Pampered, protected & primed – so why didn’t Scotland players perform?Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Scotland players (from left) John Souttar, Grant Hanley, Lewis Ferguson and Andy Robertson leave the team hotel in Charlotte to head homeByAmy CanavanBBC Sport Scotland in Charlotte, North CarolinaPublished41 minutes agoIt started with being piped on to the plane at Glasgow Airport.Four weeks later, Scotland’s highly anticipated, emotionally charged, celebratory return to the men’s World Cup after 28 years ends with the squad scuttling off on their separate ways and head coach Steve Clarke resigning after a sorry showing Stateside.
Missing from their luggage will be the brazen optimism that was United States-bound. Clarke and his then-bullish squad set off ready to “take care of business” and become the first side to reach the knockout stages of a major tournament.
It will be replaced by the baggage of regret.
The tremendous travelling Tartan Army – which has ensured the Scots won’t be forgotten at these finals – was floored by the heat and humidity of Florida.
It wasn’t ready for it. But the players were. In fact, they couldn’t have been more prepared, protected and primed to perform.
From world-class facilities and family time, to staying centrally in the cities and soaking up the atmosphere, all of the players’ wishes were granted by the now departed Clarke and the Scottish FA.
And yet here we are again, with shattered hopes, a heap of questions and silence from the Scotland camp.
