching their first World Cup since France ’ 98, have come an awfully long way in a very short space of time.
Clarke looked back on those painful reverses yesterday as he continued his preparations for the friendly international against Austria in Vienna on Tuesday night at Oriam just outside Edinburgh and outlined how important they had been in getting his side to the level they are currently performing at. But he was at pains to point out that there remains, despite Euro 2020 qualification and a place in the Path-A play-offs being secured since, significant room for improvement going forward.
He is optimistic that, with the likes of Billy Gilmour, Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson all emerging since those drubbings, even better times lie ahead in the years to come.
“Those games let me know whatever we were doing at that particular time wasn’t right,” he said. “I was looking at what we had turning up at camp and we were still losing in that manner. You can lose a game of football, but it’s how you lose a game of football.
“We decided as a coaching staff at that time was to find a way to benefit us and find a core group of players we can rely on when we got together. Fortunately, it went the right way. The recent games have shown that we can have our fair share of possession in the game, which is good. Because the more possession you have got then the more chance you have of creating chances in the game.
“If you are controlling the game with the ball you are going to concede less chances at the other end. But we still did concede some chances on Thursday night so we are not sitting here thinking we have cracked it. We can get better, we have to keep improving.
“I still feel there is evolution and improvement to come with these players. If you look at the ages and number of caps they have got it is a group that can go 2022 hopefully, 2024, 2026 and even into 2028 which will hopefully be when Scotland is a host nation for that tournament, which is a long way away.”
Clarke added: “I think I have got a really good group of players who will continue to improve. Every player is a better player when they’re confident, every player is a better player when they’re going on the pitch happy, in a good mood and looking forward to coming here.
“They enjoy the training we give them, they enjoy the atmosphere we create around it. You have to win games, you have to find a process to win matches and in recent times we have been able to do that, which is great.
“It is like any team, even if you are at a club, if you are working the right way and working with the right type of person the team will evolve and that is what has happened over the course of the last couple of years. The team is continually evolving.”
The 58-year-old is under contract with the SFA until the Euro 2024 finals. Asked if he would like to remain in his position and work with the outstanding young players who have forced their way into the Scotland side, he said: “I would like to get to Qatar 2022 then think about what I’ll do next.”
Euro 2020 proved to be a difficult experience for Scotland and their supporters; the national team lost their opening match to the Czech Republic, drew with England and were then beaten by Croatia in their final group match to miss out on the knockout rounds. However, Clarke knows that overcoming Israel and Serbia in the playoffs, reaching that tournament and ending years of failure and heartbreak was important to the development of his side and firmly believes he has reaped the benefits of their participation since.
“Getting to the Euros was absolutely crucial,” he said. “It was crucial to beat the cycle of non-qualification. It wasn’t because of this group of players, they haven’t all failed before. But the pressure that comes from failing to qualify regularly was there. So it was important to break that and it was also important to get the time with them.
“When you go to that camp you have at least 10 days beforehand where you can cultivate your culture. Then the time in the tournament itself gives you almost a month together. I did say that on the back of that we would be a better team.
“People didn’t believe me when we went to Denmark and got beat, but after that the
You have to win games, you have to find a process to win matches and we have been able to do that
results came, slowly but surely. I thought the team would develop from that three and a half weeks together, that time has helped us improve.
“When you look at the way we have played recently, against Pot 1 teams and Pot 2 teams, we have always been competitive. We haven’t always won the game, but we have been competitive. The most important thing is to be competitive because if you are competitive you’ll get your share of wins.
“It is good for the Tartan Army to come along and enjoy watching a Scottish team with a style of play which is nice, which is part of the process as well.”