Scotland's Time to Make History

Steve Clarke's Scotland side are two games away from creating history and ending twenty-two years of hurt for the nation. Thursday night's play-off sees Scotland take on Israel once again at Hampden, this time with the lucrative final against Norway or Serbia up for grabs.

It was Alex McLeish who guided the team into this position but with lackluster performances following that many had lost faith in him to go the distance and make the Euro's. The arrival of Clarke did not tame the countless questions surrounding formation, selection and tactics, and although results have been positive recently, those questions still remain.

This article shall dissect some of the big conundrums facing the Scotland boss as we set ourselves up for the big occasion.

Continuing with the back three?

If you haven't sat with your mates or tuned into a fiery debate on the radio on how Scotland shoe-horn both Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson, then quite frankly ... I don't believe you. This quite unique selection problem sees two world-class left-backs hitting their prime down South at exactly the same time. The answer to how this will work according to Clarke seems to be a back three. Going by familiarity by now and the manager’s press conferences, three will be the way. It will have to be better than last time, however, as it looked like the defence hadn’t quite got a grip of this formation yet.

Tierney has comfortably played as part of that system during his time with Arsenal though, so there is no doubt that although you lose a little bit of his quality, he is more than capable. Similarly, when you have a Champions League winning left-back in Robertson there is no doubt he can play that wing-back role. However, like Tierney, we are yet to see our captain produce the moments consistently like he does with Liverpool. The problem lies with these players being totally shoe-horned in. Yes, we should play them both as they are too good to drop but where Robertson gets most of his joy is coming onto the game from deep which his starting position doesn't allow in a three. Tierney also loses out on  the ability to perform his energetic overlapping runs. The alternate option, which doesn’t look preferred, would be to have Tierney as a right-back. When it all comes down to it though, even having these players at 80% is the best option we have.

Where the real problems were in the previous international break were who plays with Tierney in that three. Scott McKenna and Scott McTominay were chosen against Israel, with Liam Cooper coming in for Czech Republic. It seems an obvious choice for me. Liam Cooper, the captain of the impressive Leeds United, has to start. Comfortably playing at that level with the backing of someone like Marcelo Biesla is enough for me. Alongside him, I'd go McKenna. The now Nottingham Forrest man is far from perfect but has plenty game-time and know-how to slot into that three. The McTominay experiment failed miserably last time as he was caught out several times and with Manchester United's recent run of results, it wouldn't be a stretch to say he may not be in the best run of form at club level too. However, I would not put it past Clarke to start McTominay after standing by his decision last time.

Ryan Porteous also offers another new option for the defence but him being unproven and untested at senior international level, it points towards the previous candidates. On the right Liam Palmer impressed in his last outing and with James Forrest out, he can be presumed to keep his place in the team. 

Where will the goals come from?

Scotland face the age-old problem of searching for a reliable number nine for the team. The man who is poised to lead the line again looks to be QPR striker, Lyndon Dykes. The Aussie did his chances no harm on his first call-up to Scotland after a tireless effort against Israel and topping it off with a goal against a depleted Czech side. Dykes isn't the most attractive striker to watch but what he will give you is a target to hit, someone who will hold the ball up and link the play, as well as being a threat in the box. 

Our other options include Lawrence Shankland and Sheffield United duo, Oli Burke and Oli McBurnie. It isn't an area we are blessed in meaning starting the Ex-Livi man is probably not the worst idea. Although he isn't quite as special as what we've seen in the past, it would be unfair and somewhat silly to drop him after impressing in his opening two games. In the back of many of the Tartan Army's minds remained the hope of the return of Leigh Griffths who we all know is liable to pop up with something spectacular. Unfortunately, despite his recent return to Celtic, it was a bridge too far. 

Let's not forget the goal threat in other areas of the park, in particular our impressive midfield on paper. Ryan Christie looks a certainty to start and his boundless energy can be an asset for Scotland. His free role behind the striker has the potential to cause the Israeli's problems as they try to pick him up but it also runs the risk of him closing off and overcrowding areas for his own team, which we saw last time at Hampden. Christie comes into the games in fine fettle though after scoring in the previous two with his country. John McGinn was another player who has hit a goal-scoring spree for Scotland recently and with Aston Villa's start to the season, he will also be a potent threat. Ryan Fraser returns to the squad also and although he may not find himself in the starting eleven, it is always good to have these options to bring on. 

I don't believe Clarke has found his preferred dynamic in the midfield but it is to be expected that Calum McGregor will slot in alongside McGinn leaving one place for the likes of Ryan Jack, Stuart Armstrong, Kenny McLean and John Fleck to battle for. Jack provides that deeper, more defensive mindset which could be a safety blanket for the defence but with him coming back from injury, he may be sacrificed for someone more forward thinking like Armstrong who has impressed for Saints.

Hampden being 'roar-less'

Fans had the date of the play-off etched in their diaries for many months, only to be met with the disappointment of the turnstiles being firmly locked come Thursday. This game had the potential to be one of those memorable nights under the Hampden lights. The stadium receives a fair amount of criticism for being unable to generate an atmosphere but try to tell anyone who witnessed Griffth's goals against England that it can't become a cauldron of noise. 

Missing the famous Tartan Army takes a hit to our home advantage but there can be benefits too. It is one of the most pressurised games of these player's career and potentially having the fans off their back if it doesn't go smoothly from minute one can maybe be an aid rather than a hindrance.

We shouldn't underestimate Israel, the last game proved that but let's all take a leaf out of Lyndon Dyke's book. We should be winning this. Let's go into this with arrogance, swagger and confidence that we can win this. Obviously what comes after is a monumental task but it is an one-off and we will worry about that if we get there. 

What is ahead is a fantastic opportunity and quite possibly the best we have had since we faced Italy in 2007. This squad oozes quality individually. It's time for them to step up and put teams to the sword and get over the line. Shake off this tournament hodoo and write themselves into the history books. 

Call me bonkers ... or just call me your typical Scot ... but I believe we can do it - so let's go get it!

Preferred line-up - Marshall, Palmer, McKenna, Cooper, Tierney, Robertson, McGregor, McGinn, Armstrong, Christie & Dykes.

Score Prediction - 1-0.