The scale of anger as Scotland were unceremoniously bundled out of Euro 2024 was such that there was cause to ponder whether Steve Clarke could or should survive as the manager. Clarke’s response has fully justified his remaining in post; Scotland take a narrow lead into the second leg of the Nations League playoff against Greece, with the retaining of status in the top tier within touching distance. From lying on the canvas, the Scots are unbeaten in four and have won three in a row. This feels like a team on an upward curve once more. Scott McTominay, the goalscorer in Greece, has made plain that questioning Clarke was folly.
“In the summer it was very fine margins,” McTominay said. “The media will always say it is doom and gloom, stuff like that. It was such slim margins where, if you don’t take your moments in both boxes against top teams, you are going to get punished.
