In Russia to ignite tenure
trast to this immersion, he estimates he has worked with his Scotland players for a total of one hour this week. It’s no surprise to discover that he finds this intensely frustrating. “I am a good manager, but I think I’m a really good coach and I don’t get the time on the coaching pitch to work,” he said.
Clarke is desperate for a moment of inspiration, a la Snodgrass’ winner against Croatia. Who can provide it? Perhaps Snodgrass himself, or even Dundee United striker Lawrence Shankland, who could feature at the Luzhniki Stadium to become the first player from the Scottish lower tiers to make his Scotland debut in a competitive match since Stevie Crawford. The Raith Rovers striker played – and scored – in a Kirin Cup fixture against Ecuador in 1995 shortly after his side had won promotion from the old First Division.
A win this evening would not be as meaningless as it might appear, since Scotland need to at least finish in third place in Group I to reflect their seeding (they are currently fifth). It would also provide the perfect platform to start building some momentum before the play-off semi-final in March, Clarke’s stated aim for the remaining qualifying games. After all, Strachan got lift-off from what seemed a hollow victory.
“That would be great, wouldn’t it?” said Clarke. “That’s what you hope for. I’m not in Russia thinking ‘we’ll get this gameoutofthewayandthenattackthe last three games and see if we can get the points there’.
“We have to think ‘come on, let’s turn over Russia’. We have to think we can get three points here and if not then at least take a point. It’s going to be a tough game, but I saw enough in the first game at Hampden to let me know we have a chance to win the game.”
“I’m not in Russia thinking ‘we’ll get this game out of the way and then attack the last three games and see if we can get the points there’. We have to think ‘come on, let’s turn over Russia’. We have to think we can get three points here and if not then at least take a point”
STEVE CLARKE