Scotland Men's Football Team

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Former Scotland captain Paul Lambert thinks an overhaul of the structure of Scottish football is required in the wake of Steve Clarke's resignation.

Clarke, who led Scotland to three major tournaments, resigned following the confirmation of Scotland's exit from the World Cup.

The 62-year-old penned a new four-year deal just before the start of the tournament in America, Canada and Mexico and even led Scotland to only their fifth World Cup win with a 1-0 victory against Haiti in their tournament opener.

But after a narrow 1-0 loss to Morocco and an error-laden 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brazil, followed by a lengthy wait to find out if they had managed to sneak through to the last 32, they hadn't, Clarke announced he'd be stepping down as Scotland boss.

"A little bit [surprising]," Lambert told BBC Scotland on the news of Clarke's resignation.

"He got us through to three major tournaments but I think what has disappointed everybody, in major tournaments we fell short.

"They [the players] will feel disappointed but I think they'll be disappointed in how they performed in the three games. They will look at themselves in the mirror and think "we never did enough" and I think that's the biggest disappointment.

"I think what Steve Clarke has done for the country is he's given us three brilliant major tournaments and nobody can knock it."

Now Lambert thinks, in the wake of Clarke's departure, a whole refresh of the Scottish footballing structure is needed, particularly at youth level.

"We focus on results which I think is all wrong for kids playing football," he added.

"We should be developing them as people and footballers. That has got to be looked at because we don't produce enough footballers for the national team.

"You can't get away from the fact that qualification for major tournaments is paramount but going deeper than that you've got to look at change to the whole Scottish football structure."

It's been just over seven years since Steve Clarke took charge of his first game as Scotland manager.

Back in June 2019 he led the Scots to a 2-1 win over Cyprus at Hampden.

Last week, Clarke led the side for what turned out to be his last game as Scotland manager - a 3-0 World Cup defeat at the hands of Brazil that ultimately ended their chances of progressing in the tournament.

And Clarke's starting line-up from that game, and his first ever match seven years ago, aren't all that different.

Scott McKenna and, now captain, Andy Robertson started in defence in Clarke's first game as well as his last.

In midfield, John McGinn and Kenny McLean both started the game against Cyprus and the game against Brazil.

Clarke's first XI: David Marshall, Stephen O'Donnell, Charlie Mulgrew, Scott McKenna, Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Kenny McLean, Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Ryan Fraser, Eamonn Brophy.

Clarke's last XI: Angus Gunn, Nathan Patterson, Jack Hendry, Scott McKenna, Andy Robertson, Kenny McLean, Lewis Ferguson, Ben Gannon-Doak, Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Lawrence Shankland.

We asked for your views after Steve Clarke announced he was stepping down as Scotland manager after seven years.

Here's what some of you had to say:

David: Clarke may have got us to three major tournaments but once we got there the football was poor. Clarke was too defensive and loyal to certain players. Most of all I feel sorry for the Tartan Army.

Ryan: Shocked at how sudden it's happened and I hope the section of "supporters" that wanted him gone are happy. I feel I have to stick up for Clarke and the team as people have very short memories on where we were as a footballing nation when he took over to where we are now - actually thinking we should be taking points off the fifth and sixth teams in the world rankings. The group we had was one of the most difficult because of those rankings. I understand the disappointment and frustration against Brazil because we gifted them goals but these things happen. This team has given us so much over the past seven years and Clarke has been the catalyst. He's done the exact same for Scotland as his did for Kilmarnock in reconnecting the fan base and the team.

Alexander: He did okay with the team of players he had but his tactics were stale, one dimensional, dull, boring and the team never looked as though they would score many goals.

Stuart: Best of luck to Steve Clarke. He has taken the team as far as anyone can in my view. Changing the gardener doesn't automatically improve the soil.

Kenny: Scotland needs a reset. Positivity and expectation over caution and history. In the dugout yes, but also in the structures. Croatia, Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden, Czech Republic all outperform us with comparable resources. They have better elite programs for young players, better export rates of players to other nations, better development of technical skills, better coaching structures. The SFA would win a World Cup of governance but none of the above. They do identify targets but power sits with the SPFL and clubs. Resources are limited, power is concentrated and historic underperformance is revered.

Calum Macdonald
BBC Sport Scotland

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Former Scotland international Pat Nevin admits he is surprised by Steve Clarke's decision to step down as Scotland boss after being knocked out of the World Cup.

News broke late on Saturday night in Charlotte and Miami that his seven-year tenure was over exactly a month after signing a contract extension.

"Yes, to agree," said Nevin when asked about his surprise.

"Three qualifications in those four efforts. When you strip it all out, style, type of players, who you play, when it comes right down to it, they didn't do brilliantly well, but that's probably where we are.

"With the limitations of the players he's got, we've probably got as far as we could get.

