Steve Clarke was never going to give much away when asked about a possible change of system for Scotland’s vital World Cup clash with Morocco tonight.
Would he stick with the 4-4-2, would it be 4-2-3-1, or would he revert back to the 3-4-2-1 that has served him well in the past? ‘You will have to wait and see,’ came the response from the Scotland manager.
All three systems certainly have their merits and it is undoubtedly a strength for Scotland that they have been able to use them all so comfortably and fluidly.
Yet, beyond the system that Clarke chooses to deploy against the Moroccans in Boston, it is the overall mentality of the team that is the most important thing of all.
Scotland go into this match knowing that a point will be enough to clinch a place in the knockout stages of a World Cup. History is firmly within their grasp.
But setting up purely with the intention of claiming a point would be the wrong move. Against a Moroccan side packed with quality, Scotland can’t just sit back and allow it to become the Alamo from the first minute.
Steve Clarke has a big decision to make over whether to shake up the formation of his side
They will need to keep it tight at the back, of course, but they also need to carry a threat at the other end. Finding the right balance will be key.
This will be a night where calm heads will prevail. If it turns into a Moroccan onslaught with Scotland’s backs to the wall, it’ll be a stretch to believe Clarke’s side could survive 90 minutes unscathed.
Rather than looking to park the bus, Scotland need to find a few more gears than they were able to do in the nervy 1-0 win over Haiti.
They will have more space to exploit against Morocco, especially down the wings. That’s where the likes of Ben Gannon-Doak could have a lot of joy on the counter.
The feeling is that Clarke is likely to move to the 3-4-2-1. That would see Kieran Tierney come into a back three alongside Grant Hanley and Jack Hendry, with Andy Robertson and Aaron Hickey as the wing-backs.
A box midfield would see Lewis Ferguson and John McGinn at the base, with Scott McTominay and Gannon-Doak in the more advanced roles, and Che Adams up front.
Gannon-Doak would have the freedom to roam wide and exploit the space. Yet, if Clarke sticks with the back four, he could deploy Ryan Christie and Gannon-Doak as genuine wingers.
John McGinn and Ben Gannon-Doak train in Boston and will both be invited to attack Morocco
That would leave a midfield three of McGinn, Ferguson and McTominay. It would also mean that Tierney misses out once again.
They are all viable systems. But the most important thing will be the mindset that Scotland adopt. Striking a balance between defence and attack will be key.
During his time at Kilmarnock, Clarke forged his reputation as a manager with excellent tactical nous with an ability to shock bigger clubs in the Old Firm. He did it regularly.
If he can pull off another tactical masterclass tonight, he can head to Miami to face Brazil knowing that history and a place in the knockouts is already secure.
