Managers making critical comment towards supporters is rarely a movie that ends well, no matter the validity of the complaint. As soon as Steve Clarke admitted to being surprised and disappointed by the boos which met confirmation of Scotland’s defeat against Japan on Saturday, a strange relationship between coach and country had been emphasised.
The meeting with Côte d’Ivoire in Liverpool, on face value a box-ticking exercise, carries huge meaning for Scotland. The euphoria of qualifying for the World Cup will vanish if the Tartan Army are burdened by the fear of what may take place when it kicks off. Clarke used pre-match media duties to play down discord when the issue clearly lingers.
