Scotland boss Steve Clarke ahead of Denmark showdown: ‘These players know how to qualify for major tournaments’ | OneFootball

Steve Clarke has backed his players to prove they know how to qualify for major tournaments ahead of their crucial World Cup qualification showdown with Denmark.

Scotland know a victory over the Danes will see them top the group and reach the World Cup next summer – which would be the first time they have qualified for the tournament since 1998.

But anything less than that will mean they have to go through the qualification play-offs.

“The players have shown now that they know how to qualify for tournaments,” he said. “So let’s qualify for another one.

“Way back at the start I said we didn’t have enough experience, we didn’t have enough caps in the squad. Now we’ve got enough caps and experience and hopefully that, allied to the talent in the group, that experience can be vital.

“If you look at what we’ve achieved over the last six-and-a-half years, a lot of these players are already – I’ll use your words – legends. They’re very high in the rankings of what we’ve done as a country.

“When I took the job a lot of people were saying don’t touch it, it’s a poisoned chalice, you can’t do this. I looked at the group of players and said I see some quality there. I look forward to working with this group of players because I think we can achieve good things. we’ve managed to do that.

“Now we’ve got another very very good thing that we can achieve together.”

But the Scotland boss will be without midfielder Billy Gilmour, who is nursing an injury.

“No, Billy [Gilmour] didn’t make it,” he said. “He’s still suffering from his injury.

“Everyone else is fit and ready to go.”