"One of the things about Steve Clarke is he got dealt quite a lucky hand. This is maybe the best set of players we've had for quite a few generations. McTominay McGinn, Robertson as well.

"This has been a special, special group. And he's got the best out of them."

Well then. As we crept into Sunday morning back in Scotland, the shock news dropped stateside that Steve Clarke resigned as Scotland head coach, just 32 minutes after their exit from the World Cup was confirmed with Croatia's 2-1 win over Ghana.

The fans' attention has now turned to what next. And crucially, who next?

Give us your thoughts on who the next Scotland head coach should be here.

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Lewis Ferguson admits Scotland let themselves down with their World Cup performances and says they must improve moving forwards.

Steve Clarke's side beat Haiti in their Group C opener, but have suffered successive defeats by Morocco and Brazil.

Their only hope of progression to the last 32 is as one of the eight best third-placed sides, but the chances of that happening have dropped to 5.26%.

"I think we just let ourselves down a bit," the Bologna man said.

"I think we've showed in spells that we can be a really good team but we've never quite just had that proper 90-minute performance, which we're going to need if we do get through the knockout stages.

"There are no second chances there. You need to be on it for the full 90 minutes, and any sort of slip of any mistake can cost you, especially at this level.

"We need to improve. We know we need to improve in a lot of aspects.

"We'll try and put those things right over the next few days, and if we do get the chance to get into the next round, then we need to be better if we're going to progress again."

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Craig Burley does not believe Scotland "deserve" to progress at the World Cup after slumping to defeat by Morocco and Brazil.

Steve Clarke's side had opened Group C with a 1-0 victory over Haiti but then lost by the same score to Morocco. And Brazil won the section with a 3-0 victory against the Scots.

Scotland could yet progress to the round of 32 as one of the eight best third-placed teams - but only if results in other groups go their way.

Prior to John McGinn's winner against Haiti on 14 June, Burley was the last Scotland player to score at a men's World Cup finals, against Norway in 1998.

And the former Celtic, Chelsea and Derby player said on ESPN in the United States: "I'm sorry, I know this is the way it works with 48 teams, but we are just rewarding complete mediocrity here, and they don't really deserve to go through, if we're being honest. And I don't think they will, barring getting lucky.

"In fact, if they do go through, it's just going to continue the embarrassment of looking like what Scotland are. And it's kind of second rate, isn't it?

"They just don't have the players. They've got a couple. But they just don't have the players of yesteryear and I'm not talking about the team I played in, although it had some very good players."

No Scotland team has ever progressed beyond the first round at a major tournament but Burley says previous Scotland teams "could pass the ball for fun, with anybody" while the current side "just don't have that".

"If they go through, fine, but there should be no celebration if this is the first ever Scotland team to qualify through the group stage."

We asked for your views on the 3-0 defeat by Brazil that leaves Scotland's World Cup last-32 hopes hanging by a thread.

Here's what some of you said:

Barry: Abject failure on the international stage for a second tournament in a row, Steve Clarke has taken these players as far as he can and it would be better for all involved if he did the right thing and tore up that new contract. Scotland need fresh ideas.

Derek: Absolute shambles but nothing new there. The central defenders we have match our forwards. Both are a laughing stock. Four more years of Clarke says it all.

Dougie: It's not the manager's fault. No manager makes the kind of mistakes on the pitch that Scotland made, but is he the guy to take it forward? There is such a thing as misplaced loyalty, and it's clear these players can't do tournament football successfully. If it was a club, there would be an almost total clearout.

Andy: I almost hope we don't qualify via the back door because a) this team doesn't deserve to the be the first Scotland team to do it based on results, and b) what fresh hell might await us in the next round?

Jeremy: The squad lacked a recognised striker. Clarke's omission of Oli McBurnie was a huge error.

Jim: Very predictable, the manager simply does not have the quality of squad to compete at this level. Playing out from the back has never suited the Scottish style of play and we showed that again against Brazil to our cost. We talk ourselves up about football and are capable (like against Denmark) of the occasional good result, but we fall far short of fielding a European or World Cup competitive team. Time to reassess the game in Scotland overall.

William: Once again Scotland have been poor at a major tournament. They have been poor in all three games, giving away poor goals and not looking like scoring. The team don't take responsibility and constantly take the easy option. Our players are simply not good enough. We don't deserve to go through.

Robbie: Now a waiting game. Did they let themselves down, yes. Was I surprised, no. It's what Scotland do, we are world class at it. Perhaps it's time to reflect again on the abilities, or lack of them within the squad.

Stephen: The goals we conceded were shocking, it was an uphill battle. Second half was much better, we created some great chances. Pity nobody had their scoring boots on. Unless a very unlikely miracle happens, we're going home.

George: We do not have one top-class defender, our so-called attacking play looks dated and the manager is being constantly exposed in major tournaments. Apart from these considerations everything else is fine.