Steve Clarke and Scotland had suffered what seemed an interminable wait for this. Seventeen months had passed between the win over Georgia and this late show against Croatia. In that period, Scotland had not tasted victory at Hampden Park.
The wider, ominous record sat at one win in 16 games until John McGinn stepped from among Clarke’s substitutes to break the resistance of 10-man Croatia. McGinn may have earned the points but this was the night Ben Doak came of age on the international scene. The 19-year-old has captivated the Tartan Army. “He was good,” said Clarke with a smile. “I thought he might be.”
