There was a time when Scotland spending the lead-up to a fixture in Georgia at a training base in Antalya would have be seen as ostentatious. With major tournaments flashing by minus Scottish involvement, frugality was essential.
Demonstrable success means Scotland’s current manager, Steve Clarke, has his paymasters precisely where he wants them. When Clarke wanted a five-star hotel base in Glasgow, the Scottish Football Association agreed.
The stop-off in Turkey this week was booked long ago, on the basis that the match in Tbilisi on Thursday could be meaningful, but there was never any prospect of plans changing after Scotland sealed their place at Euro 2024 last month. Back-to-back European Championship qualifications have boosted the Scottish FA’s coffers. Clarke’s on-field work diverts attention from unimpressive custodians of the national sport. So when the manager says jump …
Clarke enters the start of this double header – Norway are in Glasgow on Sunday – with much to ponder. Celebration has quite understandably formed the backdrop to Scotland securing a spot in Germany next summer but Clarke appears aware of the dangers of treading water. Defeat to France in Lille can hardly be considered disastrous yet that was a third in a row for the Scots. The losing run sits uneasily with the man in charge.
Clarke agreed to friendlies with the French and England – Spain also saw off Scotland in October – with the short- and medium-term future in mind. Barring a lucky draw, Scotland progressing to the second phase of a major tournament for the first time depends on excelling against elite opposition.
Thereafter, Clarke will lead his team into the top section of the Nations League; the prospect is a galling one on the basis of how dominant France and England (yes, they were relegated from Group A, but the point remains) were against Scotland. By virtue of nothing but their own consistently strong showings, Clarke’s men face the quandary of how to take the next step.
The manager’s fundamental victory has been in emphasising the ability of the collective. There is no other way to explain Scotland emerging from a section where Erling Haaland’s Norway have been left behind. The team which earned a precious win over Spain earlier this year had Lyndon Dykes of Queens Park Rangers as the centre-forward.
Scotland have talent, especially at wing-back and in midfield, but continue to lack a final-third difference-maker. Privately, Clarke must know that will cause a problem as competition stakes are raised. His resource pool remains a small one. Injuries to Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney illustrate that much. The absence of Angus Gunn leaves the Scots glaringly short in the goalkeeping area. A patchwork side will close the qualifying section.
Scotland are an attractive proposition. Clarke is confident enough in his own environment not to ferociously pursue players who may qualify for his squad via bloodlines just as those individuals see Scotland as a viable international platform. Archie Gray and Tino Livramento have been mentioned in recent days.
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Elliot Anderson was briefly seen as the great Scottish hope. The Newcastle midfielder seemed ready to commit to Clarke’s team, only to beat a hasty exit from training before September’s trip to Cyprus. If Anderson – who is as Scottish as Paddington Bear – felt uneasy within the international setup, he is due praise rather than criticism for backing away. This is a 21-year-old who is still trying to earn a regular start at club level. Anderson should be permitted space to determine his own future.
More intriguing, on grounds of experience, was Scotland’s courting of Harvey Barnes. The 25-year-old also seemed ready to declare for the Scots before sustaining a serious foot injury. If Barnes returns to the Newcastle side in the new year, it is reasonable to think he could target the Euros. For that to be a serious prospect, Barnes would need to be picked and perform strongly in the March friendly window. Ché Adams declared for Scotland just months before the delayed Euro 2020 finals. Barnes would undoubtedly enhance Scotland.
Scotland’s Under-21 squad provides only slim pickings. Ben Doak’s development at Liverpool has not been as rapid as many had predicted or hoped, a matter that can partly be explained by injury. Doak’s direct running and pace would translate perfectly to Scotland’s senior team but he needs to be playing consistently at first-team level.
Scotland’s experiences in Georgia in 2007 and 2015 were wounding ones, defeats coming with qualification on the line. There is no such pressure this time. Clarke simply wants a return to the no-fuss winning culture which has served him so well. This does not mean the manager is not assessing a bigger picture; one which is essential if Scotland are to avoid making up the numbers in Germany.
