Steve Clarke says Scotland need win over ‘big boys’ to get fans believing again
Steve Clarke states Scotland need to conquer one of international soccer’s’big boys’ when they are supposed to make fans feel in them .
The Scotland facet of clarke are fourth in European Championship Qualifying Group I ahead of the double-header from Russia on Friday and Belgium on Monday, having won two and lost two of the four matches so far.
Victory over Russia in Hampden Park would take them flat on nine points using quarter-finalists along with the 2018 World Cup hosts – albeit to a – an outcome Clarke feels could help re-energise Scotland supporters.
“We want a win. As a nation, it’s been a very long time since we turned over one of the so-called large boys,” Scotland boss Clarke said before Friday’s game – live on Sky Sports.
“Russia, having been at the previous eight of the last World Cup, are one of the big teams.
“It’s about time we as a country, rather than being on the receiving end, are the staff dishing out an outcome that is deemed to be an upset.
“Hopefully Friday night can be the situation.”
Scotland have not qualified since the 1998 World Cup in France and Clarke understands the correlation between also a perceived apathy among a number of the supporters of the country.
Clarke added:”Within a number of years, people haven’t managed to accomplish a major finals.
“If you do not reach a major finals, the more often it occurs, the less people begin to think in it.
“One huge result can maybe change the entire mindset of not just the squad but the whole nation and hopefully it happens very soon.”
With Belgium top of this team with highest points, a second-place conclusion may be the best opportunity of qualifying for Euro 2020 of Scotland, but Clarke was eager to stress that their attention should not be on Friday’s match.
“Rather than put the strain on one match, I believe you want to look at the next three matches to make certain we are still at the team after these 3 games,” said Clarke.
“Whether it’s Friday, Monday or the away game against Russia [on October 10], then we must pick up a few points and we are aware of this.”