Scotland’s Euro 2024 campaign, lamentably, is now in the past. It may be too soon for some to leave it behind, and the pain will no doubt linger long among the Tartan Army, but the national team now must look to the future. And quickly.
A devilishly tricky Nations League group kicks off in September when Poland come to Hampden before a visit to Lisbon to face Portugal. Croatia are the other side making up the section.
Whether Scotland go into these fixtures with Steve Clarke still at the helm remains to be seen, but unless he himself has a change of heart after his current period of reflection, it would appear likely.
Many commentators in defence of Clarke have argued that he has done an admirable job despite the limitations of the players he has available to him, while others would contend that his cautious approach failed to get the most out of as talented a group that the nation has had at its disposal in a generation or two.
Either way, both groups would likely agree that there is a need for the national side to raise the standard of player further still if Scotland are not only to make the World Cup in two years, but have a shot of finally ending their group stage hoodoo.
That means Clarke, once he has made a huge decision on his own future, has a few more to make when it comes to the international futures of some of his players. The disappointment in Germany may be the end of the road for many of them.
Captain Andy Robertson is 30, and will likely have one last campaign in him at his peak. Callum McGregor is 31, and may just hang in there too, despite finally showing signs of some wear and tear towards the end of the campaign from years of cranking out 50-plus games a season for Celtic and Scotland.
There are others from Clarke’s 26-man Euro 2024 pool though on the wrong side of 30, and who may never be seen in a Scotland jersey again. Liam Cooper, Kenny McLean and James Forrest are 32, for example.
Able servants to their country as many of them have been, it is time for Clarke to clear the way for some new blood ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign. Because for all that there are constant laments over player development in Scotland, there are talented youngsters out there.
To Clarke’s credit, but for injury, Ben Doak would have travelled to the Euros with Scotland. Whether he would have seen a minute of action is a point of debate mind you, given that Tommy Conway was called up to replace him and never got off the bench, not even in those last desperate moments against Hungary.
At these European Championships, we have seen Spain throw in 16-year-old Barcelona star Lamine Yamal and Turkey put their faith in 19-year-old Real Madrid prospect Arda Guler. While in Scotland, we are still talking about not putting too much pressure on the shoulders of 23-year-old Billy Gilmour, as if he is a precocious youngster just making his way in the game.
Scotland had the oldest squad at the Euros, at an average age of 28.79. This isn’t a new phenomenon or something peculiar to Clarke, in fairness to him, but unless we give these youngsters an opportunity, not only will we never know if they are good enough or not, but we are hampering their chances to reach their full potential as players.
So, even when Lyndon Dykes makes a welcome return to the squad in September, either Conway should remain there too, Doak should be drafted in, or both. With the greatest of respect to Jacob Brown, we have seen enough of him to know that he is unlikely to ever become a regular for Scotland.
In midfield, Lewis Ferguson has to play a bigger role when he is fit once more. But let’s also get the likes of David Watson, Connor Barron and Lennon Miller in and around the squad too in place of the likes of McLean and Ryan Jack.
On the left, is there value in Greg Taylor playing understudy to Robertson when he is unlikely to be the man to succeed him? Or would it not make more sense to bring Josh Doig into the fold as the more feasible long-term option? See also Max Johnston on the right, who should be third in line behind Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson.
Clarke acknowledged before the European Championships that his squad might need ‘a little refresh’ going into these Nations League fixtures and the World Cup qualifying campaign, but the paucity of the performances showed that it needs an urgent injection of youthful energy and enthusiasm.
If Clarke wants to shake perceptions of him being overly cautious, then it is not only in his tactics that he can do so. He can start placing some faith in the young talent this nation is producing.
Just as he would have been forgiven more for Scotland’s defeat to Hungary had he sent his team to go out swinging, so too will he be given leeway for losses to higher-ranked countries in the Nations League if there are clear signs of where he wants to develop his team.
His loyalty to his players has been commendable, and a huge part of this side’s relative success together. But it is time for Clarke, and Scotland, to look to the future.
