Sport
Steve Clarke’s Scotland face a make or break moment in World Cup qualification campaign
The best part of three decades have passed since Scotland last played at a World Cup. France 98 was a lifetime ago. Football has moved on since John Collins and co. faced Brazil, Norway and Morocco with the world watching. It could happen again next summer, but only if Steve Clarke’s team overcome Greece on Thursday.
This might not be strictly true, but it’s difficult to envisage a direct path to the 2026 World Cup without Scotland beating Greece at home. Only top spot will guarantee qualification and in a difficult group including Denmark, Greece and Belarus anything less than six points against the latter two over the next week would be seriously damaging.
Greece have already beaten Scotland at Hampden Park this year. Their 3-0 win over Clarke’s side to secure promotion to the top level of the Nations League highlighted the quality of players like Konstantinos Karetsas, Vangelis Pavlidis and Christos Tzolis, all of whom will return to Glasgow this week.
Thursday’s match is the most pivotal single qualifier Scotland have played since their last World Cup qualification campaign. Clarke’s team made Euro 2024, but never faced a single game with so much riding on it as this one against Greece. The pressure is on with a place at the World Cup on the line.
Scotland have lost just one of their last 16 World Cup qualifiers dating back to 2016. Clarke has achieved a level of consistency as Scotland manager that has given them a platform to build on. To qualify for the 2026 World Cup, though, Scotland must land a punch. Thursday is an opportunity to do that.
“Of course, two home games you’ve got to target six points and hopefully that’s what we can get,” said Clarke about the upcoming qualifiers against Greece and Belarus. “Clean sheets are what we have to build our campaign on. If we can keep the ball out the net we’ve always got enough to score one or two goals.”
A 0-0 draw away to Denmark along with a 2-0 win away to Belarus has given Scotland something to build on. Clarke has made the national team difficult to break down and Scotland must keep it tight to keep out Greece on Thursday night. Their defensive line will be tested.
Scott McTominay and John McGinn will be relied upon to provide goal threat at the other end of the pitch. Scotland lack a natural finisher to lead the line, but they have midfielders who are willing to get into the attacking third. McTominay is a Ballon d’Or nominee while McGinn has rediscovered his form recently.
Billy Gilmour has been playing recently for Napoli and will be the pace-setter at the base of the Scotland midfield. If the hosts can win the battle in the centre of the pitch on Thursday night, they stand a good chance of claiming all three points. Gilmour, McGinn and McTominay give Scotland genuine strength.
Ben Gannon-Doak could be a difference-maker on the wing. The 19-year-old is the kind of player who can take on an opponent and make something happen on his own in the final third. Even if Gannon-Doak starts on the bench against Greece, he could make an impact as a substitute.
Andy Robertson remains an experienced performer while the return of Aaron Hickey from injury has given Scotland a different dimension on the right side of their defence. They missed the Brentford full back. Clarke has the quality to take Scotland to a World Cup, but he will know a lot more about his chances of doing that after Thursday’s pivotal match.
