Scotland feel hand of history on shoulder as five-star preparation sets up defining World Cup week

Perched on the glittering coast, one such write-up positively purrs, it’s a heavenly haven from the stresses and strains of home.

However, rather than treating this becalmed spot as a retreat, as so many clearly do, it’s where Scotland hope to prepare for an advance. One point in Athens, a relatively short hop across the Aegean Sea, is all that’s needed to take Scotland to within 90 minutes of checking in at a World Cup.

That would be the nearest they’ve been for quite some time. But first, a point at least is required from the trip to face Greece on Saturday night, which would in turn set up an epic winner-takes-all night against Denmark next Tuesday. As assistant coach Steven Naismith pointed out on a Zoom call from Turkey on Tuesday, a hint of incredulity in his voice, Scotland could be at a World Cup as soon as next week! What people have waited 27 years for could be just a matter of days away.

Such high stakes are why Scotland have taken a no-expense spared approach and booked into the five-star resort in southern Turkey. Clarke was concerned about the effects of the long flight back having watched Scotland collapse to a 3-0 second leg Nations League play-off defeat following the same tight turnaround the last time they played in Greece in March.

While that same journey home still must be endured, with the Danes to be faced at the other end this time, it seems sensible to bring the outward journey forward by a few days given the unusually generous schedule. It’s rare Scotland have five days to prepare for a match.

One wonders what fellow hotel guests are thinking of the new arrivals. Are they picking up on the determined vibes. Are the players ruining the supposedly stress-free environment? Is Clarke destroying the ambience as he frets over which of his three goalkeepers to play? It’s a headache and a half. Craig Gordon is nearly 43 and has not played a competitive game for six months although is clearly the most experienced of the trio. Scott Bain is turning out regularly for Falkirk but has not been involved with Scotland for six years. Liam Kelly has had one game for Rangers all season and has played only one half of a friendly at senior international level.

‘No clear frontrunner’ in goalkeeper dilemma

“I think he will have (an idea), he's somebody who is a thinker,” said Naismith, when asked whether the manager had already dropped any clues as to the identity of his No. 1 in the absence of Angus Gunn. “He will weigh everything up and probably get to the end point in a day or so's time. I'm pretty sure then he'll have a clear idea. But what I would say is that even today in training all the goalies have performed. And that's what I go back to. It's an opportunity (for them). There's no clear front runner.”

Travelling to such a well-appointed base has not been designed to shield the players from the expectation, perhaps even trepidation, that is building at home. What it is, however, is an example of the rising standards to which the Scotland players are becoming accustomed.

“Sitting in Georgia Airport for however many hours wasn’t a pleasant experience!” said Naismith, with reference to the infamous occasion during his days as a player when the squad were left waiting for a plane to take them home from Tbilisi following a horrible European Championship qualifying defeat in 2016. The SFA copped plenty of justifiable criticism after deciding against paying more to have an aircraft sitting ready and waiting three days before a game against Germany.

“It all goes hand in hand,” Naismith continued. “Our players have gone from Queen's Park to Dundee United to Hull to Liverpool to winning the Champions League. From St. Mirren to Hibs…At every stage of that, your surroundings improve. At every level, they improve, they improve, they improve. As a national team, we needed to improve. But the only way you can improve is by having success alongside that, or it’s not viable."

On X, the Scotland national team feed has been posting pictures and videos to help fans get a feel for the area where their heroes have decamped. Postcards from Antalya, the series is titled. It’s all sleeveless training tops and azure skies. But even here, far from the November gloom in Scotland, the players must feel the hand of history on their shoulder.

Embracing the challenge

Naismith stresses they are looking the chance of qualifying squarely in the eye. Rather than shrink from the challenge, they are embracing it.

“I don’t think it has been a conscious case of ‘Oh, we are going to deflect away from it’,” said Naismith. “You have the manager who has grown up seeing Scotland going to World Cups and major tournaments. I've seen the last one (at France ’98) and understand it – I know how big it can be for us. But for me the biggest thing in terms of the way the players act is what has happened over the last six years. Because they have done it and been there. They have also done it at club level."

It would be pointless trying to deny the critical nature of Saturday's game, first of all. It’s reached the point where it’s very clear what’s required. Pressure is what the majority of players have to deal with every weekend.

“That is why this feeling of calmness and understanding of what it takes is there,” added Naismith. “I don’t think there has been a big effort from anyone saying, ‘Oh we can’t mention that’. It is real, everyone understands where we are. That’s modern football.”