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Date: 20th June 2023
Headline: Scotland’s sensational team ethic has Steve Clarke’s impressive side motoring toward Euro 2024 spot
Author: Ben Ramage
They say that great teams find a way to win even when they aren’t at their best.
If that’s the case, Steve Clarke’s Scotland proved they fall into that category once again with a phenomenally important, hugely significant result against Norway.
While the seismic victory against Spain in March was surprisingly dominant, these three points were seized in much more dramatic and uncertain circumstances.
With just three minutes left on the clock, the roasting Tartan Army supporters in the Ullevaal Stadion were fearing a defeat that would have seen Norway move firmly back into the mix for the top two spots – leaving Scotland sweating on qualification once again.
Just three minutes later, Clarke’s men only had injury time to see out to move a massive eight points clear of their hosts after two late goals saw them shift almost out of sight of their Scandinavian rivals in the race for Euro 2024 in Germany.
So much of the pre-match build-up had – understandably – been about Manchester City hitman Erling Halaand. The incredible striker is reminiscent of Brazilian legend Ronaldo, who also possessed the three key factors that forwards wish to have; pace, strength and a clinical finish. When you get a forward that combines all three traits, they’re almost unstoppable.
And while the treble-winner wasn’t at his imperious best after a gruelling, record-breaking season that ended in lifting the Champions League trophy, he nevertheless got his inevitable goal from the penalty spot after Ryan Porteous paid too much attention to him and not enough to the ball coming into the box. Even a glance towards the ball might have seen VAR overturn the soft decision as the striker threw himself to the ground, but the ex-Hibs defender was only ever looking at Haaland – making it impossibly hard to later argue he was going for the ball.
While Norway’s opener from the spot looked to have the hosts on course for a crucial three points, with Scotland struggling to create any chances of note in the final third in the blistering heat, it was Halaand leaving the field that ultimately helped swing the game in the Tartan Army’s favour.
Both physically and psychologically, his substitution told the Scots that Norway thought they’d got all three points safely wrapped up already. It also allowed the Scottish defence to move higher up the pitch, with their opponents main threat withdrawn.
That was a huge, costly error which played a significant part in the glorious final minutes and turnaround in Oslo.
There are few things that Clarke has been criticised for during his impressive tenure so far in the national team dugout, one of which is he tends to make changes very late in the game – giving substitutes little time to shine and make a positive impact.
On Saturday the subs were typically late, but this time around they made a huge impact – perhaps due to the intense heat and how tough a game it had been for both sets of players.
The freshness of the likes of attacking-minded midfielders Billy Gilmour and Stuart Armstrong was even more evident up against a tiring Norwegian defence and midfield.
It was talismanic striker Lyndon Dykes’ desire that saw him beat Norway’s defence to the opener. While it only just made it over the line, it was nonetheless a smart finish to draw Scotland level and another fine example of just how important a forward the Gold Coast man is leading the line for his adopted nation.
Scotland’s second was ultimately a thing of beauty. Four touches from McTominay’s initial cross to Kenny McLean slotting into the bottom corner, via expert passes from John McGinn and Dykes, saw the visitors turn the game upside down.
McLean deserved that magical moment for the misplaced stick he sometimes gets. Yes the Norwich midfielder is not a player likely to get on a highlights reel very often, unlike talisman McGinn, but every manager rates him because his all-round game is so slick.
His confidence and assuredness in that crucial moment could well be the decisive factor that saw qualification for Germany ultimately confirmed.
The win certainly puts Scotland in the driving seat for the rest of the group. Georgia of course can’t be underestimated, history has taught Scotland that lesson painfully twice already, especially with Seria A-winning Napoli star forward Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in their ranks.
As aforementioned, all the talk ahead of Saturday’s game was about global superstar Haaland. But one player doesn’t make a team, however incredible that one superstar is.
This Scotland team keeps on proving just how important togetherness and team spirit are. Beating Spain required the ultimate team performance, and Clarke’s side delivered it. This squad’s work ethic has been carefully crafted by Clarke over the last three years and now it’s bearing fruit in all manner of ways.
When we’ve had team spirit before, we’ve punched well above our weight. When you throw in supremely talented players like Kieran Tierney, Andy Robertson – who was exceptional against Norway – and McGinn to a hard-working team, then you’ve got a serious recipe for success.
Making it a sensational four wins from four on Tuesday night against Georgia would see Clarke’s incredibly slick Scotland machine well and truly motoring towards Germany.
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Tags: Hampden Park, Scotland, Scottish fans, Scottish football, SFA, Tartan Army