The ghosts of campaigns past mean Steve Clarke must urge Scotland to get off to a brisk start to World Cup qualifying when Austria visit Hampden Park on Thursday. Since reaching the 1998 World Cup, Scotland have won only three of 11 opening games.
“I didn’t know that,” said Clarke. “I’m not getting six hours’ sleep a night anyway, thinking about my selection, and that’s just chopped it down to four.
“Listen, a good start is important. Without putting too much pressure on ourselves we want to start the group well. We won’t know until the end of the campaign what a good points total will be so it’s important we don’t put ourselves under too much pressure but of course a winning start would be good, especially because we’re playing a team seeded above us. Austria are seeded to finish second in the group [behind Denmark] so if we got a good start against them that would hopefully set us up for a good campaign.”
Austria will have the services of 18 Bundesliga-based players after a change in German quarantine rules relating to those who have been in the UK. Clarke denied any annoyance that the visitors would be back at full strength. “I didn’t get too carried away with that because you know the quarantine rules are changing all the time,” the Scotland manager said.
“Countries are going on and off the red lists. We knew there was a possibility it would change and we prepared only for their strongest team. That’s what will be on the pitch at Hampden. It will be their strongest team and we will have a strong team as well, so it should be a decent game.
“They are athletic and have some star names, which is always good if you want to be a top side. You need one or two who have that little bit of magic. We expect a tough game and I’m sure they will be expecting a tough game from us as well.”
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Progression to the European Championship this summer – a first finals tournament since 1998 – means Clarke is playing with house money in respect of public opinion as a new campaign dawns. Not that the man himself is apparently thinking that way.
“We want to be consistently successful,” he said. “We don’t just want to qualify for one tournament, rest on our laurels then wait another 23 years. I will be in my 80s if we have to wait that long. I would much rather qualify for the next one coming up, so that is the target. The target is Qatar 2022.”
Austria’s visit should see an international debut at some stage for Che Adams after the Southampton striker committed to Scotland, who also play away to Israel on Sunday and then at home to the Faroe Islands next Wednesday.
“When we got them into training I looked at the squad and at the level and standard of the sessions,” said Clarke. “I turned to John Carver [coach] and said: ‘I’ve just given myself more problems, the standard’s gone up’. It’s really good, it’s been good to see. Hopefully I can get the balance right across the three games and we can pick up the points.”
David Marshall is likely to continue in goal despite a lack of recent action for Derby. Clarke may move Scott McTominay, who has recently played centre-back for Scotland, into midfield after Ryan Jack’s injury left the team short of anchor men.
(probable teams)