Steve Clarke rages at Austin MacPhee as duo embroiled in heated dugout exchange amid Scotland nightmare

Clarke exchanged angry words with set piece specialist Austin MacPhee during their Munich mauling.

Gavin Berry Live Sports Editor

22:37, 14 Jun 2024Updated 23:15, 14 Jun 2024

Austin MacPhee and Steve Clarke argue on the touchline

Steve Clarke was involved in a heated exchange with Scotland backroom team member Austin MacPhee as he watched his side thrashed 5-1 by Germany in Munich.

The incident occurred in the second half and was highlighted by STV commentator Sam Matterface after a free-kick routine went wrong. MacPhee is Clarke's set piece specialist and the pair were seen in an angry dug-out exchange. Matterface said: "It wasn't shown on your screen but that all came from a disappointing Scotland free kick and there was a bit of an argument going on in the Scotland technical area between Steve Clarke and Austin MacPhee, who's the set piece coach. Clarke wanted them to utilise that set piece better."

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Scotland strike legend and Matterface's co-pundit McCoist said: "You'd have thought so. It's an opportunity to put the ball in the opposition box and give yourself a chance. If you are going to get any foothold in the game, or give yourself any kind of chance you need to get the ball in the box. And the way the game is down to ten men, your best opportunity to do that is from a set play." The ITV cameras later showed the pair's heated exchange in the technical area. MacPhee currently works for English Premier League outfit Aston Villa.

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He previously worked at St Mirren and was assistant to Ian Cathro at Hearts. Prior to Euro 2024, he told how it was a dream to work as part of Clarke's team having travelled to France 98 as a fan. The 44-year-old said: "Going to a major tournament with Scotland is a bucket list thing as a supporter, and I went in 1998. Me and my friend Grant had earned money throughout the year and bought a car. We had a tent and maybe £2,000 in the glovebox and came back five weeks later! We sailed from Newcastle to Amsterdam and then ‘warmed up’ in Amsterdam and then drove to Paris, driving round the Champs-Elysees in a right-hand drive Renault 5."