{"id":202732,"date":"2026-06-27T16:40:56","date_gmt":"2026-06-27T16:40:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2026\/06\/27\/where-does-scotlands-world-cup-campaign-leave-clarke\/"},"modified":"2026-06-27T16:40:56","modified_gmt":"2026-06-27T16:40:56","slug":"where-does-scotlands-world-cup-campaign-leave-clarke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahrir2day.com\/news\/2026\/06\/27\/where-does-scotlands-world-cup-campaign-leave-clarke\/","title":{"rendered":"Where does Scotland’s World Cup campaign leave Clarke?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Steve 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.<\/b><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Scotland were expected to finish third and did so after beating Haiti.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Did the head coach get the best out of his squad in the United States?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

“Over the three games you’re definitely looking at below-par performances,” said Willie Miller, who played at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups for Scotland.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n

The former defender described the lack of a top-class striker as “a major issue” and said he was “uncertain about the logic of a few selections”.<\/p>\n

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

“He has introduced a real togetherness in the squad as well, which wasn’t always the case.”<\/p>\n

With 81 matches under his belt, Clarke is Scotland’s longest-serving manager.<\/p>\n

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

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.<\/p>\n

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

“The new contract was a positive step. I think it was the right thing to do.”<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“I just feel the players could have shown more. We could have done better against Morocco in terms of having a go.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“Against Brazil, we gave them two gifts.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The opening 1-0 win against Haiti was just Scotland men’s fifth win in nine World Cup campaigns.<\/p>\n

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

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

“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.<\/p>\n

“We did have a go and we got absolutely found out.”<\/p>\n

With the flak coming his way, would Clarke consider walking away?<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“I think he’s fallen in love with it and he’ll definitely stick it out.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

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

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.<\/p>\n

“We went to our first World Cup in 28 years and got our first win since 1990,” said the 34-year-old.<\/p>\n

“I don’t think anyone can realistically be saying we should be getting more than three points.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“Cape Verde are going through with three draws and their group is far easier than Scotland’s.<\/p>\n

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

And O’Donnell believes “there is momentum building” with the national team.<\/p>\n

“It’s got to inspire the next generation of players,” he told BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast.<\/p>\n

“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.<\/p>\n

“We’ve improved from when Steve Clarke first came in and hopefully there is more to come.<\/p>\n

“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.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Steve 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. 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