NO FLOWERING OF SCOTLAND: CALL-OFFS HAVE HIT NATION HARD IN A CALAMITOUS CAMPAIGN

Scotland’s tortuous qualifying campaign for Euro 2020 finally draws to a close over the next few days – a welcome end to what has been a slow, lingering death for the nation’s hopes.

It began with the embarrassment in Kazakhstan and never really improved, and has so far spawned just two Hampden wins – the narrow success over Cyprus and the routine demolition of hapless San Marino.

To be honest, I have no idea what to expect in Nicosia this afternoon. I would hope to see a more structured defensive performance, a sign that Steve Clarke, pictured, is getting his message across, but there have been so many call-offs it makes it incredibly difficult to achieve any kind of consistency.

By 10pm on Tuesday night the group will be done and dusted, and we will know our opposition in the playoffs, and that’s where the serious business really will begin.