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No theatre or Scotland curveballs from loyal Clarke
TL;DR
Scotland head coach Steve Clarke announced the World Cup squad with little fanfare, dismissing theatrics. His straightforward approach contrasts with the Scottish FA's attempts to add drama.
Key points
- Steve Clarke announced Scotland's World Cup squad.
- Clarke's approach was straightforward and untheatrical.
- It was Scotland's first World Cup squad announcement in nearly 30 years.
- The Scottish FA tried to create drama on social media.
Mentioned in this story
Steve ClarkeScottish FA
World Cup
A little after midday on Tuesday, the Scotland head coach power-walked into the Hampden auditorium in the manner of a wrestler heading for the ring; Stone Cold Steve Clarke was in the building.
Clarke threw his World Cup squad sheet on the table and cupped his ears to the assembled media. "What are you saying to it?" he demanded.
Then, with a mad flourish, he put his hands to his eyes as if looking through binoculars. "America, here we come," he cried. "Yeah, baby!"
If only. Clarke's aversion to theatre meant the first Scotland World Cup squad announcement in nearly 30 years was about as humdrum as could be, no fanfare from the manager, nothing to separate it from any other squad announcement.
On social media, the Scottish FA did its best to bring an element of drama to it, but Clarke was never going to play along with that.
A friendly game against, er, whoever, or a momentous day for the Scottish national team and the chosen ones bound for the States - same difference. It's his way. Consistency, normality, an unchanging vibe.
Figure caption,
Clarke on naming Stewart in World Cup squad
'No McBurnie while Clarke is in charge'
Beforehand, we knew most things, pretty much. We knew because Clarke said a few weeks ago that the squad was more or less set in his head already.
He values loyalty like he appreciates his next breath, so while others made the case for Oli McBurnie, Oliver Burke, Kieron Bowie, Stephen Welsh and others, Clarke would barely have noticed.
You got the sense that McBurnie could have scored a hat-trick in every game in the last two months of the season and Clarke would have been unmoved. Maybe he doesn't fancy him as a footballer, maybe he doesn't fancy him as a human being. Whatever.
We weren't expecting fireworks, but there was, at least, a story or two. Findlay Curtis, the bit-part and underappreciated 19-year-old from Rangers, is included after a productive loan spell at Kilmarnock. In taking a few steps down the Premiership table, Curtis propelled himself forward into a promised land.
Ross Stewart, a striker injury-plagued and largely ignored in the Clarke era, was selected on the back of stellar form for his club, Southampton. Stewart's goals and power and all-round work-rate is obvious. Sadly, his injury profile has been just as prevalent.
Clarke had him in a squad previously - in the summer of 2022 - but there's a long list of strikers who have appeared in Scotland squads since Stewart was around - not just the stalwarts of Che Adams, Lyndon Dykes and Lawrence Shankland, or the more recent arrivals George Hirst, Tommy Conway and Bowie, but also James Wilson, Kevin Nisbet and Jacob Brown.
The manager remembers Stewart well as a player and as a personality. Clarke places great store in upbeat characters.
Q&A
What did Steve Clarke say during the World Cup squad announcement?
Steve Clarke exclaimed, 'America, here we come,' while announcing the squad.
How long has it been since Scotland's last World Cup squad announcement?
It has been nearly 30 years since Scotland's last World Cup squad announcement.
What was the reaction to Clarke's approach to the squad announcement?
Clarke's aversion to theatrics resulted in a humdrum announcement, contrasting with the Scottish FA's efforts to create drama.
What did the Scottish FA do to add drama to the squad announcement?
The Scottish FA attempted to bring an element of drama to the announcement on social media.
