The dream is over – at least for now. Scotland's World Cup hopes were cruelly snuffed out in the group stages, despite the tournament's expanded format promising a glimmer of hope. Steve Clarke's team finished third in Group C, behind Brazil and Morocco, after securing a 1-0 victory over Haiti that proved too little, too late. It's hard not to feel for the Scots, who ultimately missed out on progression as one of the four unluckiest third-placed sides.
The early exit has sparked intense scrutiny of Clarke's leadership, reminiscent of the disappointment that followed Euro 2024. Former Scotland international Willie Miller, a two-time World Cup veteran, was blunt in his assessment: "Below-par performances across three games – it's just not good enough." He pinpointed the lack of a top-class striker as a major issue and questioned some of Clarke's selection choices, but also acknowledged the manager's achievements, including ending Scotland's long World Cup drought and fostering a strong team spirit.
Clarke's tactical decisions have come under fire, with former striker James McFadden labelling the defensive errors in defeats to Morocco and Brazil as "costly" – and that's an understatement. The conceding of soft, early goals in both matches will haunt Clarke, who signed a four-year contract extension before the tournament. Pat Nevin, a former teammate of Clarke's, suggested that a lack of caution might be the downfall, advocating for a back five to shore up Scotland's leaky defence.
But there are voices of support for Clarke, too – and not just from within the Scottish FA, who have backed him with unwavering enthusiasm. Motherwell defender Stephen O'Donnell, who has earned many of his 26 caps under Clarke, pointed to the progress made over seven years, including Scotland's first World Cup appearance in 28 years and their first win since 1990. "No shame" in losing to two of the world's top teams, he argued – and with Euro 2028 set to be co-hosted by Scotland, England, Wales, and the Republic of Ireland, qualification will be significantly easier.
The focus now shifts to how Clarke addresses the identified weaknesses and prepares the squad for future challenges. Can he build on recent successes? Will he remain at the helm, or take a step back? The next chapter in Scotland's World Cup story is yet to be written – but one thing's certain: it won't be an easy read.