Skipper Andrew Robertson spoke about the increasing positivity under Steve Clarke ahead of Scotland’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Cyprus in Larnaca on Friday.
Clarke began his tenure as national team boss in June 2021 with a 2-1 win over the Cypriots in their Euro 2020 qualifier at Hampden Park, which required a late winner from Oliver Burke in front of just over 30,000 fans, after Robertson’s opener had been cancelled out by Ioannis Kousoulos.
The Scots ultimately qualified for the tournament, their first since the 1998 World Cup in France.
After taking 12 points from 12 in this campaign, a win over Cyprus in front of an official following of around 4,000 – much more Tartan Army are expected – would mean they could qualify for the finals in Germany if results go their way next week.
The Liverpool left-back said: “I think if you asked any Scotland fans in that stadium that day, they probably wouldn’t have believed the journey they have been on.
“Obviously qualifying for a tournament already, had a pretty good World Cup qualifying campaign but obviously fell short in the play-offs which was disappointing, but to then back it up with a good half of a Euros campaign so far.
“But it is up to us to finish the job.
“We have brought people along on the journey.
“I remember the gaffer’s first couple of games, the fans probably weren’t the most excited about the team.
“Now we have sell-outs at Hampden, we have got around 4,000 Tartan Army coming to Cyprus to support us.
“It has been a great journey but we have to continue it.
“It can’t be just a one-off thing.
“That’s what we wanted to prove after qualifying for the Euros in Serbia and after we represented ourselves at the Euros.
“We wanted more and that’s what is driving us forward but we have to finish the job off.”
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