“We’ve got another very, very good thing that we can achieve together.”
Understated as ever, Steve Clarke is refusing to get caught up within the nerves and hype of Scotland being probably on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup for the primary time since 1998.
The duty towards Denmark on Tuesday night time is easy – win and a spot at subsequent summer time’s event is assured. If not, they’ve a play-off in March to fall again on.
Clarke, who’s out of contract on the finish of this marketing campaign, has already led the nationwide aspect to back-to-back European Championships and is hoping to go one higher this time.
“I’d like to go to the World Cup with my country,” he mentioned as he confirmed Billy Gilmour would miss the match after failing to get better from harm.
“I believe in the event you take a look at what we have achieved during the last six and a half years, a number of these gamers are already, I am going to use your phrases, ‘legends’, he mentioned.
“However they’re already very, very excessive within the rating of what we have executed as a rustic.
“When I took the job six and a half years ago, a lot of people were saying, don’t touch it, it’s a poison chalice, you can’t do this.
“I seemed on the group of gamers and I mentioned, I see some high quality there. I look ahead to working with this group of gamers as a result of I believe we will obtain good issues.
“We’ve managed to do that. Now we’ve got another very, very good thing that we can achieve together.”
Scotland’s unbeaten run in Group C ended on Saturday with a 3-2 defeat in Greece, however Denmark’s 2-2 draw with Belarus means it’s a winner-takes-all conflict at Hampden Park.
Scotland performed out a goalless draw with Denmark within the first qualifying match in Copenhagen
“I’m expecting their heads won’t be down, because they also still have the opportunity to go through as group winners,” added Clarke of the Danes, who they drew with in Copenhagen in September.
“They’ll come here determined to make amends for their slip-up the other night.
“We’re decided to be sure that it is one other troublesome night time for the Danes and a terrific night time for us.
Clarke: ‘I consider they’re ok’
Craig Gordon was 15 when Scotland final certified for a World Cup
Greater than half of Clake’s squad weren’t born when Scotland final certified for a World Cup, whereas 42-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon will possible be the one participant to recollect watching France 1998.
“If they’re not nervous or excited by the challenge ahead, they wouldn’t be at this level,” the previous Kilmarnock supervisor added.
“They understand the magnitude of the game and what it means. But they just have to prepare for a game of football and make sure that they’re focused on how we want to play.
20-year-old Ben Gannon-Doak scored his first Scotland objective towards Greece
“If they go out and play as they can play, then I believe that they’re good enough to get the result that we need.
“There’ll come a time within the sport the place perhaps it’s important to be slightly bit extra adventurous to chase the sport if it’s good to win it. Then it’s important to watch out you do not lose it.
“If you’re going for a draw, you probably get towards the end of your game and you’re thinking, we need to shut up shop a little bit, which is also dangerous. We know what we have to do and hopefully we can do it.”
‘We’d like the group’
Hampden Park is offered out for the match, with the top coach urging the Tartan Military to again the gamers all through the sport.
Scotland didn’t all the time get a optimistic ambiance of their different two residence video games. They had been booed by some followers at half-time within the go to of Greece and had been outplayed for about an hour earlier than triumphing 3-1.
Some even jeered after a 2-1 victory over Belarus.
Steve Clarke’s urging the Scotland followers to get behind the staff for one final push
“We need the crowd. We need the crowd with us,” the 62-year-old added.
“You probably need the crowd more in the difficult moments than you do in the easy moments when you’re on top of the game.
“I believe if all of us work collectively, we will make it a terrific night time for the nation.”
Collins: ‘Nothing comes shut’
John Collins scored in Scotland’s World Cup ’98 opener towards Brazil
John Collins was a part of Scotland’s World Cup squad in 1998:
“Nothing equals it. Nothing at club level equals representing your country.
“Strolling out of that tunnel at a significant event, standing within the line, the nationwide anthem’s being sung, Tartan Military’s singing it within the background.
“You’re there. The world audience is watching you. Game on.
“It is gold mud. Nothing comes shut.”
How do play-offs work?
Scotland’s final World Cup look was in 1998
The 12 group runners-up will take part within the play-offs, together with the 4 best-ranked group winners of the 2024/25 UEFA Nations League that didn’t end their European Qualifiers group stage in first or second place.
The 16 groups that enter the play-offs will probably be drawn into 4 play-off paths, with 4 groups in every. Play-off matches will probably be performed in single-leg semi-finals, adopted by single-leg finals throughout the similar worldwide window in from March 26 to 31 subsequent yr.
What number of European groups will qualify?
In whole, 16 UEFA nations will qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The 12 group winners qualify straight for the World Cup; the 4 remaining berths are decided by play-offs involving the 12 group runners-up.
World Cup 2026 European qualifiers schedule
- Ultimate group-stage match dates: November 13-18, 2025
- Play-off match dates: March 26-31 2026
- Ultimate event dates: June 11 to July 19 2026
When and the place is the 2026 World Cup?
The 2026 FIFA males’s World Cup takes place from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
The event will happen throughout 16 cities in three North American international locations: the United States, Canada and Mexico. It’s the first time a World Cup has been hosted by three nations.
The final time North America hosted the event was in 1994, when Brazil triumphed after beating Italy on penalties.
An expanded World Cup will function 48 groups – 16 greater than in Qatar 2022 – and happen throughout three host nations for the primary time.
World Cup 2026 schedule
Group stage: June 11-27
Spherical of 32: June 28 to July 3
Spherical of 16: July 4-7
Quarter-finals: July September 11
Semi-finals: July 14-15
Third-place play-off (‘Bronze ultimate’): July 18
Ultimate: July 19
