Steve Clarke has urged supporters to keep the faith as Scotland seek to avoid losing five games in a row for the first time when Portugal visit Hampden Park. Scotland’s wider record is also grim, with one win in 15 and none in nine competitive outings. Rumblings of discontent over Clarke’s position have been audible since Scotland’s struggles in the summer’s European Championship.
“I don’t see any reason why they [the fans] shouldn’t believe in this group of players,” Clarke said. “We’ve got three players that are inside the top 10 cap appearances for the country.
“After 20 years in the international wilderness, this group of players have been to two major tournaments. They’ve got promotion to this top level of the Nations League. So I don’t understand why people would be doubting about this group of players. It’s a tough moment. There’s no doubt about it. But we believe in ourselves.”
There are extenuating circumstances. Promotion to the Nations League top tier has handed Scotland stiffer challenges than to which they would typically be accustomed. They have played reasonably well despite losing against Croatia, Poland and Portugal in their past three games.
Included in the 15-match sequence are friendlies against England, France and the Netherlands. Injuries have obliterated the Scotland party for the camp this month.
“The players understand that the squad could be stronger,” Clarke said. “Everyone knows that. All these things are there to be seen. I don’t speak about it too much because I feel it’s disrespectful to the boys that are in the squad. We have to concentrate on who we have here. We know we have to be very good at everything we do in the game. Hopefully we can get the result that might just change the whole mood about the place.”
Clarke will break a record of his own on Tuesday evening. The 61-year-old will take charge of Scotland for the 62nd time, taking him second in the managerial roll of honour. Clarke will edge ahead of Jock Stein and Andy Roxburgh, with only Craig Brown above him. Brown managed Scotland’s senior team 71 times.
“Proud, obviously, to be mentioned in the same breath as people like Mr Stein and Mr Roxburgh, who still sends me the occasional email just to keep in touch,” Clarke said. “It’s really good. It shows you that the players have been fantastic for us over the last five and a half years of my reign as head coach. I’d like to add a few more to the number, if I could.”
Clarke denied, though, surpassing Brown was anywhere near the summit of his thoughts. “I want to go to the World Cup. I believe this squad of players are good enough to go to the World Cup in the Americas in 2026. That’s all I’m focused on.”
