Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

[Leicesterpool]

Steve Clarke must be angry then, as mentioned above only signed a new contract prior to the tournament. Based on tournament performance they have looked awful. Very negative tactics throughout, I'm not sure if he felt let down. Ange Postecoglou to replace him do you think?

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

He's not very inspiring but I find it odd that this tournament seems to have been the straw to break the camel's back with Clarke — they were way worse in the last Euros. Manner of that Brazil defeat probably the final nail in the coffin because the points tally about par.

 

Really odd one, they've shown they have it in them to bloody a few noses in qualifying but when it comes to the big event they've shit themselves.

[Bert]

13 minutes ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

He's not very inspiring but I find it odd that this tournament seems to have been the straw to break the camel's back with Clarke — they were way worse in the last Euros. Manner of that Brazil defeat probably the final nail in the coffin because the points tally about par.

 

Really odd one, they've shown they have it in them to bloody a few noses in qualifying but when it comes to the big event they've shit themselves.

I think it just goes to show how important Hampden Park is for them. 
 

What has really let them down is only being able to beat Haiti 1-0. 

[CosbehFox]

4 minutes ago, Bert said:

I think it just goes to show how important Hampden Park is for them. 
 

What has really let them down is only being able to beat Haiti 1-0. 

Well until the Czechs and Croatia beat you there as part of the main Euros 

 

Excelent point made on one of the podcast this week that Scotland have never had a major landmark tournament win like every other home nations (and Ireland) has. 

[bovril]

13 minutes ago, CosbehFox said:

Well until the Czechs and Croatia beat you there as part of the main Euros 

 

Excelent point made on one of the podcast this week that Scotland have never had a major landmark tournament win like every other home nations (and Ireland) has. 

Gemmill against Holland surely. Although of course they still got knocked out, and the game is probably as famous for the Trainspotting scene as the actual result. 

[The Doctor]

well, at least something positive came out of this tournament. it's not the best team in the world, but there was a reasonable core of good players to build around. Instead Clarke played constantly afraid, was lucky to beat Haiti due to his refusal to take the game to them and set up to defend like idiots v Morocco and Brazil (who asks Grant Hanley, who looks like an easter island head and runs like one too, to play a high line, or Scott McKenna to play it out from the back)

[CWC1983]

I think the timing is about right.

 

There were rumours of players discontent in the camp over the last week. 

 

Can't thank him enough for giving us 3 tournaments, and he got really unlucky this time with the draw and the way the fixtures came out. Haiti 1st up was never going to be easy. 

 

Irrespective who comes in, Goalkeeper, Centre half's, strikers will still be a problem. 

 

Ange being mentioned, but I think that's just because he's the anti Clarke. 

 

Would Alex Neil fancy it?  Moyes?. 

 

[Super_horns]

Agree with the thought Scotland probably had one of the hardest groups .

 

I think they didn’t really do that badly in terms of expectations but weren’t good enough in attack particularly against Haiti and yes defensive wise cost themselves a couple of goals v Brazil .

[Raj]

Beating Haiti 1-0 is probably where Scotland naturally sit in world football.

 

Dont hear of many young Scottish players up and coming in their leagues so could be another quarter of a century before they get to s big tournament 

[Spudulike]

58 minutes ago, CWC1983 said:

I think the timing is about right.

 

There were rumours of players discontent in the camp over the last week. 

 

Can't thank him enough for giving us 3 tournaments, and he got really unlucky this time with the draw and the way the fixtures came out. Haiti 1st up was never going to be easy. 

 

Irrespective who comes in, Goalkeeper, Centre half's, strikers will still be a problem. 

 

Ange being mentioned, but I think that's just because he's the anti Clarke. 

 

Would Alex Neil fancy it?  Moyes?. 

 

Can't agree that Scotland got a tough draw. Haiti are one of the lowest ranked teams in the WC final's. It was, and obviously should've been, a 3 or 4 nil. That would've been enough for a third place. They have no excuses. 

 

Don't think they would've finished third in England's group.

[leicsmac]

17 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

Can't agree that Scotland got a tough draw. Haiti are one of the lowest ranked teams in the WC final's. It was, and obviously should've been, a 3 or 4 nil. That would've been enough for a third place. They have no excuses. 

 

Don't think they would've finished third in England's group.

Would it? They ended up five goals behind the lowest 3rd place finisher, so it would have to have been at least 6-0. 

 

The way the final round of fixtures panned out was surprising, all but one team in 3rd with 4 points or more. 

[Spudulike]

20 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Would it? They ended up five goals behind the lowest 3rd place finisher, so it would have to have been at least 6-0. 

 

The way the final round of fixtures panned out was surprising, all but one team in 3rd with 4 points or more. 

You're right with how the results panned out. However, a big win against Haiti would've given Scotland a platform to bus park and protect their GD. Should've chucked the kitchen sink at it.

[CWC1983]

40 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

Can't agree that Scotland got a tough draw. Haiti are one of the lowest ranked teams in the WC final's. It was, and obviously should've been, a 3 or 4 nil. That would've been enough for a third place. They have no excuses. 

 

Don't think they would've finished third in England's group.

The key all along was getting a point from the pot 1 and 2 teams. 

Number 5 and 6 in the world was always going to be difficult. 

Having a group finishing before everyone else didnt help. 

 

In all reality, we played like a no 45 in the world and that's where we are for a reason.

 

It grates that we looked like the least fluid attacking team in the tournament, and that's what's done for Clarke. 

 

For the Home nations bar England, its all about qualifying. 

It's horrible every 2 years having to watch a tournament from the outside looking in. 

 

[leicsmac]

7 minutes ago, Spudulike said:

You're right with how the results panned out. However, a big win against Haiti would've given Scotland a platform to bus park and protect their GD. Should've chucked the kitchen sink at it.

There I don't disagree. Hoping that a -1 (ish) GD and three points would be enough and so not really going for more against Haiti was a poor decision.

[ScotFox1]

He had to go really..

We need a radical change in thinking, style and performance.

The problem is, who will take this on whilst the player pipeline is so poor??

[Spudulike]

2 hours ago, ScotFox1 said:

He had to go really..

We need a radical change in thinking, style and performance.

The problem is, who will take this on whilst the player pipeline is so poor??

Why give him a new 4-year contract? Were they still giddy from the Denmark qualifier or use Rudkin as an expert advisor? 

 

Moyes and Ange being spoken about but surely they wouldn't be interested. 

[Dan]

On 28/06/2026 at 00:39, bovril said:

It's a quite remarkable run, never playing a knock out game in a major tournament. For a country that can legitimately claim to be the home of football as much as England. Can't think of anything else like it in any sport. 

 

 

Thought this article was a brilliant read. You've touched on it a little here.