After the disappointment of the European Championships in Germany, Steve Clarke looked to be a dead manager walking. Now though, as a new qualification campaign comes into view, the Scotland players are not only determined to earn a place at next year’s World Cup for themselves and the Tartan Army, but to earn Clarke ‘immortal’ status in the Scottish game.
Ryan Christie can understand the criticism that came Clarke’s way last summer, accepting that it is all part of football. He hopes though that when it comes time to assess his manager’s Scotland legacy, a wider perspective will be applied, and widespread acknowledgment made of the overall job Clarke has done with the national team.
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Having buried the two-decades long hoodoo in failing to qualify for a major tournament, and taken the Scots to back-to-back Euros, the Bournemouth midfielder is of the view that Clarke has earned hero status already. But with Clarke having intimated that this is likely to be his last campaign as head coach – though Christie hopes that won’t be the case – he says there is an added incentive for the Scotland players to come through this qualification campaign triumphant - for their country and for their leader.
“One hundred percent,” Christie said. “I can only speak for myself, but probably for all the boys...how good he’s been since he came in, he’s really turned around the feeling we’ve had in camps. I think we know, he’s probably said it publicly, how much he wants to get to a World Cup. We’re all the same.
“The gaffer has implemented a pretty fool-proof way of playing for us. We don’t have any more questions, we know exactly how he wants us to set up, everyone knows their job. “So it’s on us now to see through with that and hopefully qualify for a World Cup.”
Christie is 30 now, and the opening game of the qualification campaign against Denmark in Copenhagen will see him earn his 60th cap if he gets on the pitch.
That is a source of immense pride for Christie, but along with these milestones comes a realisation that for the core of this group over the last five years or so – players like himself, Andy Robertson and John McGinn – time is rather running out if they want to experience the greatest stage in international football.
“It’s an amazing feeling,” he said.
“I said after 50 caps that I never thought I’d get to that in a million years. Every cap after that has been a bonus. “I’m desperate to play for the national team as long as I can. It’s something that’s meant so much to me in my career.
With that experience, and the presence of so many Scottish players in Europe’s biggest leagues these days, Christie certainly sees no reason why this opening match - even coming as it is against a side ranked 26 places above Scotland in the rankings and in the intimidating Parken Stadium – should be anything to fear.
A lack of belief that may have existed, even sub-consciously, within the Scotland squad when travelling to such venues as Christie was starting out on his international journey has now been replaced by the complete absence of an inferiority complex.
“I think we’ve shown that in the games we’ve had against bigger opposition,” he said.
“Especially in qualifying campaigns against the likes of Spain at Hampden and even away from home, when I thought we were brilliant. “Portugal, both games, a team that you’ve seen how successful they’ve been over the years. Unfortunately, results weren’t on our side [that time], but it still gave us confidence. “When you look at the team-sheets, it’s the same guys we play against week in week out for our club sides. “It kind of drops the level of fear, almost, when you go up against these big nations. “It gives us the feeling we can compete and pick up important points.”
Where Christie fits back into the Scotland side these days is an interesting question. Such has been the level of his performances for his club side operating in a deep-lying, central position, that Jamie Carragher hailed him as ‘one of the best midfielders in the Premier League’ last season. Clarke though has tended to prefer to utilise him in his previous attacking role, chiefly off the left.
“I’ve honestly not spoken to him [about it],” Christie said.
“It’s a question that’s been put up a lot over the last year, 18 months. To be honest, it’s probably a boring answer for you guys, but my feeling for Scotland’s been the same every time I’ve been called up, which is, if I can get on the pitch for any position, apart from maybe between the sticks, I’ll be happy.
