NOBODY needs to explain to Steve Clarke what a profound impact Scotland’s impending involvement in Euro 2020, their first major tournament in 23 long, painful and demoralising years, is having on the population of the country.

Clarke, who will lead his side out at Hampden tomorrow afternoon before their opening Group D match against the Czech Republic, has been gripped by the euphoria which sweeps across a nation before a finals himself in the past.

Not being able to go on the march with Ally’s Army – who were, according to Andy Cameron in his novelty song, poised to “really shake them up when we win the World Cup” in Argentina in 1978 - left him distraught.

He was 14 at the time and was unable to get from his home in Salcoats in Ayrshire to Mount Florida in Glasgow to cheer Ally MacLeod and his squad off to South America.

Speaking at Scotland’s base just outside Darlington yesterday after their penultimate training session before the Czech game, Clarke recalled the first time he was caught up in the sort of feverish excitement being experienced by his compatriots at the moment. 

“I was going to say ’74, but it was probably ’78,” he said. “It was the one. I was gutted I couldn’t get to Hampden to wave the bus away!”

MacLeod’s men, of course, were unable to live up to the hype and returned home to a hostile welcome after being beaten by Peru, drawing with Iran and failing to make it out of the first group stage.

Clarke is determined for Scotland to fare far better in the next nine days and secure a place in the knockout rounds for the first time ever. He has enjoyed seeing the ebullience of the fans after 15 months which have been blighted by the coronavirus pandemic. He believes they can tap into that optimism and use it to their advantage against the Czechs, England and Croatia.

“I think we are well aware about the power of football in the country,” he said. “Last November (when Scotland beat Serbia in the play-off final) proved that, right in the middle of probably the worst part of the lockdown when we could not really see any light at the end of the tunnel. So we are aware of what football can do and want to do our bit if we can.

“It is also a compliment to me, my staff and my players that we have that confidence and belief around the national team again. I remember not too long ago there were some dark days and I was saying: ‘Come on boys, be positive, be positive’.

“And I think I noticed the turn maybe before others because I am working in the camp and I could feel it. I knew something was improving and it has improved in leaps and bounds.

“But it is football and you never know what can happen. If you get a bad refereeing decision or a bad break of the ball then things can change. Let’s be excited about it, but lets try and keep a little bit of pressure off the lads and them go and enjoy themselves and see where we end up.”

Clarke has no concerns about the likes of David Marshall, John McGinn, Scott McTominay, Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney - certain starters who all play their club football at a high level and are proven performers at international level – and other members of his squad being fazed by the enormity of playing for Scotland at Euro 2020. 

“I don't have to keep a lid on my own emotions, that's for sure,” he said. “But the players are also pretty level-headed. A lot of them have played in big games before. They understand the process.

“Listen, I can sense an excitement and an anticipation among the players. It's my job to ensure that it isn't knocked out of them. Because I want them to go with that emotion into the game.

“But they also realise that they have to control it during the game. They have to play the game properly and do well. “We have to make sure that we play to our full potential and don't allow the occasion to detract from our performance. That's the most important thing.”

Just one victory could be enough to get the national team into the knockout rounds as the four best third-placed teams out of the six sections progress. Clarke will not prioritise any one of the three Group D games. He will send his men out to win each one, not just the all-important opener against the Czechs.

“We have to get the result we require, the one that helps us get out of the group,” he said. “Whether that's one point or three, we don't know. Because we have two more games after that. Three points in the second game and three points in the third game would also get us through.

“It is a little bit different when it was only the top two who got out of the group. The first game was always quite tight. You got a lot of cagey games because teams would play for the draw. It is not quite like that now because you might get out as one of the best third place teams as well. It takes a little bit of that pressure off.

“I just want a good performance and obviously I want a good result. Normally if you have a good performance a good result follows. That is what we are aiming for.

“We try to play with freedom anyway. I don’t want to go into the tournament and think we have to sit in and defend and be nervous. We have spoken about it. We want the players to go in and attack the tournament if you like and have a right go. And let’s see where it takes us.”

It would be understandable if Clarke ignored the clamour for him to pick babes like Billy Gilmour, Nathan Patterson and David Turnbull against the Czechs and put his faith in the seasoned campaigners who have produced on numerous occasions during his two years in charge. But he appreciates what that trio could bring.

“The more experience you have on the pitch, the better for an occasion like this,” he said. “But that doesn't mean you can't throw in one of the young ones. Because they play with a different freedom, the freedom of youth. They don't quite know what to expect because it's such a big game.

“So there's two sides to it. I just have to make sure I get the balance right. I'm in a privileged position because whoever I pick, I expect them to play well now.”

 

A nation, as always, expects Scotland to flourish. Steve Clarke and his players are intent on delivering.