Scotland set double World Cup challenge as Steve Clarke considers another 'Hail Mary'
Manager would prefer to qualify in glory rather than wait it out
Steve Clarke has set Scotland the double challenge of creating history and doing so with distinction against Brazil in Miami on Wednesday night.
The complicated format of the current tournament means Scotland can still ultimately qualify for the last 32 if they lose to the South Americans.
The Scots have never beaten Brazil and have lost in each of their last six meetings, three of which have come at the World Cup. But a draw – which they achieved against the then reigning world champions in the 1974 World Cup – would very likely be enough for Scotland to reach the knockout stage for the first time.
If Scotland lose to the Brazilians, who are expected to give Neymar his first cap in nearly three years, the scale of the loss could determine their chances of reaching the last 32 and leave a wait-and-see-scenario back at their base camp in Charlotte.
There is everything to play for in the exactingly humid conditions of Miami on what could prove one of the greatest nights in the Scottish national team’s history.
“I'd much rather go through with the win or the draw than go through the other way,” stressed Clarke. “Because then you just feel as though it was earned.”
He agreed it would feel slightly as if Scotland were sneaking through the back door by qualifying following two defeats. “A little bit, a little bit,” he said. “Obviously, you can only follow the rules of the competition and if the rules of competition, say three points and a negative goal difference gets you through then, obviously, we take that.
‘If it happens the other way, I'll take it’
“I spoke about it after we went into the first Euros, where we went through via the Nations League. The next time we went through we went through because we were bloody good in the group and we finished second behind a top Spanish side. That just felt a little bit more like we did that. It wasn't the circumstances around it. So I'd much rather do that, but don't get me wrong. If it happens the other way, I'll take it.”
The noises from the Scotland camp have all been of the positive variety. Both Lawrence Shankland and Jack Hendry emphasised that the aim in the first instance is to secure a maiden win against Brazil.
The likely inclusion of Ben Gannon-Doak is another indication that Scotland are not minded to sit in. It’s understood they will stick with the back four formation that has become Clarke’s staple defensive shape. Circumstances will dictate what happens otherwise. The manager explained the rationale of turning to Ross Stewart in the dying moments of the previous game against Morocco, with Scotland trailing 1-0.
“We'll have a slightly better idea after the second (group) games,” he said. “You have got to understand where the game is at.
“If we are under pressure and we're hanging on, then obviously you're just going to try and sit and see it out. If you feel as though you're on top of a game like the other night, I put big Ross on at the end.
“I call that a Hail Mary substitute. You hope that something falls and he gets the headlines and that's the mentality behind that. Maybe, if you feel you're on top and you think we can get a goal here, then maybe I'll put in another Hail Mary.”
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