Clarke praises cautiously, keeps perspective
Steve Clarke spoke calmly about his team’s performance and praised their honesty and work-rate. He praised in moderation. Clarke meets hype with suspicion and spots overestimation immediately. He recognized his players’ effort and pride, but always kept perspective.
He seemed satisfied – probably – with Scotland’s promising start toward their first World Cup since 1998. Clarke didn’t mention the psychological impact of the night, but it was obvious.
Point puts opponents under pressure
With the draw at Parken, Scotland weakened one of their main rivals in the group. The qualification is more a sprint than a marathon – six games in total. Denmark already faces pressure.
On Monday, Denmark must play Greece. The Greeks have recently excelled: 3-0 against Scotland in March, 4-0 against Bulgaria, 4-1 against Slovakia, and 5-1 against Belarus on Friday. If Greece maintain their form, Denmark could start with just one point from two games. Scotland could have four points if they beat Belarus in Budapest.
Opportunities in upcoming games
Scotland now hosts Greece and Belarus. Four points from the next two games would boost confidence and morale. Overconfidence would be unwise, but there are reasons to be hopeful.
Historically, Scotland often struggled early in World Cup qualifiers. In 2018, they won only one of their first four games. Four years earlier, they started with two home draws and nearly eliminated themselves from contention. In 2002, they lost the opening game to Macedonia and won only one of their first four. In 2006, they ended the first four games poorly.
Reliable performance in Copenhagen
Clarke stayed composed. Against a Danish team ranked 26 places higher, Scotland worked tirelessly. A draw away against the group’s supposed strongest team was a solid start.
Several players impressed. Lyndon Dykes fought strongly. Defender Grant Hanley excelled again. As a traditional defender, he drew many balls to himself. Former captain Willie Miller praised him: “A magnet for the ball.” Anyone who disagrees must bring top performance.
Many players faced difficult starts to the season: Angus Gunn hasn’t played a club game since May, Lewis Ferguson stayed on Bologna’s bench, Che Adams alternated in Torino’s lineup, and Dykes started only once for Birmingham. Aaron Hickey returned after nearly two years out injured, with just 77 minutes for Brentford since October 2023. Against Denmark, he looked composed, impressive, and confident. Robertson also dealt with the loss of teammate Diogo Jota.
Clarke shows consistency again
Clarke has led Scotland for over six years and faced much criticism. Early games went badly – four matches, four losses, one goal scored, 13 conceded. Euro 2021 ended winless, World Cup 2022 exited against Ukraine, and 2024 included a heavy defeat to Hungary. Fans called for his departure.
Later, Scotland lost 3-0 and 3-1 to Greece and Iceland. Few expected success in Copenhagen. Despite caution, the team now looks stable and ready. Clarke has overcome highs and lows. Scotland is back in the game.
