In a Hampden changing room strewn with celebratory t-shirts and beer bottles, the party was suspended. Players lined the edges, some standing on benches, peering over shoulders as Steve Clarke began to speak. There was a hint of emotion in his voice, but the Scotland head coach was calm as he laid out just how significant the achievement was: qualifying for a first men’s World Cup since 1998. Then he told them they were free to hit up one of Glasgow’s main bars, and a wide smile broke into bedlam.
For those who know the 62-year-old from Saltcoats, that small moment encapsulated his traits: calm, measured, with a hint of humour piercing a sometimes stony exterior. Clarke has been characterised most of his professional life as a man of few words, his short, clipped answers to journalists and tendency not to smile earning him the stereotype of a dour Scotsman. But as former Kilmarnock midfielder Gary Dicker recalled, Clarke’s silent scanning during his first six months in charge allowed him to pick up everything he needed. “He only spoke when he needed to,” Dicker said. By using praise and criticism sparingly, Clarke created an environment where every single player wanted to impress him.
“Steve Clarke’s Scotland prepare for World Cup return against Haiti after squad plays Traitors to boost togetherness.”
Now that environment has been transported to a training camp in the United States, where Scotland are preparing for Saturday’s World Cup opener against Haiti in Boston. The togetherness that has defined their resurgence has taken an unusual turn: captain Andy Robertson organised a squad game of Traitors. The 32-year-old Liverpool left-back did not explain who among his teammates was a faithful and who a traitor, but said: “It is not easy being away from your family, your kids. It was something to try and get people out of their rooms, give quieter people a voice and give newer players a voice.” Robertson added that the game helped pass time, as the squad waited for the first game. “It hasn’t felt too long that we have been away,” he said.
Scotland’s preparations have been boosted by Scott McTominay’s return to training after a stomach complaint. Clarke insisted the Napoli midfielder is in “perfect” condition, but cautioned against seeing him as a talisman. “I have 26 superstars here,” Clarke said. “To try and put so much on to one person is not fair. Everything over the last seven years has been the squad, the team, everyone being together and playing their part at certain times.”
Clarke also urged caution regarding Haiti, ranked 83rd in the world. “We have watched Haiti very closely over the last six months,” he said. “We respect their abilities on the pitch. Since they qualified they have improved.” As his players gathered in the Boston camp, the quiet man who transformed a team from relegation battlers to European qualifiers at Kilmarnock now has his eyes on a World Cup stage – with a game of Traitors sharpening the bonds that have brought them this far.