Steve Clarke can seem one of football’s downbeat realists, but for a moment the Scotland manager sounded like a romantic. “I have waited 62 years to get into a World Cup,” he said. “I have been in football for 44 years.” Whichever way it is framed, his had been a lengthy wait. Scotland’s had, too.
Clarke had already become the only manager to lead them to three major tournaments. Now, no one has more wins at a World Cup, even if that is only one. “How difficult it is for a country like Scotland to go to a World Cup and win games,” said Clarke. “It doesn’t happen very often.”
The last time was in 1990 when only the veteran reserve goalkeeper Craig Gordon of Clarke’s squad was even alive. The past illuminated the achievement Scotland conjured in beating Haiti. The present could frame it in different ways. Scotland have a habit of finishing third in World Cup groups; now there is the chance that any time in third with three points will advance. But the pessimism ingrained in the Scottish psyche says that, if anyone will go out with three points, it will be them. After all, in 1974, they went out unbeaten. In 1978, they went home despite beating the eventual finalists from the Netherlands.
Yet if three points in itself is not enough, it will come down to goal difference. The negative interpretation of victory over Haiti was that Scotland barely bolstered theirs, but that they could severely dent it against Morocco and Brazil. Two narrow defeats may be enough, but their opponents have the pedigree to inflict more damage. “The next two games are against teams in the world’s top 10,” said Clarke. He argued that, with points on the board, Scotland have taken the pressure off.
But there is an onus on them to deliver something better. “We definitely won’t be happy when we look back at it, and we’ll have to improve for the next two games,” said Angus Gunn, the first Scotland goalkeeper to keep a World Cup clean sheet since David Harvey in 1974. Gunn did not have to excel as his teammates displayed the resilience and character Clarke hailed.
Gunn’s conclusion was nevertheless correct: Scotland will have to play better. Differently, too. They missed the injured Billy Gilmour against Haiti and the assurance he gives in possession. Lewis Ferguson was “exceptional” in Clarke’s description, but Scotland lacked sufficient control. It was partly the consequence of their formation, a 4-4-2 that indicated Clarke had set his sights on a bigger win.
The chances are that it will have to be jettisoned, not least because Scott McTominay, Scotland’s greatest goal threat in the second half of Clarke’s reign, was forced deeper; McTominay became a revelation as a box-crashing raider. This took him back to his days as Manchester United’s defensive midfielder. Lawrence Shankland, despite his goals against Curacao and Bolivia and in Hearts’ title tilt, may have to be sacrificed in the interests of pragmatism.
There could be a question of whether Clarke would be better off adding a third centre-back – potentially Kieran Tierney – or another central midfielder, such as Ryan Christie. There may be different answers for different games: bolster the midfield to counter Morocco’s strength there, reinforce the defence for the test Vinicius Jr and Raphinha provide?
Scotland have wounding experiences of both; a repeat of 1998’s 3-0 defeat to Morocco would harm the goal difference and put pressure on them to get a point against Brazil. Which, as it happens, they did in 1974, their previous clean sheet coming against a side including Roberto Rivelino and Jairzinho. But in 1982, Scotland lost 4-1 to Brazil, going out on goal difference for a third consecutive World Cup.
Now, a 4-1 loss could leave them needing a fourth point. The hypotheticals and the past setbacks could cast a shadow on what was nevertheless a magnificent occasion. Clarke was not alone in thinking about what it took to get there.
“That’s why you put the graft in all your life,” said Shankland. “What an amazing feeling,” said captain Andy Robertson. “The lads achieved their dreams today.” It is scarcely news that Robertson was released by Celtic for being too small and worked in Marks and Spencer. Now, like Billy Bremner, Bruce Rioch, Danny McGrain and Roy Aitken, he has captained his country to a World Cup win.
John McGinn secured it. “We’ve been through a lot of hurt as a country,” the scorer said. “A generation of supporters haven’t seen this. But the pride on my face this morning, seeing all the kids going to the parks in a Scotland kit and painting their faces…” It was a generational win, even if it came with the nagging sense Scotland may come to rue the fact it was not a bigger one.
