When Steve Clarke was appointed as Scotland manager in May 2019, little did he know 29 months would pass before he would sample Hampden Park at full capacity. The pandemic explains much of the delay but Clarke inherited a team that played against a backdrop of disillusionment. Rows of empty seats were a constant feature at the national stadium.
Not a ticket is left to be had for Israel’s latest visit to Glasgow. Victory in Austria last month has propelled Clarke’s team to second in Group F and a win over Israel would send them four points clear and within touching distance of a World Cup play-off. A nation believes once more.
“It’s strange to have to wait so long but obviously it has been strange times over the last two years for everybody,” said Clarke. “It’s nice that we are finally in a position where we can sell out Hampden. But it’s also nice that we have also managed to put ourselves in a position where the supporters are buying into it. The supporters are buying into this team.
“They enjoyed being part of the European championships in the summer. OK, it didn’t quite go the way we wanted it to but I think the supporters enjoyed the fact they were involved in the tournament. It was their tournament, they were there, they were in it.
“They are buying into it because we have sold out this game and I’m sure – either way – we will sell out the Denmark game next month as well. So that tells you that the supporters want to get behind this group of players, which is fantastic for them. And also a credit to them.”
Sir Alex Ferguson will be in the stands at Hampden. The former Manchester United manager, who took charge of Scotland during the 1986 World Cup, will be presented with a retrospective cap for matches played during an Asian and Oceanic tour in 1967.
“It will be nice for the Scottish public to see Sir Alex,” Clarke said. “I have bumped into him already a couple of times this season. It is always nice to catch up with Sir Alex and hear his thoughts. It will be great for the Scottish public to give him the ovation and the acclaim he deserves.
“He is very, very supportive of the country. He is always positive about the country. I always have nice, positive conversations with Sir Alex. So it’s great that he will be there to get that cap from such a long time ago. I’m sure he will get a fantastic ovation and it is richly deserved.”
Gordon; McTominay, Hendry, Tierney; Patterson, Gilmour, McGregor, Robertson; McGinn; Dykes, Adams
It is a quirk of the international fixtures schedule that this will be the seventh meeting of Scotland and Israel in three years. The matches have generally been tense and tight; there is no reason to believe this encounter will prove any different. “They are tough opponents,” Clarke said.
“I think both ourselves and Israel, even in my time, have improved in equal measure. We are a pot-three team trying to become pot two and they are pot four definitely trying to become a pot-three team.
“They have dangerous forwards, good organisation and we expect another tough game. There is no way you can look at it and say they are not a good team because anybody who has watched them play will know that. Anybody who has watched us will also know we are a good team.”
Scotland are missing only the suspended Grant Hanley, with a clean bill of health further testament to attitudes within and around Clarke’s camp. Youthfulness arrives courtesy of Billy Gilmour and the Rangers full-back Nathan Patterson, who are likely to start.
“I feel we keep evolving,” said Clarke. “Bringing in the younger ones and that just helps to keep the squad evolving. The core of the squad are picking up more and more caps, the younger ones are picking up more and more caps. We are just growing as a team and if we want to keep growing then a good positive result against Israel will help us to grow even more after the fine performance and result in Vienna last month.”
