For some members of the Tartan Army, familiarity with Steve Clarke and his style of play had long since bred a level of contempt, even before the disappointing performances his Scotland side produced at the World Cup. But the cold hard facts, with Clarke taking the country to three tournaments from the last four, make him the national side’s most successful ever manager.
That, naturally, makes him a hard act to follow. While Sebastien Pocognoli has stepped into those formidable shoes knowing that a departure from the sometimes overtly cautious approach of Clarke will win him quick favour, he also knows that the bar of regular qualification for tournaments is one he must now meet as a base requirement.
