Steve Clarke challenges Scotland to lay down World Cup 'marker' as boss sees long term plan come to fruition

The Scotland boss is confident his team can finish the job in what is an 'important' game against Greece

Steve Clarke feels a second victory over Greece in four days will lay a 'marker' down for their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Scotland take a 1-0 Nations League play-off first leg lead back to Hampden after Scott McTominay grabbed the only goal in Piraeus on Thursday.

A victory - or even a draw - would seal Nations League Group A football for another year and further matches against Europe's elite.

And Clarke feels it will continue positive momentum into their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Scotland have been drawn into Group C with Greece, Belarus and the defeated side in the Nations League Quarter-Final between Portugal and Denmark.

Scotland's qualifiers will begin in September, with all group matches concluding in November 2025.

Speaking ahead of Sunday's game, Clarke said: "It is a game we want to win. We have got the lead from the first leg win. But we are going to set up and try and go and win the game. And hopefully set a marker for the World Cup games coming up."

He added: "Instead of having four friendlies leading into a World Cup qualifier we have got two games in March that mean a lot. They are important games."

Despite Scotland languishing in 45th in the FIFA World rankings, a major drop in recent months, Clarke feels his team is getting better and better.

"I think we have improved," he said. "If you look at the world rankings that will tell you different. But that is a little anomaly that seems to have popped up with the Nations League.

"I think we as a team have improved. I think as individual players we have improved at this level. We understand what it takes to win a game at this level. And thankfully, recently, we have been able to show that we can do it."

Regarding Scotland fans having increased expectation he explained: "The supporters have always got to dream. They have always got to think ahead. For me it is just to focus on the next game. The next game is a good Greece side here at Hampden and we want to win the game."

John McGinn, Scott McTominay and Kenny McClean are set for their 75th, 60th and 50th caps against Greece on Sunday. Clarke stressed the importance of experience in the dressing room and on the pitch.

He added: "That is something that I we set out with quite early in my reign as head coach as to get a core group of players who could be capped.

"I mentioned the other night you go to a difficult place. Greece away is a difficult place to go.

"Not many teams go there and win. And I pointed out the fact that the reason we give cap after cap after cap is so that when they come to those difficult games they understand what they have to do. And those three are just three of many that have a number of caps now."