Aston Villa’s midfielder has made a significant impact for Steve Clarke’s side – most crucially, during Scotland’s comeback win over Norway
When the final whistle sounded at Hampden Park, Scotland having just been eliminated from Euro 2020 at the hands of Croatia, Steve Clarke will have known what had gone wrong. For all the scrutiny over tactics and systems, the one word he’ll have been repeating in his head will have been ‘bravery’.
After qualifying for a first major tournament in decades, his side mustered just one point and only scored a single goal. They had not looked overly outclassed against anyone, but equally hadn’t had the courage in their play to ever really take them on.
That wasn’t a total surprise. Qualification came via two play-off penalty shootouts, after netting just 16 goals in 10 qualifiers – only one more than Cyprus, with eight of their 16 coming against San Marino. Belgium scored 40 in the same group, Russia 33.
Today, this is a much braver Scotland side. At the heart of that is John McGinn – on and off the ball, determined to elevate this team way beyond their previous role of also-rans.
01HOW SCOTLAND HAVE EVOLVED
While the lack of goals was the issue to address, a solid defensive foundation has become the trademark of Clarke’s Scotland.
Recent results since qualifying for Euro 2024 haven’t been overly encouraging, but prior to that they conceded just eight goals in eight qualifiers – five of those coming in dead rubbers against Georgia and Norway.
That record was as much in the concept as the execution, as Scotland play with an innovative pendulum system that sees them move from a defensive back five to an attacking back four – capable of making that change on both sides of the pitch.
The wing-backs, Aaron Hickey and Andy Robertson, play outside of centre-backs Ryan Porteous and Kieran Tierney. The former duo are comfortable pushing up as attacking wingers; the latter two can step in behind them as conventional full-backs.
That gives Scotland a perfectly balanced 3-4-2-1 out of possession, which becomes a 4-2-3-1 when the ball is won back.
It led to both of their goals in the victory over Spain, with their opponents unable to play either through or around their defensive shape and Robertson having a field day attacking the space in behind Pedro Porro.
02MCGINN’S IMPACT OFF THE BALL
In Scotland’s preferred 3-4-2-1, John Mc
