Scotland manager Steve Clarke has expressed full confidence in his squad's ability to maintain composure during what promises to be a nerve-shredding World Cup qualification encounter against Greece in Athens tomorrow evening.
High Stakes in Piraeus
The Scottish national team have arrived in Piraeus fully aware that securing even a single point at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium would set up a potentially historic winner-takes-all confrontation with Denmark at Hampden Park on Tuesday night. These coming days could prove monumental for Scottish football as the team attempts to qualify for their first World Cup since the 1998 tournament in France.
Clarke had been openly critical of his players following last month's tense 2-1 victory over Belarus at Hampden, describing it as one of the most disappointing performances during his tenure. The manager acknowledged that Scotland showed signs of panic against opponents ranked 100th globally, but he remains convinced his squad will elevate their game when it matters most against Greece.
Learning From Past Mistakes
Addressing his team's previous nervous display, Clarke stated: "I don't believe we were genuinely spooked during the Belarus match. These situations occur in football - sometimes things simply don't unfold as planned. My primary concern at that moment was the possibility of dropping points in a fixture where we shouldn't, which would have left us in a difficult qualification position.
"That frustration likely stemmed from the fear that we might mishandle the situation. Fortunately, we avoided that outcome. The players understood the significance of that match, which perhaps explains why they showed some anxiety during the Belarus game. They possibly lost focus on their primary objective, which was to secure a comfortable victory.
"However, our ability to find winning solutions even when not performing at our best during home matches demonstrates a valuable quality. We require elevated contributions from every squad member, with most having roles to play in these crucial upcoming fixtures.
The manager emphasised the need for maximum effort, adding: "We need complete commitment from everyone. The greater the number of players delivering their top-level performance, the better our chances become. The squad is in a positive mindset, with most now possessing considerable experience in high-pressure matches and understanding how to prepare optimally for peak performance.
No Defensive Approach
Despite knowing that a draw would keep their qualification hopes alive, Clarke made clear he has no intentions of adopting a defensive approach. "My methodology remains consistent for every match, he explained. "I prepare my teams to win. When you focus on victory and execute to your capabilities, you typically avoid defeat. I haven't devoted much consideration to Tuesday evening because without at least a draw against Greece, the Denmark match loses its significance.
Clarke faces a significant selection decision regarding his goalkeeper, with Angus Gunn unavailable. Craig Gordon hasn't featured for Hearts in six months, yet his extensive experience might earn him selection over Liam Kelly and Scott Bain.
The manager remained characteristically guarded about his lineup, noting: "As you know, I never discuss team selection beforehand. The players won't receive official confirmation until match day, though they'll have reasonable expectations. Craig is performing well, as is Liam despite limited playing time at Rangers - he's training exceptionally. Scott Bain has demonstrated improvement since leaving Celtic as third-choice goalkeeper to play regularly at Falkirk.
"All three have impressed our goalkeeping coach Chris Woods. I'll determine who best serves the team's needs for this specific match.
Player Perspective and Greek Confidence
Scotland defender John Souttar described potential World Cup qualification as a "dream come true" after missing selection for Euro 2024. "Naturally, that exclusion was difficult to accept, he admitted. "The squad contained quality players ahead of me at that time. However, these situations occur in football, and I prefer not to dwell on the past. The landscape can change rapidly in this sport.
"I'm currently in a positive position having featured regularly for Scotland throughout the past year. May this continue. We all recognise the magnitude of these fixtures, but we must avoid emotional overload. Maintaining composure and adhering to the manager's tactical plan is essential.
Meanwhile, Greece manager Ivan Jovanovic holds no bitterness about last month's 3-1 defeat to Scotland at Hampden, yet maintains his team remains superior. Despite Greece's elimination from World Cup contention and having lost twice to Scotland this year (alongside a 3-0 victory in March), Jovanovic was unequivocal when comparing the sides.
When questioned which team he considered better ahead of the Piraeus encounter, he responded: "Greece. I believe there's no question that all matches between Greece and Scotland have provided entertainment. We maintain respect for Scotland - they're a strong team with quality players. However, across the three fixtures, I consider us the superior and highly competitive team.
"We've faced formidable opposition in Scotland during our recent matches and anticipate another challenging encounter. Our approach won't change - we'll continue pursuing victory as we always do. I don't perceive this through the lens of revenge. Sometimes minor details determine match outcomes. Certainly, Scotland possess greater motivation regarding the ultimate objective.
"Nevertheless, we're playing in Greece, so our players have their own motivation representing the national team before home supporters. I anticipate a difficult match but not one driven by revenge.
