scotland Manager Steve Clarke Eyes World Cup Qualification as Redemption for 2022 Play-off Loss to Ukraine
Scotland manager Steve Clarke has stated that securing a place at the next World Cup would serve as a way to “put right” the disappointment of the nation’s 3-1 play-off defeat to Ukraine in June 2022, which dashed hopes of appearing in the Qatar tournament. Clarke,who has already guided Scotland to qualification for back-to-back major tournaments – Euro 2020 and euro 2024 – is now focused on ending the country’s 28-year wait for World Cup participation.
Clarke reflected on the unusual circumstances surrounding the Ukraine match, originally scheduled for March but postponed due to Russia‘s invasion of Ukraine. He believes the delay and subsequent loss of key players contributed to the defeat at Hampden Park. “It was on the back of what I felt was a really good campaign,” clarke said. “Everybody forgets that game should have been played in March, when we would have had more people fit. You get to the game in June and the build-up was very,very strange and we’d lost two or three key players – and it didn’t go for us on the night.”
Scotland finished second in their qualifying group behind Denmark in the previous campaign, losing only to the group winners. Thay are currently competing against Denmark again in the current qualifying cycle, with a victory in their upcoming match against Belarus possibly securing another play-off spot, especially if Greece loses to Denmark.
Clarke acknowledged the inevitability of setbacks in a long career, stating, “Disappointment, yes. Something we’d like to put right, yes. But also, when you’ve been in the game provided that me, you accept that there will be negative results and there will be tough moments.” He added that the team felt they had performed well throughout the qualifying campaign leading up to the Ukraine match.
