Three hundred and sixty -five long days ago, Steve Clarke’s Scotland went out in Hampden Park, his last Auf Wiedersehen before leaving to Germany, Switzerland and Hungary for Euro 2024.
When they finished their farewell to the back of a non -inspiring – and sometimes chaotic – 2-2 draw, those who are in the stands could probably say what was about to unfold in the coming weeks.
They had seen everything before in the previous euros. They bought the T -shirt and the album of stickers.
A year later, this feeling remained in Glasgow’s air again. Against an average of Iceland, Clarke’s Scotland was meek, weak and dark.
The scottish growl that labeled Spain’s nose were nowhere. No smell of the street group that sucked Croatia and Poland a few days after last November.
Another night in Hampden left more questions than answers.
Clarke may have transported Scotland to two great finals, but there were some real alarm moments that brought a dose of reality and gravity to all this.
This was the latest, a sucker in the eyes. “Don’t get arrogant boys, remember, you are Scotland, you don’t qualify for the world’s hearts. Below are you.”
The qualification for 2026 Global Showpipe does not start until September to Scotland, but this was the first step towards her.
Instead, the Tartan army has the right to ask yourself where Clarke’s team is going.
