Scotland boss Steve Clarke calls on Hampden crowd to roar team to victory over Denmark and World Cup qualification

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has asked the Tartan Army to roar his side to success against Denmark and help book a place in the World Cup finals.

Clarke saw his side suffer defeat against Greece in the penultimate group game, losing 3-2 after clawing back two goals in an action-packed second half that saw Ben Gannon Doak and Ryan Christie score, but the team fell short of getting the point they thought they needed to keep hopes of automatic qualification alive.

Denmark’s shock 2-2 home draw with Belarus meant the group leaders passed up their chance to seal qualification and that sets up a thrilling climax to the campaign at Hampden on Tuesday, when victory for Scotland would see the national team return to the biggest stage for the first time since 1998.

Clarke knows the players face a tough task and says they will need the support of a noisy home crowd to help them in their efforts.

“Although we lost the game, we probably finish in a good moment with good momentum in the game,” the head coach said. “If we can carry that into Tuesday night with the help of a full Hampden and hopefully a very positive Hampden right from the first kick-off…

“Like I said before, it’s a great group of players but we’re going to need backing from the first minute at Hampden. We need positive backing.

“One of my favourite sayings for the players is ‘play with the anticipation of success and not the fear of failure’.

“I’m going to ask the Hampden crowd to do that on Tuesday night. We need them from the first minute to be with us and in the difficult moments in the game to be especially with us because that’s what this group of players deserve.

“If they get that, I’m pretty sure we can do something special.”

Clarke admitted that when he saw his side go 3-0 down, he started planning for the likelihood of finishing second in the group and facing the play-offs if they wanted to reach North America.

“Only very late in the game, because when it went 3-0, I put some different instructions on to the pitch,” he said. “I won’t tell you what, but it was more with play-offs in mind.

“Then suddenly we got to 3-1 and realised that the other game was the way it was. So those instructions were taken back and we tried our best to get something out of the game here.

“It was a crazy game, a crazy night. Conceded bad goals, scored good goals. Looked a threat any time we went forward. As did Greece. Both goalkeepers made big saves.

“Probably a great spectacle for the people watching, but not a good result.

“Really the cause of this problem is the long balls down the pitch. It’s something to look at and that’s hopefully just a one-off night because it’s not normally something that causes us too many problems.”

After seeing his side conceded early again, but then show real spirit and never-say-die attitude at 3-0 down, he admitted to mixed feelings but praised the attitude.

“I’ve said it repeatedly about this group of players, they give everything for their country, Clarke said. “They didn’t give up.

“We got the goal back quite quickly to make it 3-1. When it goes 3-2, there’s only one team that’s going to get the next goal, in my opinion, and that’s us.

“Their goalkeeper made an unbelievable save from Scott McTominay. How that didn’t go in, I’ll never know.

“I’m pleased that the players have still got the opportunity to go directly to the World Cup on Tuesday night. I’m pleased because they deserve it. They’ve had a good qualifying campaign up until now.

“I’ve got a mix of emotions in my head just now.”