There was something pitiful about the way the lights went out for Scotland at this World Cup, BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer Tom English wrote from Charlotte. Not just the on-field disappointment, but the grim, almost lifeless hope in the aftermath – a hope that relied on results in Philadelphia, Atlanta and Kansas City. Could Ghana beat Croatia by three clear goals? Could DR Congo and Uzbekistan play out a draw? Could Austria beat Algeria by two or more, or Algeria beat Austria by a minimum of four? The prayers went unanswered as Scotland were eliminated from the group stage, their knockout hopes ended in Philadelphia. Steve Clarke, the manager who had led them to the tournament, would eventually resign on Saturday.
Scotland scored just one goal in three games – fewer than Elijah Just of Motherwell and New Zealand, who netted three times on his own. Jonathan David of Canada had a higher expected goals (xG) than the entire Scotland team. “We could cite stats until the cows come home, but there’s no real point,” English wrote. “Everybody accepts that Scotland deserve to depart with their tail between their legs.” The Tartan Army, the travelling support, tried to lift the team but the load was too heavy, even for tens of thousands of foot soldiers.
“Scotland exit World Cup after one goal and two defeats; manager Steve Clarke resigns.”
In three games, Scotland played admirably for only two halves – the second against Morocco, when they put pressure on, and the second against Brazil, when they finally had attempts on target, albeit already 3-0 down. There are layers to Scotland’s failure. Some blame the manager’s inability to get the best out of his players; others say the players, though hard-working, are over-praised and over-rated at this level. Others look deeper at the woeful inability of Scottish football to develop athletic young talent and top-flight clubs’ aversion to giving youngsters first-team chances. “The truth is that it’s a mix of all of these things – plus other things,” English said. Scotland were in an extremely tough group with the world’s fifth- and sixth-best teams. One win (hairy and unimpressive) and two defeats is what most should have expected. Clarke is being pilloried for being overly negative in his tactics, but English argued he really wasn’t. Against Morocco and Brazil, those teams were better, pure and simple. The tournament carries on without Scotland, as it always has. One night in Miami, the Scotsmen of the apocalypse, and then a leaving letter from Clarke to the Tartan Army: “Bye-bye, Scotland!”