Scots boss to prioritise Euros over Auld Enemy

AS MUCH as he relishes the exciting prospect of a landmark encounter with England, Steve Clarke’s focus is firmly fixed on Scotland’s bid to qualify for Euro 2024.

The Scottish FA have set a Hampden date in September of next year to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first-ever international fixture in Glasgow.

The two countries last faced off at the Euro 2020 finals when they played out a 0-0 draw at Wembley.

This next encounter will be the 116th meeting of the nations and is set to be played in front of 50,000 spectators — a significant advance on the estimated 4,000 audience for the first meeting at the West of Scotland cricket ground in 1872.

‘Scotland v England was the first recognised international match, held just down the road from Hampden,’ said Clarke. ‘We’re looking forward to it but, before that, we have so many important games.

‘We want to go to Germany in 2024, so the hard work starts in March.’

Clarke has already discussed the prospect with counterpart Gareth Southgate when the two men met at last weekend’s Premier League fixture between Southampton and Newcastle.

‘I was sitting next to Gareth and we had a little chat,’ added Clarke. ‘He’s looking forward to the reception he’ll get when he walks out at Hampden.

‘It’s great that England have agreed to play us. It’s always a good night when we go up against each other.’

While Southgate is ready to take his squad to Qatar for the World Cup, Clarke has opted to stay home, even though group rivals Spain will be in action in the Middle East.

He’ll do his homework on Luis Enrique’s team but knows there will be multiple threats from a section that also includes Norway and Georgia. Both those teams possess prodigious attackers in Erling Haaland and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia respectively.

Although the draw appears to have cancelled out the supposed advantage of Scotland’s ascent to second-seed status, Clarke welcomes the prospect of a competitive, unpredictable run of fixtures.

‘I’m excited because it’s a good group,’ added the national coach. ‘We want to qualify, so we must finish first or second.

‘Teams can take points off each other, which makes it competitive. They will be tough games but sometimes I think it’s better to have that.

‘You know you’ll be 100-per-cent focused on every game because every single point in the group is going to be important.’