Where does Scotland’s World Cup campaign leave Clarke?

June 27, 2026 No Comments

Where does Scotland’s World Cup campaign leave Clarke?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Scotland head coach Steve Clarke signed a new four-year contract before the World CupByColin MoffatBBC Sport ScotlandPublished54 minutes agoSteve Clarke ended Scotland’s long World Cup drought but aspirations of a first taste of the knockout rounds – heightened by the expanded format – now rest on a series of highly unlikely results elsewhere.The draw was brutally tough, with Brazil and Morocco at five and six in Fifa’s rankings. No other group had two top 10 teams.Scotland were expected to finish third and did so after beating Haiti.But four of the 12 third-placed sides miss out and Scotland face the anguish of an early exit as Cape Verde, Ghana and Bosnia-Herzegovina continue, with DR Congo expected to join the list of pot four nations progressing.Clarke signed a four-year contract extension prior to the tournament but his leadership is under scrutiny, much as it was after a disappointing Euro 2024.Did the head coach get the best out of his squad in the United States?Scotland’s World Cup hopes at 0.07% – these are results they need

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Know your limits?

“Over the three games you’re definitely looking at below-par performances,” reported Willie Miller, who played at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups for Scotland.

“I keep looking back on the Denmark game [November’s 4-2 win to seal qualification] with those outstanding goals, but they didn’t get anywhere near those levels.”

The former defender described the lack of a top-class striker as “a major issue” and reported he was “uncertain about the logic of a few selections”.

However, he did back Clarke by adding: “He got us there and that’s what the Scotland manager’s job is.

“He has introduced a real togetherness in the squad as well, which wasn’t always the case.”

With 81 matches under his belt, Clarke is Scotland’s longest-serving manager.

Support from the Scottish FA has been emphatic, with their coffers significantly enhanced by participation at three of the past four major finals.

Euro 2028 will be staged in Scotland, England, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland and it will be difficult for the co-hosts not to qualify.

“I’m sure he can go again over the next few years if he wants to,” Miller added of Clarke.

“The new contract was a positive step. I think it was the right thing to do.”

Scotland conceded soft, early goals in defeats by Morocco and Brazil, with former striker James McFadden saying: “The defending was certainly below the standard we’re used to and the errors were costly.

“I just feel the players could have shown more. We could have done better against Morocco in terms of having a go.

“But a lot of people think we should have had two penalties and a red card in that game, which is nothing to do with the manager and players.

“Against Brazil, we gave them two gifts.”

‘Disappointing’ – Clarke reacts to Scotland’s loss against Brazil

The opening 1-0 win against Haiti was just Scotland men’s fifth win in nine World Cup campaigns.

“We have to understand our limitations,” stressed Pat Nevin, who was a team-mate of Clarke’s for Scotland and Chelsea.

“It’s harsh to say the manager is ultra defensive when [Ben] Gannon-Doak, [John] McGinn, [Scott] McTominay and [Lawrence] Shankland are picked.

“A lack of conservatism was his downfall to a degree – because we’re not good enough to be that open. I’d have gone with a back five for every game.

“We did have a go and we got absolutely found out.”

With the flak coming his way, would Clarke consider walking away?

“It might cross his mind with the grief he’s getting – and there’s a bit of rebuild required, which is not going to be easy,” Nevin added.

“I think that’s blown away by one thing. He’s loved what he’s seen in moments and there are moments that he’s given the country that have been spectacular.

“I think he’s fallen in love with it and he’ll definitely stick it out.”

‘No shame’ in World Cup defeats

Stephen O’Donnell earned most of his 26 caps under Clarke and played in all three group games at the delayed Euro 2020.

The Motherwell defender points to advances made in the past seven years and believes it is fanciful to expect a larger points haul from Group C.

“We went to our first World Cup in 28 years and got our first win since 1990,” reported the 34-year-old.

“I don’t think anyone can realistically be saying we should be getting more than three points.

“We got beat 4-0 on aggregate by two of the top teams in the world. There’s no shame in that, even if there is frustration in the way we conceded the goals.

“Cape Verde are going through with three draws and their group is far easier than Scotland’s.

“I see progression with the win, which we didn’t manage in the last two tournaments [Euro 2020 and Euro 24].”

And O’Donnell believes “there is momentum building” with the national team.

“It’s got to inspire the next generation of players,” he told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast.

“There will be criticism around the style of play. Whether or not people say we were better in the past, we have won a game at the World Cup and that hasn’t happened for 36 years.

“We’ve improved from when Steve Clarke first came in and hopefully there is more to come.

“You can’t question the success he has had. You can always ask for better and hope to over-achieve but I don’t think qualifying for three out of four tournaments looks bad on the CV.”

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