Scotland Men's Football Team

Image source, SNS

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke is hoping to right past "hurt" and qualify for the 2026 World Cup with the national side.

The 62-year-old narrowly missed out on the competition as a player back in 1990 and admits "it still hurts" knowing he never got to a World Cup with his country.

If Denmark beat Greece on Sunday, and Scotland can overcome Belarus, Clarke's men will be guaranteed at least a play-off place for a spot in the tournament next summer.

"Sunday's another step," the head coach said.

"And the closer you get to the end of the qualifying campaign if you're making positive steps, it just makes the next game bigger.

"Hopefully on Sunday night, we're smiling and thinking about November with two fantastic games to look forward to.

"You can see it in the performances. The players are determined to do everything they can to make sure we get to the finals. We've managed to do what we wanted to do so far, but we've still got three steps to take.

"I wanted to go as a player, but didn't managed to achieve it. I got pretty close in 1990 when I was in the pre-World Cup squad. That hurt and it still hurts a bit now that I haven't been to a World Cup with my country.

"I've got a chance to do it now. A fantastic group of players that want to be the first ones since 1998 to take their country to a World Cup. Hopefully it marries up and we can manage to achieve that."

With 38-year-old Kasper Schmeichel's contract remaining uncertain, Celtic are exploring the possibility of signing a new goalkeeper and Scotland's Angus Gunn is eager to join the Scottish champions after being pushed down the pecking order at Nottingham Forest. (Football Insider), external

Read Sunday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, SNS

When Billy Gilmour was a young boy in Ayrshire, he dreamed of playing for his country on the biggest stage.

He has represented Scotland at two European Championships and has won Serie A with Napoli, but the 24-year-old midfielder makes no secret that he would like to add a World Cup spot to that list and fulfil his childhood dream.

Scotland could guarantee themselves a World Cup play-off by Sunday night should they beat Belarus and Denmark beat Greece.

"When you're young you go down to the parks and you're playing cuppy dubs, cuppy singles, World Cuppy - it's every child's dream to play for their country and the biggest clubs," he said.

"Three games away and hopefully we can get it done. We've got a big game tomorrow so we need to focus on that first."

Gilmour started as a substitute against Greece on Thursday, but impressed off the bench as Scotland secured a vital 3-1 win.

He made it clear he wants to start against Belarus in a game he expects to look a lot different to this week's other qualifier.

"When I come off the bench I want to prove to him that [Steve Clarke] shouldn't leave me out," Gilmour said. "There's good players in our team competing for the same position. I need to try to stand out.

"I don't think I need to come on and make a point. It's more come on and help the team and show my qualities. Against Greece, it's difficult - they're a good team. You have to come on and do your job.

"We hope to be on the ball a lot more, on the front foot and win the game. Belarus are a good team. We'll need to be at it, make sure we're clinical and get the three points."

Image source, SNS

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has been speaking to the media as his side prepare to face Belarus on Sunday.

Here are the main points:

• The Scotland boss thinks it could be a "long night" at Hampden on Sunday as Belarus will be "difficult to break down" but is hopeful his team can put on a performance to "get the crowd excited".

• He stresses that "if you want to qualify, these are the games you have to win" and insists there's "no room for complacency" when Belarus come to Hampden.

• Clarke says he would "be daft" if he "wasn't proud" as he prepares to break Craig Brown's record of 71 games as Scotland head coach but insists the focus is firmly on the team and winning the game.

• Clarke admits he didn't think he'd last this long as head coach although is relishing the opportunity to qualify for a World Cup.

• He says missing out on the competition as a player it 1990 "still hurts" and is determined to reach the finals now.

• On team selection, Clarke adds he's "frustrated" that he "can't pick every good player", saying "it always seems to be the one you leave out is the one you get hit over the head with" when asked about Billy Gilmour being on the bench against Greece.

• The head coach says defender Aaron Hickey "is in a much better place" than when he was subbed off on Thursday night and is "pretty sure" it's a "minor" issue.

Image source, Getty Images

• Steve Clarke will take charge of his 72nd game as Scotland head coach, the most of any manager in their history. His next win will be his 32nd - taking him level with Craig Brown for the most wins in the national team's history. He currently has a win rate of nearly 44%.

• Belarus head coach Carlos Alos has won six of his 23 games in charge, drawing eight and losing nine - a win rate of 26%.

• Scotland remain unbeaten in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup (W2 D1) and could avoid defeat in their first four matches of a qualifying campaign for the first time since the 2002 World Cup campaign, when they won the first six.

