Scotland Men's Football Team

Phil Goodlad
BBC Sport Scotland

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Burning ambitions, fear of the sack and legacy. Steve Clarke the person is a very different character to the one seen prowling around the Scotland dugout, as I've found out having spent some time with him in the build-up to tonight's Nations League match in Greece.

But as we head into what he admits is likely to be his last full year as national manager, one thing is very clear - his determination to end Scotland's near three-decade absence from a men's World Cup.

"To qualify for the World Cup in 2026. That is the bottom line," Clarke, 61, says.

"It has been a long time. The last year of my playing career, 1998, that was the last time [Scotland were] there.

"I've got a lot of players in that dressing room that weren't even born the last time Scotland were at a World Cup – that shows you the size of the task in front of us but it's one we are certainly not afraid of.

"I didn't manage it as a player. I've got another chance and hopefully this group of players can help to take me there."

Clarke, who has said he is 75% sure he will not renew his contract after the 2026 World Cup, has told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland that still being in charge after last year's Euros is something of a bonus.

"When I came out the tournament last summer everybody wanted me out the door."

Asked if he feared the sacked, he says: "It felt that way a little bit.

"Obviously I'm based down south so I didn't get so much around it. And I came out before the September games and said probably the World Cup campaign would be my last one. I still feel that could be the case."

Clarke has been six years in the job. If he is signalling his intent to leave next year it means beginning to assess the job he has done.

"The biggest thing I think we have achieved - apart from the qualifications which breeds what I'm about to say next - is there is a much better connection between the Tartan Army and the people of Scotland," he says.

"My first game was a Saturday afternoon at Hampden and the stadium wasn't full. Now it doesn't matter when we play, the stadium is more or less full every single time. That tells you there has been a connection."

So what about the Clarke legacy?

"It's probably something I'll do when I exit Hampden. And then I have a little look back and if people feel I've done a good job then that would be great."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Athens

Scotland captain Andy Robertson admits this international break has come at a good time for him as it makes recent disappointments with Liverpool "easier to get over".

Last week the Reds were beaten by Paris St-Germain on penalties in the Champions League last 16 then lost the League Cup final to Newcastle.

"It probably wasn't one of our best weeks in football and that's part and parcel of it. But thankfully this season we've had many good weeks and last week wasn't meant to be for different reasons," said left-back Robertson.

"It's always an honour to meet up with Scotland. It's always a pleasure to meet up with the lads again, to have fresh faces, to take a break from a really intense period of time as well from Liverpool.

"So yeah, I'm looking forward to this week, it's been nice and it's made it easier to get over the disappointment."

After no wins in their opening four Nations League games, Scotland ended with wins over Croatia and Poland to set up this week's play-off with Greece as Steve Clarke's side attempt to stay in the top tier.

"The ending was good. The confidence was growing within us again and I think you've seen that within the performances," added Robertson.

"The aim was always to get to the top. We managed that and got to Group A. Once you get there, you want to stay there.

"I think Greece are a fantastic team. They got an excellent result at Wembley and gave England two really hard games. They were in a tough group as well."

Internazionale have a strong interest in Scott McTominay and think the Scotland midfielder's profile suits their style of play as they eye a potential bid for the 28-year-old currently impressing with Serie A rivals Napoli. (Fichajes), external

Liverpool are putting plans in place for the upcoming summer transfer window and are ready to move for a new left-back, throwing doubt over the futures of 31-year-old Scotland captain Andy Robertson and deputy Kostas Tsimikas, who will face his club-mate for Greece on Thursday. (Football Insider), external

Scotland captain Andy Robertson believes Liverpool being linked with "pretty much every left-back in the world" has strengthened his determination to keep his place at Anfield. (The Scotsman), external

Bologna have targeted Monza captain Matteo Pessina as the perfect replacement should they sell Lewis Ferguson, with the 25-year-old Scotland midfielder on the list of several Italian and other European clubs. (1000 Cuori Rossoblu), external

Read Thursday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Athens

Image source, SNS

Steve Clarke is "praying" first-time call-up George Hirst can help fire Scotland to Nations League A safety and beyond as the head coach stresses the importance of staying in the top tier.

Scotland's last nine goals have been scored by midfielders, defenders or opposition players, with Lawrence Shankland's strike against Finland in a friendly last June the last time a forward found the back of the net.

