Chameleon Magazine

😡⚽Steve Clarke leaves having guided Scotland to three major tournaments, and for that he deserves some credit. But football isn’t about collecting participation certificates—it’s about competing when you get there.

As someone who isn’t even a football fanatic, one thing stood out above everything else: I didn’t see the hunger. I didn’t see the fight. I didn’t see eleven players willing to leave everything on the pitch for the badge.

What I did see was a team that looked content just to be invited.

We’re told the squad built friendships in Boston. That’s lovely. Maybe they can all meet up for a barbecue and reminisce about another missed opportunity.

Because if making friends is the benchmark for a Scotland manager, then let’s give the job to Mabel from Bishopbriggs. She’d probably cost a lot less, make a cracking cup of tea, and still produce exactly the same number of World Cup appearances.

In fact, I’m convinced we’d have had more passion if Steve Clarke had picked the B team—or better yet, selected eleven members of the Tartan Army. They might not have the same technical ability, but they’d have run themselves into the ground for the jersey. That’s all supporters ask: effort, pride and belief.

Scotland don’t need another manager who tells us how close we were. We need one who refuses to accept being nearly good enough.

Enough with the excuses. Enough with the friendships. It’s time to start demanding results.