Naismith: 'Steve Clarke told players about World Cup dream right from the start'

Steven Naismith says the Scotland squad knew of ambitions to play at the World Cup in their first meeting with Steve Clarke ahead of two vital games.

The Scots already have the insurance of knowing they have a play-off place to fall back on after results across their first four games ensured they would finish in the top two of Group C alongside Denmark.

But they can secure their spot in the finals outright by winning the four-team section if they take at least a point against Greece in Piraeus on Saturday and then beat the Danes at Hampden next Tuesday.

Naismith reckons booking a place at next year’s finals in North America is a chance to create history like never before.

He said: “I think what has been shown is when we are united, the fans are up for it, the players are up for it, led by the manager, we’ve been really successful.

“I don’t think there’s anybody within this group that’s sitting here saying we don’t get the recognition we deserve, or anything like this.

“I think what the players here have a feeling of, we’ve been to two major tournaments, it’s amazing, we’ve probably not done ourselves justice at the tournaments.

“What an opportunity they’ve got to make massive history and get into a World Cup. That’s the sense I’ve had since I came back into the group.

“From the first time I came in as a coach, it was the first thing Steve Clarke said to the group, ‘I want to get to a World Cup’.

“We’re now two games away.”