Steven Naismith insists Scotland can use Wales as their inspiration to become serial major tournament qualifiers.
The national coach believes Steve Clarke’ s side should aim to emulate the success of the Dragons in both World Cup qualification as well as back to back Euro finals appearances.
As the dust settles on a semi-final play-off loss to Ukraine last midweek and with it the dream of a place at Qatar 2022, Naismith is convinced appearances by the Welsh in the Euro 2016 semis and the last 16 of Euro 2020 before ending a 64-year wait to reach the World Cup is a result of a growth within a squad and a refusal to hit the panic button.
The 51-times capped Scotland striker believes a Wales side led by their talismanic superstar
Bale have lit a path for Clarke and his players to follow as they prepare to face Armenia tomorrow night in a Nations League opener at Hampden.
Naismith said: “Can we be the next Wales? It’s got to be the aim.
“What they’ve got is probably slightly more experience and they’ve got a group that’s probably at the end of point.
“That experience as a group is more than we’ve got. It’s small margins like that that make the difference at international level. Within the squad there is still real confidence and there is still real belief.
“The manager is very driven to get to tournaments because he understands how good this group is.
“At the start of the Nations League last time we had John McGinn, Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay breaking into their teams. Now we have about six club captains, guys who are winning trophies, guys who are main players in their team at a top level.
“It’s a good place to be. It’s a bump in the road more than anything else.”
Naismith also called for a period of calm from the critics of Clarke who came under fire for the manager’s tactical approach to the Ukraine game.
He insists managerial change for change’s sake has to be resisted for a boss who has already stated his desire to lead the country to World Cup 2026.
Naismith added: “There is going to be disappointment. I think the manager expects that and people are going to have their say.
“But history shows you that changing the manager and just saying, ‘It’s not worked, next, next, next’…
“The gaffer has a great relationship with this squad and the squad
have a great relationship with him.
“And within the squad it’s brilliant. So I think it would be a knee-jerk reaction for anybody to do that.
“Whether it’s straight after the game, in the heat of the moment, people are saying that.
“Look at where we’ve come from. We have made massive strides.”
Scotland had Lewis Ferguson sitting out of training yesterday but the Aberdeen midfielder will remain with the squad with QPR striker Lyndon Dykes the only withdrawal from the group.
