The World Cup dreams are over – and what a gut-wrenching finale it was! Scotland's bid for history has been cruelly cut short in the group stages, with Steve Clarke's side ultimately missing out on one of the coveted spots among the top eight third-placed nations. The confirmation came after Croatia's 2-1 win against Ghana, which left Scotland's three points and minus three goal difference looking woefully inadequate for progression.
The writing was well and truly on the wall after a thrilling opening encounter against Haiti – but that initial victory was followed by a crushing blow: a 1-0 defeat to Morocco, which set alarm bells ringing. And then came the nightmare in Miami – a thumping 3-1 loss to Brazil, with Vinícius Júnior netting an early opener that left Scotland reeling. Clarke's men looked shell-shocked as they tried to mount a comeback, but it was too little, too late.
Manager Steve Clarke, who has overseen three major tournaments with the Tartan Army, is facing an uncomfortable reality: this World Cup campaign has brought just one solitary win and four goals – not exactly a sparkling return for the Scots. After the Brazil defeat, Clarke was brutally honest about his team's shortcomings, saying, "We have to be better if we want to compete at this level." You can't help but feel he knows it's time for change.
But despite the World Cup exit, Clarke remains firmly in charge – a new four-year contract is still very much in place, courtesy of the Scottish FA. Love him or loathe him, Clarke has had his critics silenced by this latest commitment to the team. Now, though, attention turns to the Nations League fixtures in September: a chance for Scotland to regroup and refocus on the bigger picture – namely, finally breaking their major tournament hoodoo.
With a trip to Slovenia followed by a showdown against Switzerland, Clarke's men will be keen to prove that this World Cup disappointment was just a blip. Can they rediscover the magic of 1998? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure – Scotland won't give up without a fight.
Source: Scottish FA