The finality of the last European Championship stung Steve Clarke. Scotland had waited since 1998 to reach a major tournament. The impact of the coronavirus pandemic meant a further 12-month delay for the impatient Scots. Celebrations of a fine performance during the scoreless draw with England at Wembley – which in hindsight were over the top – only abated shortly before the 3-1 defeat against Croatia in Glasgow.
On the morning of 23 June 2021, Clarke bid farewell to his squad and the long-awaited adventure was over. The claiming of a single point from three games triggered the latest wave of concern over where Scotland stood in the football ecosystem. England shrugged off Scotland’s spirited attentions when progressing to the final. Clarke locked himself away and sulked.
A playoff defeat against Ukraine denied Clarke the opportunity of an immediate response, at the World Cup last year. Yet fuelled by the pain of 2021, Scotland are European Championship qualifiers once more. The blissful simplicity of this feels remarkable in itself.
Curiously, this is the third time Scotland have been confirmed as Euro participants while idle. A game between Norway and Spain delivered the technicality which sealed Scotland’s berth in Germany next summer but it would be wildly unfair to depict this as a campaign which required favours.
By the time Clarke’s men had won five matches out of five – Spain and Norway were both swatted aside on that run – it was only a matter of time. There were easier sections than this yet Scotland breezed through with two games to spare. Relief will only resonate in the fact the Scots will not have to face Erling Haaland in November needing anything by way of tangible return.
Clarke’s aspiration will not end here. He will want to win Group A but, more importantly, he will be anxious to show this squad can return better results in the tournament proper. Scotland continue to be spurred on by a feeling of not doing themselves justice two years ago. There is also scope to create history; no Scottish team has emerged from the group stage of the Euros or World Cup. The expansion of the European Championship helps here but there is no reason Scotland cannot break new ground.
Clarke has done considerably more than dramatically improve the fortunes of those in navy blue. He has inspired a footballing nation, as demonstrated by attendance numbers and interest levels when Scotland play. A supporter base formerly brow-beaten and beleaguered have a team to be proud of. Clarke’s group has captured hearts and minds. This is also a team with Scottish fundamentals as key traits: hard work, modesty, stoicism. If you do not pull your weight, you do not play. They will head to Germany with ambition but never of a mind to shout about that.
The core of this Scotland team has developed collectively. Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor, John McGinn and Scott McTominay are now experienced international footballers. This matters beyond the claiming of cap landmarks. This group, unlike many who came before, know what it is like to form part of a successful Scotland squad. Their appetite was enhanced not simply by qualifying for Euro 2020 but a desperation to make up for shortcomings at that event.
For too long, Scotland players turned up in hope rather than expectation. Under Clarke there is a feeling of belonging among the best, that Scotland should never be in the position of waiting decades between finals appearances.
Scotland’s June win in Norway was unquestionably of the smash and grab variety. Nonetheless, it owed plenty to the attitude of Clarke’s players. They played with swagger when seeing off the Spanish, 2-0 at Hampden Park. While the reverse fixture in Seville brought a first group defeat, Scotland were neither embarrassed nor outclassed against elite opposition. Had Scotland been awarded the goal controversially ruled out when McTominay slammed home a free-kick, there is little doubt they would have earned the point required to seal qualification on Thursday evening.
Arguably the most impressive showing actually came in Larnaca, where Cyprus found themselves 3-0 down to the Scots after half an hour. There was no wobble, no edginess; Scotland swatted an inferior team aside without a moment of fuss. Scotland teams of the past would sweat under the weight of expectation.
Clarke’s approach is such that he will want strong focus on Tuesday evening’s friendly with France in Lille. Scotland picked matches against the French and, last month, England with the Nations League in mind. Performances there have elevated Scotland to the top section, meaning they will need to know what it takes to joust with the finest sides in Europe. England showed themselves as a class above Scotland in Glasgow but even that generated shrugs given the valuable success in Cyprus just days earlier.
Still, Clarke should be allowed time to bask in his latest achievement. The ghosts of 2021 played a considerable part in that. They will also increase motivation when Scotland appear, once again, alongside Europe’s best.
