Scotland manager Steve Clarke lauded his team's resilience and character following their impressive 3-1 comeback victory against Greece in the World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park. The win significantly boosts Scotland's chances of reaching their first World Cup since 1998.
The match began with Greece dominating possession and creating several scoring opportunities. Kostas Tsimikas eventually broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute, giving the visitors a deserved lead. However, Scotland responded swiftly, with Ryan Christie equalizing just two minutes later after a VAR review.
Scotland then took the lead in the 80th minute when Lewis Ferguson smashed home a loose ball following a free-kick. Lyndon Dykes sealed the victory in stoppage time, capitalizing on a goalkeeping error.
Clarke, who equaled the national record for most games managed, praised his players' reaction to going behind. "I was really pleased with the character the team showed to come back from a goal down," Clarke said. "We didn't start the game particularly well, and Greece had some good chances. But we stuck at it, and we got the goals at important times".
He also acknowledged that his team needs to learn from the match. "We can play better, and we need to be more consistent throughout the 90 minutes," Clarke stated. "But the most important thing is that we got the win, and we're still in a good position in the group".
The victory leaves Scotland level on points with Group C leaders Denmark, heightening anticipation for their remaining World Cup qualifying fixtures. Scotland face Belarus on Sunday, followed by a trip to Greece in November, and a final match against Denmark.
Despite the positive result, Clarke remained grounded, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement. He acknowledged the challenges posed by Greece, who had previously defeated Scotland. "Greece came here and laid down a marker," Clarke said, reflecting on a previous encounter. "We know what to expect when they come back in November. We'll be ready".
Clarke also reflected on the physical demands on the squad, particularly the travel involved in international fixtures. "It may be something to look at, the fact that you go out there, you put in a big shift out there, you have the long travel back. Maybe we weren't quite recovered in time for the game".
Looking ahead, Clarke reiterated the importance of the upcoming matches. "Obviously we managed to pick up four points from two away games last month and we'd like to pick up as many as we can this month and that would put us in a good place going into November, so the players understand what they have to do," Clarke said.
The Scotland manager also acknowledged the significance of the win for the fans. "The Tartan Army were magnificent as always, and they played their part in helping us get over the line," Clarke concluded. "We know how much this means to them, and we're determined to give them more moments to celebrate".