Head coach Clarke is hoping the Ipswich Town forward can fix that particular problem, though he hinted the Scots may go with an experienced team in the first leg of their play-off double-header against Greece.

"It's nice to have new faces around there," Clarke said in Athens.

"A bit of youth as well, which is always good, and hopefully, a little glimpse of the future.

"But obviously, we've got the boys that have done ever so well. We've got lots of experience, lots of caps and maybe, the situation, the atmosphere here tomorrow and the opponents that we're playing needs an experienced team on the pitch."

That suggests Torino's Che Adams will lead the line for Scotland but, Hirst, who has four goals this season, timed his third perfectly when Clarke scouted him in their FA Cup penalty shoot-out defeat by Nottingham Forest two weeks ago.

"He's good, obviously. He's a big lad," Clarke said of the 26-year-old.

"He's scored some goals recently, which is good. I've always liked him. He's similar in style and stature to Lyndon Dykes. Hopefully he can bring as much to the team as Lyndon has always brought to the team.

"He's a target player. We've always tried to have that type of forward player because we feel we've got goals in the midfield.

"I pray that George can help us to maybe score a few more goals."

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Athens

Image source, SNS

Head coach Steve Clarke has been addressing the media before Scotland's Nations League play-off first leg against Greece on Thursday.

Here are his main points from his media conference:

• Clarke says having four new faces in the squad is good and brings some freshness, but admits tomorrow maybe needs an experienced team on the pitch, given the atmosphere and the team they're facing.

• In saying that, he adds these four players "have a chance to be on the pitch."

• Having Kieran Tierney back in the squad doesn't give Clarke a headache, saying: "It's a nice problem to have, you want as many difficult choices as possible... and I have few of them."

• Tierney's return gives him food for thought as "the back four worked well last campaign".

• The head coach stressed the importance to stay in Group A because of the "work we put in to get there, we want to stay there."

• Clarke reiterated he liked Lennon Miller's "ambitious" comments, adding, "hopefully he comes into the squad and sees the level he has to get to".

• On "strong" Greece, the head coach knows their qualities, citing any team that beats England down there are a good team.

• Attacker Ryan Christie hasn't travelled due suspension, but there are no fresh problems elsewhere.

Jane Lewis
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter in Athens

Image source, SNS

Greece manager Ivan Jovanovic has been speaking to the media before his side's Nations League play-off first leg against Scotland on Thursday night in Athens.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Jovanovic doesn't think there's too much difference between the sides, but says Scotland have more experience of playing at a higher level, given they've played in League A and appeared at the last two Euros.

• Says Scotland have "a lot of quality players, especially in midfield". Recent results against Portugal, Croatia and Poland in their group shows the level they can compete at.

• Impressed Steve Clarke's side can "alter their play depending on opponent".

• On preparing to face Scotland four times this year, he says they will "all be interesting matches" and difficult games for both sides.

• On being without captain Tasos Bakasetas, who's injured, Jovanovic admits "missing key players is a concern".

• Konstantinos Karetsas, 17, who represented Belgium at youth level, "is a player we've followed for a while", and says the midfielder has made "an emotional decision" to chose Greece.

From John McGinn to John Carver, plenty folks have had their say on Lennon Miller's comments from last week after his debut Scotland call-up.

Including, as expected, his dad Lee.

If you're thinking he maybe put an arm around his 18-year-old's son shoulder, or gave him a clip round the lug, think again. He was right there, winding him up on his return from work.

A proud dad, he thought "respectful and confident" Lennon gave an "excellent" press conference and was struck by a bout of "word vomit" when the Motherwell midfielder said he "could maybe in a couple of months be the best player" in the Scotland squad.

"I spoke to him when I came home from work and I said, 'I listened to your interview, it was excellent, it was really good... Two months and you're going to be the best player,' and he just laughed and thought, 'Oh I know, I know, I messed up'," Lee told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"And I said 'No, you've got belief in yourself'.

"Obviously the words didn't [come out right] but that's word vomit.

"When you're put in front of that camera, when you're asked so many questions, you feel as if you have to say something and he's just blurted that out.

"He probably never thought about it at the time, but when I was winding him up about it he just kind of laughed and thought 'Aw naw'."

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds.

