The end of the last European Championship stung Steve Clarke. Scotland have been waiting to reach a major tournament since 1998. The impact of the coronavirus recent time led to an additional 12-month delay for impatient Scots. The celebrations for a good performance in the goalless draw against England at Wembley – which was exaggerated in hindsight- only subsided shortly before the 1-3 defeat against Croatia in Glasgow.
June Clarke said goodbye to her team and the long-awaited adventure was over. The call for a single point in three games sparked the recent wave of concern about Scotland’s position in the football ecosystem. England ignored Scotland’s fiery attentions as they advanced to the final. Clarke locked himself in and sulked.
Curiously, this is the third time that Scotland has been confirmed as a euro participant while it is inactive. A match in the middle of Norway and Spain provided the technique that sealed Scotland’s place in Germany next summer, but it would be extremely unfair to call this a campaign that required favors.
When Clarke’s men had won five out of five matches – Spain and Norway were both suspended in this series-it was only a matter of time. There were easier sections than these, but Scotland coped with two games remaining. The relief will only be echoed in the fact that the Scots will not have to face Erling Haaland in November and will need something as a tangible comeback.
Clarke’s quest will not end here. He will want to win group a, but more importantly, he will be looking forward to showing that this team can achieve superior results in the actual tournament. Scotland continues to be driven by a sense of not doing itself justice two years ago. It is also possible to make history; no Scottish team has left the group stage of the Euros or the World Cup. The expansion of the European Championship helps here, but there is no reason why Scotland could not be innovative.
Clarke has far more than dramatically improved the fortunes of those in navy sapphire. It has inspired a football nation, which is evident in the number of spectators and the interest when Scotland plays. A once troubled and distressed fan base has a team they can be proud of. Clarke’s group conquered hearts and minds. It is also a team with Scottish foundations as key features: hard work, modesty, stoicism. If you do not pull your weight, do not play. They will go to Germany ambitiously, but they will never have the sense to shout about it.
