Sport

Scotland face do-or-die match against Denmark

For most of Scotland’s defeat to Greece on Saturday, the finale to World Cup qualifying The Tartan Army had been promised looked to have slipped through their fingers. Steve Clarke and his players travelled to Athens believing they would need at least a point to make Tuesday’s home match against Denmark a do-or-die occasion. As it turned out, they didn’t even need a point.

What happened in Copenhagen at the same time Scotland were losing in Greece defied all predictions. Denmark were supposed to comfortably overcome Belarus, a team that had failed to register a single point in four games to that point, at home. Instead, the Danes had to scrap for a 2-2 draw after falling 2-1 behind.

This was another welcome dose of good fortune for Scotland. By their own admission, Clarke’s team have failed to find their best form throughout World Cup qualifying. They were fortunate to see off Belarus at Hampden in October and even more fortunate to beat Greece 3-1 when they were the stronger side. It’s been a peculiar campaign for them.

That Scotland are just one win from making their first World Cup since France 1998 defies logic in a lot of ways. Nonetheless, a strong 90-minute performance against Denmark on Tuesday would make Clarke and his group of players icons of the Scottish game. There are players in the Scotland squad who weren’t alive in 1998. That tournament was literally a lifetime ago.

Tuesday night will define Clarke’s entire tenure as Scotland manager. While the 62-year-old has led The Tartan Army to the last two European Championships, many supporters still hold it against him that Scotland weren’t more adventurous when the opportunity was there to make the knockout rounds.

Frustration from Euro 2024 has bled into Scotland’s performances in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. They have lacked control in games. Defensively, they have been all over the place at times. The attacking verve and quick transition threat that characterised the last successful qualification campaign has been missing. Yet none of this will matter if Scotland finally turn it on against Denmark.

“We have had so many highs and lows as a group and what this group gives is absolutely everything,” said John McGinn when asked about the prospect of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup. “We never give up. We didn’t give up on Saturday night and we proved there is still loads of fight left in us. We know what’s at stake on Tuesday night. Three points. The World Cup. And that’s just absolutely everything.”

To get the better of Denmark on Tuesday, Scotland must learn lessons from what went wrong against Greece. Their press must be more cohesive. Greece found it far too easy to play around the likes of Scott McTominay and Che Adams when they embarked on a single-man press without any support behind them. Scotland must be stronger here even if it means being deeper.

Scotland’s centre backs, whoever starts, can’t be left so exposed. Grant Hanley and John Souttar’s lack of pace was brutally highlighted by the set up against Greece which left Scotland two-on-two at the back for the opening goal. Denmark can’t be allowed to get into the same situations.

Clarke’s legacy as Scotland manager is difficult to work out, but qualification for the 2026 World Cup would be the culmination of a process that started for him and this team six years ago. One game is all that separates The Tartan Army from their first trip to a World Cup since 1998 and more than just qualification will be decided on Tuesday.