Steve Clarke revealed that one salutory lesson he has learned ahead of Scotland’s opening World Cup game against Haiti is “don’t get humped” as he reflected on previous early European Championship disappointments.
The Scots opened up their Euro 2024 campaign with a 5-1 thrashing by hosts Germany and, at the previous Euros, a 2-0 defeat by Czech Republic at Hampden Park began a campaign that also ended with failure to get out of the group stages.
Scotland have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and Clarke will have Scott McTominay available, the Napoli midfielder back at training and “perfect” after missing training on Thursday with an upset stomach, although defender Scott McKenna will miss out with a knock.
Asked at his media conference at the Boston Stadium what lessons he could take from the last two tournament openers, Clarke said: “The Germany one is easy – don’t get humped!
“The Czech Republic one is a bit different.
“Everybody dwells on the scoreline with the Czech Republic, yeah, we lost 2-0.
“But if you actually watch the game, and watch where we were in the game, at the particular time, when Patrik Schick decided to shoot from the halfway line were actually on top of the game and looked like we might get an equaliser in that game.
“That’s a football game and they just didn’t go away.
“The Germany one was obviously more disappointing because we didn’t get anywhere near the level that we can get and they obviously, as a host nation, enjoyed it.”
McTominay, who has scored 15 goals across 70 caps, is a key player in the bid to reach the knockout stages for the first time.
The former Manchester United playmaker scored the famous overhead kick opener in the 4-2 win over Denmark last November which qualified the Scots for the finals and he also notched in Scotland’s 4-0 friendly win over Bolivia in New Jersey last Saturday.
Clarke confirmed McTominay’s fitness and in his self-deprecating style analysed his importance to the side, comparing it to the status Gareth Bale once enjoyed with Wales.
The former Reading, West Brom and Kilmarnock boss said: “I think I’ve got 26 superstars here.
“I think to try and put so much onto one person isn’t fair. We have built everything over the last seven years as a squad.
“That’s everybody being together and everybody playing their part at certain times.
“Some daft coach (Clarke) played Scott as a centre-half five years ago. But obviously he’s not a centre-half. And since moving further forward he’s done great for us.
“No, we’re delighted with Scott’s abilities and what he can bring to the team. But we’re going to need another 15 to bring the same if we want to have a positive tournaments.”
