Steve Clarke has Scotland puzzles to solve for Haiti and the biggest question of all centres around John McGinn, according to Keith Jackson. Our man in America has arrived in Charlotte for the next leg of this World Cup adventure.
One Week into the American Adventure
One week into this heady American adventure, Steve Clarke and his players checked into their tournament basecamp here in Charlotte on Sunday afternoon. Boots on the ground and ready for the real stuff to begin. No more injuries. No more distractions. No more sightseeing or internal flights.
It is now a matter of focusing only on what is still to come because, when they next step on a plane towards the end of this week, the next destination will be Boston and the opener against Haiti, which will most probably make or break this whole Scottish shot at history.
High Stakes for Scotland
Win it and they will be in with a shot of achieving something no Scotland side has ever managed before. Something so significant that each and every one of them will be remembered for the rest of time. Lose it and they can probably start planning to spend the rest of this summer with the family on a beach. That is what is really at stake here now that the rest is out of the way.
These next few days have been in the very centre of Clarke's thinking since qualification was secured against Denmark back in November. The reality is, it all comes down to this. And with all of that in mind, it really was difficult to walk away from the Sports Illustrated Stadium on the outskirts of Newark on Saturday night, not at least daring to dream.
Impressive Win Against Bolivia
Because, although this was nothing more than a bounce game against an admittedly below par Bolivia side which will take no part in the main proceedings, there was something about the nature of Scotland's 4-0 win which did not half fire up the imagination. From the very first kick of the ball and in sweltering conditions, Scotland's players looked like they belonged out here, about to take a place on centre stage at the greatest show on earth.
Given that they were up against South American opponents and in 90 degree heat, it was actually quite staggering that Clarke's men should adapt to the conditions just as comfortably as they seemed to. They stormed into the lead after only four minutes when Lawrence Shankland arched a perfect header into the roof of the net, after being superbly set up by a clever combination between Ryan Christie and Andy Robertson down the left flank.
Shankland and McTominay Shine
In that instant it became perfectly clear that Scotland were clicking before our very eyes. That Shankland has now bagged three goals in two back-to-back starts, another indication that, for once in our lives, everything might finally be falling into place. Perhaps, this time, fate might be on our side too. Let us face it, it has certainly been no friend to us before over all these years.
Also, and maybe of even more importance, Scott McTominay was grabbing the Bolivia midfield by the scruff of the neck and dominating them to such an extent that it was almost an unfair fight. He was not just strolling around in there and dominating his opponents. He was swaggering in and around them almost imperiously, like a man who believes his destiny is calling him to step forward.
McTominay is without question Scotland's best player. And, if he is operating at the very heart of Clarke's newly polished 4-4-2 formation, as he did on Saturday, then it gives him the opportunity to decide who goes where and when. He appeared to revel in this added responsibility from the very outset like a man who is more than happy to take the hopes of the nation on his own shoulders. We have needed someone like this to carry the weight of all of our burdens. And, after taking on a God like status in Napoli, it just might be that McTominay truly believes that this is his calling.
The McGinn Puzzle
There are questions too though and puzzles for Clarke to resolve between now and kick-off time against the Haitians, late on Saturday night over here in the States and early on Sunday morning back home. And perhaps the biggest one of all centres around John McGinn. There is no conceivable basis on which Clarke can leave the Aston Villa skipper out of that starting XI in Boston. And not for a moment would he want to. But there is a question over how best he should be accommodated in the starting line-up nonetheless.
Against Bolivia McGinn was given the first half off. When he came on at the interval he replaced Christie, whose contribution on the left hand side had been just about immaculate. Does Clarke simply ask Christie to make way for McGinn? Or does another more convoluted answer need to be found? Because, in the centre of the pitch, McTominay was also benefiting from the boundless energy and willing industry of Lewis Ferguson, who probably played as well against the Bolivians as he has in any previous international outing.
Does Clarke break up that partnership and pair McGinn and McTominay as his central duo? The more you think about these options, the more the mouth begins to water at the prospect and the mind begins to boggle about its possibilities.
Wing Options
Also, Clarke has choices to make on both flanks. The thrilling, jet paced return to form of Ben Gannon-Doak at the weekend means this little maverick has fired his way back into pole position for a starting place ahead of fellow young gun Findlay Curtis. But might Clarke actually be considering playing them both at the same time on either side of the pitch? Again, that would mean asking Christie to stand down which does seem unlikely. But, then again, far from impossible.
It does seem, though, as if the manager really is prepared to take the handbrake off his team, following the frustratingly cautious capitulations at the previous two European Championships. Of course, all that may be subject to change against Morocco and Brazil, even if this new look and attack minded formation does provide the manager with a flying start to Group C. But we can argue the toss on that one somewhere further down the line. For now all that matters is Haiti.
Ready for the Next Step
And, when they climbed off the flight and into camp in Charlotte on Sunday, Clarke and his players were precisely where they have always wanted to be, ready to take the next step.
