Scotland Victorious Against Georgia 2-0: A Step Closer, But Steve Clarke Remains Cautious

‘We are significantly nearer to the point total that will secure our qualification.’

The Tartan Army, on their journey home from Hampden on Tuesday, would likely have spent their night browsing for flights online.

Germany is the destination, the month is June, and the event is Euro 2024. Yet, Steve Clarke is not quite ready to give his country the assurance to proceed with any purchases.

Scotland’s victory over Georgia marks the beginning of their qualifying campaign with an unprecedented fourth consecutive win. With a perfect record, they now have twelve points out of a possible twelve. This is a historic start for the national men’s team.

“It’s an excellent start,” Clarke said. “Six points wouldn’t get us qualified, and I doubt twelve will. However, we are significantly nearer to the total number of points that will ensure our qualification.

“No one can predict the exact number of points required. Hence, our plan is to accumulate as many points as possible, and at the end of the group stage, we’ll calculate our total and see if we’ve succeeded.

“Our campaign’s second half includes three challenging away games and a tricky home match against Norway. Therefore, we need to regroup in September, stay focused and give our all once again.”

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‘It was a chaotic night’

For a nerve-wracking 90 minutes, it seemed that the country would not savour the joy of a fourth successive victory.

Heavy rain rendered the Hampden pitch unplayable, and the teams were called in just after Callum McGregor’s opening goal had the drenched Tartan Army in raptures.

After enduring numerous delays, pitch assessments, and warm-ups, the game finally resumed before a patient crowd that supported their team unwaveringly.

Centre-back Ryan Porteous confessed that Scotland were “slightly taken aback” when the match restarted, but they swiftly regained control, dominated their opponents, and justified their performance with a second goal as Scott McTominay scored his fifth goal in four international matches.

“It was challenging,” midfielder Billy Gilmour admitted. “One moment the game was on, the next it wasn’t. It was a chaotic night. Mentally, we had to stay prepared. Everyone stood together, offered support, and we secured the three points.

“We’ve demonstrated a strong unity. We constantly push each other during training. It’s undoubtedly beneficial for Scotland. The energy around here is vibrant.”

‘Georgia were insistent. They wanted the match halted.’

The match was not only endangered by the Scottish summer rain but also by Georgia’s reluctance to proceed with the game. There were moments when it seemed the away team was unwilling to return to the pitch.

However, Georgia’s coach Willy Sagnol denied these allegations, expressing his frustration with Uefa, arguing that his players were treated as “objects” at Hampden.

“The referee putting the game on hold right after the first goal added immense pressure,” the former France defender stated.

“He could have paused when both Steve [Clarke] and I requested to stop the match before the goal. But we resumed the game as directed – under considerable pressure from Uefa, I must add.

“My only regret as a manager in these situations is the lack of communication. Their decisions are made without clear explanations.”

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More about Scotland’s Euro 2024 Qualification

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• Scotland National Football Team
• Steve Clarke Coaching Profile
• Georgia National Football Team