• Indeed, Scotland are unbeaten in their latest 12 World Cup qualifying matches at home.

• Belarus have lost each of their last four matches in all competitions, Thursday's 6-0 loss to Denmark being their second-biggest ever defeat after an 8-0 thrashing by Belgium in March 2021.

• Scotland have won three of their previous five meetings with Belarus (drawing once), with each of those coming in World Cup qualifying – the most recent being last month's 2-0 win in Hungary.

• This will be Belarus' third trip to face Scotland, losing the first 4-1 in September 1997 before winning the most recent 1-0 in October 2005.

• Scotland have won each of their last 11 games in all competitions against nations ranked 100th or lower in the world rankings (Belarus are 100th), since a 3-0 loss in Kazakhstan (117th) in March 2019. The Scots have never lost at home to such a nation since the rankings were introduced in 1992 (P21 W19 D2).

• Belarus have lost each of their last 10 World Cup qualifying matches by an aggregate score of 35-4, losing each of their last 17 outside of Belarus – during which they have failed to score more than once in any defeat while also conceding at least five times in four of their last six losses.

• Scotland striker Lyndon Dykes has scored three goals as a substitute for Scotland, with only James McFadden (five) netting more times from the bench in their history - half of Dykes' 10 goals for the nation have come in World Cup qualifiers.

Scotland head coach Steve Clarke has called up uncapped Hibernian midfielder Josh Mulligan and Rangers' Connor Barron as replacements for the suspended Lewis Ferguson and Ryan Christie for Sunday's World Cup qualifier against Belarus. (Scottish Sun), external

Members of the Scottish Parliament have signed a letter calling on European governing body Uefa to expel the Belarusian national team from the World Cup qualifiers ahead of the team's match against Scotland. (The National), external

Read Saturday's Scottish Gossip in full.

Image source, SNS

Scotland defender Grant Hanley felt squad togetherness was a key factor in their comeback against Greece at Hampden.

Set-piece goals from Ryan Christie and Lewis Ferguson gave Scotland an unlikely lead after the visitors opened the scoring through Kostas Tsimikas on 62 minutes.

And substitute Lyndon Dykes sealed a 3-1 victory in stoppage time to move Scotland alongside Denmark at the top of Group C after three games in the World Cup qualifying campaign.

"It shows the character," said Hanley. "There have been periods where the squad has had difficult moments but we've come through and got a result and it shows what the squad's all about.

"The game in the first half was probably poor, we didn't really get to grips with it. But it was 0-0 at half-time, we had to remind ourselves of that, we were still in the game.

"It probably felt like the shackles came off a bit after we conceded and we started to play. I'm not sure if we can say for certain we deserved to win the game but we stuck at it and I think that's a reward for the togetherness of this group."

Hibernian centre-half Hanley earned his 64th cap against Greece and believes continuity is crucial.

"That's what you get when you keep a squad together," the 33-year-old said.

"Obviously there's different players that come and go at different times but there's certainly been a core of players there for a while now. I think that comes from the manager and the staff and what the lads want to try and create.

"It was the first home game in the campaign and we need to pick up the wins at home."

Image source, SNS

Darren Jackson is still in disbelief at how Scotland beat Greece 3-1 on Thursday as the former international forward paid tribute to the resolve shown by the players to secure three points against the odds.

Steve Clarke's side moved four points clear of the visitors, who dominated possession and led 1-0, in Europe's World Cup qualifying Group C.

"I'm still trying to work that out, but it was just determination not to stop," Jackson told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland. "We were outplayed in possession, couldn't get a hold of the ball.

"Our big players - John McGinn, Scott McTominay - couldn't get into the game, Andy Robertson wasn't getting down the line. It was a struggle and it was no surprise when they scored.

"But I think getting the goal soon after them scoring, only a couple of minutes after, made a big impact. And that got the fans going and that gave the players the energy and all that.

"We've obviously been there before many times in Scotland, not expecting a result and they've produced one."

Image source, SNS

Scotland's 3-1 win over Greece was "one of the most frustrating games you'll ever watch" despite putting the national team in a good position for World Cup qualification, former midfielder John Collins has suggested.

The visitors dominated territorially and led 1-0 before Scotland's late three-goal flurry.

"We've got to say that the opposition played very well in possession," Collins told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland. "I thought their composure on the ball, their build-up play from the back, was top quality.

"Our pressing was way off it. We went as individuals. We never went as a collective unit. They just passed through us and around us and it was one of the most frustrating games you'll ever watch from a Scotland point of view.

"Lady Luck was on our side last night, there's no doubt about that. There's only one team that probably deserved to win the game and that was Greece."