Scotland left-back Andy Robertson, who has 80 caps, has revealed he has been winding up former Liverpool forward Kenny Dalglish over his bid to shatter his record of 102 international appearances. (Scottish Sun), external

Sheffield-born George Hirst has described his maiden Scotland call-up as a "dream come true" after switching allegiance from England, with father David, who played for England, telling the Ipswich Town 26-year-old to go make his Scottish grandfather proud. (The Scotsman), external

Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn, who surpassed Ally McCoist's international goals tally by scoring his 20th for Scotland to move into fifth overall, has set his sights on surpassing the all-time record of 30 held by Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish. (Edinburgh Evening News), external

Read Wednesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Amy Canavan
BBC Sport Scotland

Image source, SNS

Be honest, who else has been frantically trying to figure out the dangermen for Greece before Scotland face them in the Nations League play-off double-header?

Us too. So we called on Greek football expert and host of the Hellas Football Podcast, Stephen Kountourou, to give us the lowdown on the lads trying to stop Steve Clarke's side.

For Scotland, though, it'll be about trying to shackle Christos Tzolis.

The Club Brugge striker is enjoying a stellar season and impressed in his club's Champions League journey before it was ended in the last 16 by Aston Villa.

The 23-year-old netted three times for Greece in 2024, including two in the Nations League, in addition to his eight goals and five assists this season for his club.

"Tzolis is the biggest key man for Greece," Kountourou told the Scottish Football Podcast.

"He's having a very good season, barring the tie against Aston Villa in the Champions League. He didn't have the best of games in the first leg, but he's been excellent for us.

"He's brought the exact kind of creativity and dynamism on the wing that we've missed for ages."

The forward didn't feature during the failed qualifying campaign for last summer's Euros under former West Ham manager Gus Poyet.

"That was one of the big reasons why we didn't reach the tournament itself in Germany last year, because we lacked that kind of energy in our team," Kountourou added.

"He's absolutely going to be one of the key players in this tie."

Listen and subscribe to the Scottish Football Podcast on BBC Sounds.

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John McGinn is confident Ben Doak "will be a big player" for Scotland across the next decade as the 19-year-old suffers his latest "bump in the road" with injury.

The Liverpool winger, who spent this season on loan at Middlesbrough before requiring thigh surgery, made his international debut in September and starred as Scotland found form in the Nations League.

The speedy winger was sure to play a part in this week's play-off double-header against Greece for Steve Clarke's side, but was dealt a blow earlier this month when he was ruled out for the season.

Aston Villa captain McGinn, though, has no doubt the teenager - and his "blistering pace" - will be back making an impact in the dark blue of Scotland soon.

"He's young, he is going to have bumps in the road and this is hopefully just a little bump in the road for him," the midfielder said.

"He will be a big player for us in the next 10-15 years.

"We obviously don't have the same speed as Ben. We were very fortunate to have him for the last couple of games and he showed his best performances for Scotland.

"With two brilliant performances, he certainly offered something different.

"We have pace but not the same blistering pace that Ben has, so we will have to adapt a little bit."

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We asked you for your thoughts on George Hirst's first Scotland call-up after the striker was a late addition to Steve Clarke's squad for the Nations League play-off with Greece.

Here's what some of you said:

Adrian: George is a great footballer with a lot of talent. He will be a good addition for Scotland. Pleased for the boy, he's very popular at Ipswich.

Jim: Not overly impressed by Hirst's record. I remember his father as a very good striker but was very injury prone. As Aaron Paul says, the apple does not fall far from the tree. I fear we are bringing a player on board who is injury prone and who cannot get a regular place in a team doomed to be relegated. I rest my case.

John: When I saw that Hirst was added to the Scotland squad I was amazed. He must have improved a thousand fold since he spent a year at Rotherham United in the Championship! He tried, he ran about, but didn't know where the goals were and looked very ordinary. Good luck to him if he has improved so much, but he is nowhere near as good as his father was.

Jim: About as strong a squad as we can muster presently and it's right we have a good look at Hirst. The lack of Scots playing for the Old Firm means we have to cast a wider net for new faces and Hirst is a strong contender. At 6ft 3in, given the right service, he will give us a few more options up front and at 23, he is yet to reach his peak.

Anon: Should be nowhere near the squad. Wouldn't be in least bit interested in playing for Scotland if good enough for England. Also goalscoring record hardly impressive. Sooner we scrap the grandparent rule the better.

Thomas: Oh boy. Very excited to have yet another striker who is anything but a prolific goalscorer. Just what we need. I cannot wait for our midfield to score all the goals as per usual.