Scotland were relegated from the A League of the Nations League when they lost 3-0 to Greece at Hampden back in March - but manager Steve Clarke has an uncanny knack of bouncing back from failure and can atone for that tragedy in the crucial World Cup qualifier in Mount Florida on Thursday night.
EVERY football manager, every successful one at any rate, has traits which come to be known and loved by supporters.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s teams were renowned, from his early days in charge of St Mirren in the 1970s right through to his final seasons with Manchester United in the 2010s, for playing a dynamic and attacking brand of football which entertained and delighted supporters.
His old Scotland and United assistant Walter Smith, God rest him, had a reputation, rightly or wrongly, for favouring a more pragmatic and disciplined approach to games during his two trophy-laden spells in charge of Rangers.
What are the characteristics of the current incumbent of the Ibrox hotseat? This column is, you will probably be relieved to hear, going to be focusing exclusively on the national team.
A double header which will go an awfully long way to determining if this country can qualify for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States next summer – Andy Robertson and his compatriots take on Greece at Hampden on Thursday and then host Belarus in Mount Florida three days later - is coming up after all.
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Steve Clarke, who will become the longest-serving Scotland manager in terms of games overseen when he takes charge of his 72nd match a week today, has his own idiosyncrasies as a coach as well.
He is most definitely, to the frustration of Tartan Army footsoldiers at times, someone who is more interested in seeing his men keep a clean sheet than score six. He is also fiercely loyal to those players who have served him well, so much so that he is often accused of selecting his starting line-up based on reputation not form.
But there is another thread which has run through his career on the touchline as well, a quality which should give his countrymen hope going into the massive Group C encounter against Greece. He has, to use a phrase popularised by Iain Dowie when he was at Crystal Palace in the early 2000s, bouncebackability.
Whenever he personally suffers a setback or is written off, he dusts himself down, redoubles his efforts, puts the disappointment firmly behind him and silences his doubters. Exactly the same is true of his sides.
After bruising stints with West Brom and Reading – both of which ended with him being sacked – Clarke took the brave decision to return to management for a third time with Kilmarnock in his native Ayrshire. The easier option for the former Newcastle United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa assistant may have been to sit and wait for a lucrative role on a backroom staff somewhere.
He won back-to-back Scottish Football Writers’ Association Manager of the Year awards as well as the PFA Scotland gong, clinched fifth spot and third place in the Premiership and secured a return to Europe after an 18 year absence during his two seasons at Rugby Park.
Clarke angered Rangers support when he lashed out at the sectarian abuse which he was on the receiving end of during a heavy Scottish Cup replay defeat his charges suffered at Ibrox in the February of 2019. He described it as belonging to the “dark ages”. How very dare he!
He had the last laugh. After Kilmarnock beat the Glasgow giants 2-1 in their final league fixture at home he addressed the jubilant home support on the pitch and aimed a potshot at the departing red, white and blue hordes. “Bye bye Rangers,” he said, much to their annoyance.
His uncanny knack of withstanding flak, of masterminding improved displays, of overseeing important victories when disaffection is growing in the stands, has very much been evident during his six-and-a-half years at the helm of Scotland.
He brushed off the heavy early losses which his side were on the receiving end of against Russia and Belgium in Euro 2020 qualifying and booked a place in the finals via the play-offs. He overcame bad early results against Austria, Israel and Denmark in Qatar 2022 qualifying and made it through to the World Cup play-offs thanks to a glorious six game winning run.
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A 3-1 reverse in a semi-final at home to Ukraine incensed fans. As did the 3-0 Nations League loss to the Republic of Ireland which followed in Dublin days later. But Clarke switched to a different formation and both of those teams were beaten comfortably the following season as the boys in dark blue were promoted to the A League.
An extraordinary five game winning run saw Scotland make Euro 2024 with two games to spare. The less said about the finals in Germany the better. There was a clamour for the manager to be replaced after another early exit. But he remained in situ and orchestrated a draw with Portugal and wins over Croatia and Poland which sent his boys through to the Nations League promotion/relegation play-off.
The 3-0 home defeat to Greece in March was a real low point in his rollercoaster reign. But can he now exact revenge for that crushing humiliation as well? He has certainly got previous for doing so. His charges have started their World Cup campaign encouragingly with a draw against Denmark and a win over Belarus away.
Aaron Hickey has made a huge difference at right wing back, Grant Hanley has been inspired at centre half, Kieran Tierney is fit again and available, Scott McTominay is doing Scott McTominay things, John McGinn has well and truly got his mojo back in midfield and Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams are playing regularly for their clubs and showing far better form up front.
It Clarke gets his team selection, formation and tactics right at Hampden on Thursday night he can atone for a Greek tragedy, give supporters a win to remember and take a huge stride towards the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States next summer.
