Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has admitted that the Tartan Army will see a different version of him at this World Cup, as he did not enjoy the previous two major tournaments. Clarke is finally getting a crack at the world stage after missing out on Italia 90 as a player and falling short in the playoffs for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
A Fresh Perspective
A disappointing showing at the Covid-hit Euro 2020 was followed by a dismal display in Germany at Euro 2024. Never known for his sunny disposition, Clarke revealed that there was very little to cheer him during both experiences. That is why he is determined to soak everything up about this adventure in the United States.
"I'm on my third tournament and I've not really enjoyed the previous two, if I'm being honest," Clarke told BBC Scotland. "So this time, it's a different Steve Clarke hopefully, but we haven't played any competitive games yet! But listen, I'm trying to soak it up."
Long-Awaited Dream
Clarke reflected on his long journey to the World Cup. "I wanted to go to a World Cup as a player. I didn't manage to do that. I'm here now as a head coach. It's taken me 62 years to achieve what I wanted to achieve, so I'm going to try and enjoy it."
Asked why he did not enjoy the previous two Euros, Clarke explained it was a combination of circumstances and poor performance. "The first one, because it was Covid affected, didn't really run the way you would think because we played two games at Hampden and one at Wembley, you didn't get the feel of a tournament," he said. "Then you go to Germany and you get that feel of the tournament. And I just feel that we let ourselves down across the three games. We didn't play as well as we should have done, and I probably didn't make the decisions that I should have made at certain times. So you learn from that."
With lessons learned, Clarke is now focused on making the most of his World Cup experience. "Come on to this one, let's see what happens," he added.
