The road to the World Cup starts here for Scotland... and it's a path fraught with danger for Steve Clarke

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

Steve Clarke got most things right in Liechtenstein's picturesque Rheinpark Stadium on Monday.
The one thing he got completely wrong was his assertion that the result would have no bearing on the World Cup qualifying campaign in the autumn.
On the back of a desperate performance against Iceland at Hampden and the previous capitulation to Greece there in March, a convincing victory over the side ranked 205th in the world was non-negotiable if Clarke was to remain in the post for the opening match in Denmark.
A comprehensive 4-0 victory ensured he lived to fight another day. Only now is he entitled to plan for the forthcoming campaign knowing he'll at least make it that far.
The 60-year-old didn't appear to be oblivious to the mood music which presently surrounds the national team when he conceded that the camp was still 'disappointing' due to the Iceland debacle.
This remains the wider picture. Plucky little Liechtenstein was little more than a training exercise, albeit one that Scotland admirably sailed through.
A comprehensive home defeat to a nation sitting 30 places lower in the FIFA rankings three days earlier was the main takeaway.
Come the qualifiers, a Scotland side currently sitting 44th on that list will face Denmark (21) and Greece (40) as well as Belarus (98).
Clarke believes his players should be buoyed by the fact that they've matched the newly crowned Nations League winners Portugal and beaten the runners-up (and European champions) Spain.
That's one way of looking at it. But the famous win over Spain came 27 months ago. By the time the Danes come into view, it will be almost a year since the goalless draw with Portugal.
Scotland certainly had big results in them under this manager. Do they still? Is the side which barnstormed its way to Euro 2024 capable of taking the same approach to the 2026 World Cup or has something been lost along the way?
Clarke has just three months to ensure the whole is greater than the sum of the parts come the opener in the Parken Stadium.
Six qualifiers will be played across three months, with one nation qualifying and the second placed side then becoming one of 16 looking to secure one of four additional spots via the play-offs.
The margin for error is slight. There is little scope for recovery if the first double header (which also encompasses Belarus in a neutral venue) goes badly wrong.
Clarke bought himself just a little grace with Monday's professional display, but he's still a long way from safe harbour.
Before he contemplates piecing together a winning team, he'll attempt to pick some winners. A racing fan, he'll take in Royal Ascot next week, although the sprint nature of the next qualifying campaign won't be far from his thoughts as the best stayers in the sport prepare to joust for the Gold Cup.
Sourcing a suitable replacement for John Carver is the overwhelming priority. Having succeeded in keeping Lechia Gdansk up in Poland, the Geordie has landed a three-year contract.
Clarke (pictured), who first ran into Carver at Newcastle, was only surprised that such an offer didn't arrive sooner. The task now is to identify someone who can slot in seamlessly beside himself and Alan Irvine. Alex Dyer, the Bromley first-team coach who previously worked with Clarke at Kilmarnock and Scotland, will be one contender.
Whatever the backroom staff looks like, there will be much for them to contemplate.
Some areas of the side look light. In certain positions, there are almost too many options.
In the past, Clarke has tweaked his formation to accommodate more of his star turns, but this might be said to create as many problems as it solves.
Regardless of what shape he settles on, the availability of a fit and in-form keeper come Copenhagen is a must.
While Ross Doohan claimed a clean sheet after cutting his holiday short to dash to Vaduz, he's likely to be Celtic's third-choice keeper come the autumn.
You wouldn't expect Liam Kelly or Zander Clark to be playing regularly for Rangers or Hearts, respectively, at that juncture either.
With Angus Gunn looking far from sure of himself over the past year, the smart money would be on 42-year-old Craig Gordon starting the campaign.
The serious hamstring injury Kieran Tierney sustained against Switzerland in the Euros did at least solve one issue for the manager.
Having played a 5-4-1 to accommodate both Tierney and Andy Robertson, the Arsenal player's prolonged absence left the side shaping with a flat back-four, albeit only after the pain of elimination by Hungary.
Clarke stood by this in the eight games which came immediately after Germany. In was instructive to see him persevere with it even when Tierney was available again for the Nations League play-off with Greece.
The fact his appearances in those games came as a replacement for Kenny McLean and Billy Gilmour in holding roles suggested Clarke had settled on a 4-2-3-1.
Although the three-at-the-back was dusted down against Iceland, no one looked comfortable playing in that system. Tierney, strange as it may sound, might struggle to start the qualifiers.
Clarke seems to trust Grant Hanley and John Souttar more than any other partnership. They've featured together in six of the 10 most recent games played with a back-four. Notwithstanding injuries, they should play together again in September.
Captain Andy Robertson will be the first name on the team sheet at left back. If Aaron Hickey gets a full pre-season under his belt at Brentford, he'll edge out Anthony Ralston, Max Johnston and Nathan Patterson on the right.
Billy Gilmour's inclusion as one of the holders is a given. Clarke's been loyal to Kenny McLean. If that remains the case, he'll do well to accommodate Bologna captain Lewis Ferguson.
Even by playing a system which effectively comprises of five midfielders, Clarke cannot please everyone.
Scott McTominay's deployment in behind the striker isn't worthy of a debate. John McGinn probably just gets the nod ahead of Ryan Christie on the left. If fit, the prodigiously talented Ben Doak would likely start on the right.
All other things being equal, Clarke might struggle to hand Lennon Miller his next start. That may seem harsh on the back of the teenager's flawless display in Vaduz. It's purely a matter of necessity.
The same is likely to apply to George Hirst. One of the few positives to emerge from the Iceland game, the Ipswich man netted his first international goal in Liechtenstein as he played up beside hat-trick hero Che Adams.
Clarke has occasionally gone with a front two, but will tread more cautiously come the qualifiers. Adams should start. Hirst, though, has shown himself to be worthy of consideration along with Lyndon Dykes, Tommy Conway and Lawrence Shankland.
The manager will already have much of this clear in his head. Once he draws breath, he'll have to ruminate on the outstanding issues.
Despite some concerns, Scotland have the talent to be present when it all kicks off in Mexico City exactly a year from now. Having survived the trip to Liechtenstein, it's incumbent on Clarke to now come up with the right plan to get them there.