Steve Clarke, an apology.
On September 3, 2021 this column suggested Scotland’s manager had experienced an episode involving the misappropriation of two pencils and a pair of underpants in the process of picking a team to face Denmark.
Now, in retrospect, it has become clear Clarke was merely lulling the rest of Group F into a false sense of security by making it appear as if he was on the brink of losing the plot.
It must now be noted that, in rattling off three successive wins in the World Cup qualifiers – crowned by the night of all nights against Israel – the man in charge has not made a single misstep.
Even at half-time on Saturday night, with Scotland 2-1 down and the nation’s hopes hanging in the balance, Clarke held on to the courage of his convictions and displayed the mental strength not to hit that big red panic button.
In Copenhagen, he knew he had selected the wrong starting line-up and botched his strategy.
He reacted accordingly by ripping it up and starting again during the half-time interval and the changes he made that night steadied Scotland’s listing ship.
That Clarke stuck to his guns during the break against the Israelis was an indication the manager knew he had got just about every detail and decision correct.
What he needed was not to carry out an urgent overhaul but rather to choose the right words in order to get more out of a number of players who had been guilty of under-performing.
Young Nathan Patterson, for example, who looked spooked out of his wits during a torrid first 45 minutes.
That could have been down to the pressure he felt at being selected ahead of a stalwart in Stephen O’Donnell or it may have been down to the presence of Manor Solomon, who didn’t give the Rangers man time to take a breath, never mind execute an accurate pass.
Clarke could have chosen to remove the youngster from harm’s way at half-time but, even if it might have seemed like an act of mercy, it would have been entirely the wrong thing to do.
With Scotland trailing, it would have made no sense at all to sacrifice Patterson and replace him with O’Donnell when the 19-year-old had been given the nod because of what he offers the team in attacking areas.
That Patterson produced such an improved display summed up this roller- coaster ride of a victory. It was all perfectly bonkers. Perfectly Scotland. Perfectly brave.
Let’s be brutally honest, Patterson was far from the only one of Clarke’s players who seemed rattled and out of sorts after the Israelis took an early lead.
There were bewildering and prolonged spells in that opening period when it seemed they couldn’t take a decent throw-in between them, never mind mount any concerted pressure on Israel’s defence.
It was all punctuated by the blasts of a whistle belonging to a referee who seemed determined to be the most noticeable man on the pitch.
To compound all of this, Scott McTominay looked uncomfortable on the same side of the pitch as Patterson.
Jack Hendry struggled to focus on carrying out the meat and drink defensive duties which the suspended Grant Hanley habitually devours and Callum McGregor was unusually quiet in midfield.
In his desperation to get Scotland ticking, Billy Gilmour was guilty of dropping a little too deep a little too often to get on the ball, leaving Scotland outnumbered in midfield.
Che Adams couldn’t do right for wrong with the ball at his feet from the moment he choked in front of goal in the opening seconds.
While we’re on the subject, let’s take a moment to talk about young Gilmour who went on to run the show after the break and set the tone for what became the most magical second half in Scotland’s recent memory.
There’s something about watching this kid in a dark blue shirt which is oddly
reminiscent of how it felt when Andy Murray pulled on a white one at Wimbledon for the very first time.
A rush of giddy excitement accompanied by the reassurance of knowing the best is yet to come – it has the potential to be mesmerising – and is likely to be enjoyed for a decade or so to come.
Just like Murray, Gilmour is ours yet he probably belongs to another world. Just like Murray, he’s not just a once in a generation talent, he’s a difference maker. He’s a game changer.
Put it this way, the whole business of observing Scotland will feel like a new experience for as long as he is around.
It was Gilmour who started the move which led to John McGinn’s stunning equaliser, driving over the half way line and then setting Kieran Tierney off down the left flank.
Skipper Andy Roberston also played a huge part in the build up, picking out McGinn on the edge of the box before the Aston Villa man curled home a sublime left-foot finish.
Yet, just when it seemed Clarke’s players had clicked into gear, they crumbled again at the other end moments later to fall behind for a second time.
Once again, this concession seemed to rock the confidence of too many of them.
So when Lyndon Dykes, one of the few who didn’t seem in the slightest bit fazed, then missed from the spot before the break it was Clarke’s time to shine.
Exactly what was said by the manager when he got his group indoors will remain inside those four walls.
By holding his nerve, he emboldened his players for a second half transformation which defied belief.
Nothing this team does from this point onwards should come as a surprise. Clarke has moulded a side to be proud of and, most importantly of all, one which actually deserves to be appearing on the greatest stage of them all.
