Security of residence in League A of the Nations League is there for the taking for Steve Clarke and Scotland. Only a prized Scottish botch at Hampden on Sunday – and we’re not unfamiliar with these – will ruin the quest.
In beating Greece 1-0 Scotland offered an ode in Athens to one of football’s oldest, ugliest and least-valued virtues: the art of defending. If Clarke can stitch together a rearguard like this – even with Grant Hanley, the player no club seems to want – then there will always be hope for this team.
Having claimed a deserved lead, albeit through a dubious penalty call, Scotland appeared to have an entire infantry of defenders on the pitch to quell Greece’s scatty fightback. This was impressive to behold: a dark blue wall so robust and resilient that Craig Gordon, for all Greece’s pressure, actually had little to do.
When you look at this Scotland team which lined up in Greece – including four who are regulars in Serie A – it was little wonder that victory was achieved. Clarke may not have pure excellence spread throughout his starting XI – especially in defence – but in Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Billy Gilmour, Andy Robertson, Che Adams and more we have a core of players today that would not embarrass any previous generation of Scotland teams. Fate has been kind to Clarke in bestowing this talented group in timely fashion.
Even Kenny McLean, rarely quoted in song, warrants a mention. What this modern footballer and current Norwich City captain does as a midfielder is run, win the ball, protect it, and feed it. All very simple and unexciting. But Steve Clarke understands football: McLean makes the Scotland manager’s hairs on the back of his neck stand up for his sheer, unadorned effectiveness.
Scotland did enjoy one factor in their favour while keeping their opponents at bay: Greece’s shooting was truly abysmal. The number of times in which the white-shirted locals hoofed the ball over Craig Gordon’s bar eventually became difficult to count. In the old days, before stats and analytics invaded the game, football teams used to do something called “shooting practice”. Greece would do well to re-visit this quaint drill.
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Even Scotland’s lesser, so-called vulnerable players did well on the night. Anthony Ralston forever looks like a cartoon character that has leapt off a page with an invisible bag over his head, yet the Celtic defender’s work was – once again – impressive. Ralston was vigilant and intelligent, throwing his body on the line to make blocks. In the time-honoured saying, he did not let his country down.
As for McTominay, it is remarkable the way this player has grown in stature. On occasion the whipping-boy of the Old Trafford crowd, the 28 year old is now starring in Italian football and oozes ability and self-belief. It was also McTominay’s sheer hunger to get the ball and invade Greek space that won Scotland their first-half penalty. The Greek gods are said to be capable of many things but stopping McTominay in Athens was beyond their powers.
It's a strange experience watching this Scotland side. It is not exactly edge-of-seat stuff, your breath being taken away, but there is something satisfying in watching them, with Billy Gilmour the watchmaker, dictate tempo and bring calm and composure to proceedings. Scotland currently has a game-intelligence that is very pleasing on the eye.
In the months ahead Clarke will have a number of issues to try to sort – not least find a younger goalkeeper and a fine centre-back from somewhere – but these are headaches for the summer and beyond. Right now Scotland is an admirable combat force. Few teams outwith the elite will enjoy coming up against us. We have momentum.
Hampden on Sunday night is an open invitation for a Scots win and a Tartan Army celebration. This team, now celebrating three wins on the trot, has a strut in its stride and a hefty dose of conviction about it. Clarke right now doesn’t need to do much except keep oiling this machine that he is putting out on the park.
What can go wrong? It wouldn’t be Scottish, would it, to screw it all up?