However, the three points puts Scotland, along with Denmark, four points clear of Greece in European qualifying Group C and Collins is hoping for three more at home to Belarus on Sunday - and an improved performance.

"We can't always depend on set-pieces," he added. "We were good late in the game and good delivery into the box. We've always got that with John McGinn and Ryan Christie putting balls in.

"We've got to get better at passing the ball and keeping the ball, 33% possession last night, 26% against Denmark. It's rare you win games with those kind of numbers.

"We've got valuable points and hopefully we can get the performance levels up. The difficulty for the manager is there's a lot of players not playing week in, week out.

"We expect a little low in confidence, touch not quite there. Ben Doak, a shining example last night, he's not playing for his club. Wide players that make the difference need confidence and need sharpness. You don't get that without game time."

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford defender Aaron Hickey is an injury doubt for Scotland's World Cup qualifier against Belarus on Sunday after coming off in the side's 3-1 win over Greece on Thursday.

The 23-year-old was substituted in the 58th minute at Hampden Park with what boss Steve Clarke described as a "small injury".

"He's just tweaked his knee," Clarke added.

"Aaron was actually a doubt to start the game after picking up a small knock to his knee and I think he's just aggravated it.

"I don't know for sure yet, but that was the reason I called Max [Johnston] into the squad as cover."

Bees fans will be hoping the issue is not too serious, with Hickey having only recently returned to full fitness this season after a two-year struggle with a recurring hamstring injury.

We asked for your views on Scotland's 3-1 win over Greece in Europe's World Cup qualifying Group C.

Here's what some of you said:

George: We froze on the night. Greece were controlled throughout, apart from the error from their goalkeeper for our third goal. However, when are referees going to sort out the diving: there's a need to reset VAR generally and reviewing "fouls" would be one way to improve the game. Greek diving was blatant and the referee fell for it more often than not. We take the win, have a smile and move on. What's "we were robbed" in Greek?

David: Great result, awful performance. Steve Clarke really needs to stop being so stubborn and make changes sooner when things clearly aren't working. We were lucky - there was no midfield presence at all. The game was crying out for Billy Gilmour and, as soon as he came on, he started pulling the strings like usual. But why wait until it's that obvious and it was obvious from the fifth minute? Clarke has to be more proactive with his substitutions because on another night, that could've easily been 3-0 to Greece, but we were due some luck, so we deserve it for once.

Stuart: To those saying we stole that - remind me how many chances Greece actually had. They had three shots on target, including the goal, and the first one was a ridiculously easy save. Let's imagine it was Scotland that had all the possession but didn't do anything with it - which we've seen. We'd be going "same old Scotland, move the ball well but can't finish it". Scotland played very well defensively to shut Greece out and we took our chances when we got them. Well deserved win.

Thomas: It's just really strange that we needed to concede a goal to start trying to play football. It feels like we were playing not to get beat and, when that didn't go to plan, we actually had to go for it. Maybe we can start trying to play like that from the first whistle? Just an idea, Stevie.

John: We as Scotland football team have suffered many glorious failures. It was payback time against Greece. Clarke gets results. I will take that all day long.

John: No more watching football for me, it's too stressful. Poor Greeks - a sickener for them. Well done Lyndon Dykes for your enthusiasm and a great goal.

Image source, Getty Images

Greece head coach Ivan Jovanovic insists qualifying for the World Cup "can be achieved" despite his side's damaging 3-1 defeat by Scotland at Hampden on Thursday.

The hosts came from a goal down to secure a win that leaves Greece four points adrift of Steve Clarke's side and Denmark, who lead European Group C on goal difference.

"It's a goal that can be achieved," Jovanovic said when asked if his side can recover sufficiently in the final three games.

"It's simple. If we want to continue to keep our chances alive, we need to win the next three matches."

Greece next travel to face the Danes, who won 3-0 in Piraeus last month, on Sunday as the Scots host bottom side Belarus.

"The two defeats against Denmark last month and Scotland today leave us behind in our chances to qualify," Jovanovic admitted.

"In the next three days, aside from getting the players to rest, we also have to come up with a gameplan to win the next match. We look forward to the next one.

"We made some lapses in concentration from two set-pieces, which gave Scotland a goal as well and a chance to be in the game. We didn't make many mistakes in the match, but the ones we did cost us heavily.

"But we all need to find the energy going forward to get a result on Sunday, to give us a chance to go into next month's matches.

"I think it's a difficult time for the players as well, but there is a huge target at the end of it, which is the World Cup."