SCOTLAND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE!

Scots coach Carver sure that battle-tested squad is primed for Euros run

ON an unforgettable night in Serbia, John Carver watched on proudly as Scotland’s players exorcised the ghosts of a generation. David Marshall’s penalty shootout save from Aleksandar Mitrovic had just clinched Steve Clarke’s side a place at Euro 2020; the country’s first appearance at a major finals since 1998.

Tomorrow, the Road to Euro 2024 in Germany begins with the visit of Cyprus to Glasgow followed by Spain at home in Group A on Tuesday.

And as the national team trained in the shadow of Hampden Park this week, Carver believes the Boys of Belgrade have matured into the Men of Mount Florida.

Clarke’s right-hand man believes this experienced, battle-hardened group are ready — and able — to clinch back-to-back appearances at the Euros.

‘I have seen the progression in the squad that Steve had to pick from four years ago to what we have now,’ said Carver.

‘Absolutely, boys have become men. That’s come from the amount of caps they have and the situation of being in pressurised games.

‘When you think about the play-off semi-final with Israel and then the play-off final in Serbia to qualify for the Euros.

‘We also had a good Nations League campaign at the end of last year.

‘There was a lot of pressure and responsibility on the lads to try and get those results and they came through with flying colours.

‘Nobody expected us to play away against the Ukraine and come back with something and qualify but we did (drawing 0-0 in Krakow in September).

‘We had a group of players who were mentally tough and strong anyway, but those experiences might have made them mentally tougher and stronger.

‘This group has the belief and the experience from what’s gone on in the past.

‘We are hoping that belief and experience stands us in good stead for what lies ahead.

‘Being at the Euros was a great experience. If you love the game, and want to be successful, you will be motivated to want to get to the next finals and experience that again. And again. And again.’

No added motivation is necessary for a Scotland team seeking to appear at consecutive Euros for the first time since 1992 and 1996. But Carver believes the squad might just have found it while training at Lesser Hampden.

Unable to get hotel accommodation at their usual base at Oriam in Edinburgh, Carver (right) this week described the pitches at Scotland’s national performance centre as a ‘safety hazard’.

If preparing for qualifiers on the pristine surface at Queen’s Park’s home has proven beguiling for a native of Newcastle, what effect can it have on the team’s proud patriots?

‘Absolutely, it’s a buzz training next to Hampden. When we first came up and looked at the facility a good few months ago, I was so enthralled.

‘The pitch was so nice and the plans Queen’s Park had were so impressive I didn’t actually realise there were flats behind one of the goals. People were saying: “they will be watching us training”. But don’t worry about (people spying on training). We will be quite clever with it. We are quite good at mixing things up. ‘But I didn’t even notice the flats because I was so fixated on the pitch and what they were going to do to the place. ‘Then you have got Hampden Park right there. The national stadium is right there. So what an inspiration. You are training every day looking at it. It is amazing. Hopefully we can get the whole of Scotland behind us.’ Carver believes the secret to the success of Scotland under Clarke lies in the environment the manager has created in the squad. It is a far cry from the early days of the manager’s reign where Euro 2020 qualifiers against Cyprus and Belgium were beset by call-offs; a situation that was commonplace during the tenure of his predecessor, Alex McLeish. ‘I remember when people would talk and say: “Players aren’t that keen to come and play for Scotland”,’ recalled Carver. ‘And I couldn’t get my head around that. Now they can’t wait to be there. They’re desperate to be involved. That’s been an ongoing theme for a while. They think: “I would love to be in that squad. I would love to be part of it”. ‘Steve has definitely created a good environment in the squad since he’s come in. ‘At Oriam it felt like a rugby environment with us as tenants but here it now feels like a proper football environment and the atmosphere has been great amongst the lads.

‘We are always looking to improve the environment and we are always looking to improve the team and to move forward like convincing (goalkeeper) Angus Gunn to join up with us. Fine margins make a difference.’

Carver is currently working on a part-time contract but says he works full-time hours in pursuit of success for the national team.

There have been talks in the background with the Scottish FA over a new deal but his focus is on the upcoming qualifying double-header.

The Cyprus game will see Celtic captain Callum McGregor enter the Scotland Men’s International Roll of Honour as he makes his landmark 50th appearance.

Whatever the outcome of his own talks with the SFA, Carver is keen to stick around the international set-up alongside McGregor for as long as possible.

‘Callum McGregor is what I would call a coach on the pitch,’ smiled the experienced 58-year-old, who coached alongside Scotland boss Clarke under Ruud Gullit at Newcastle United.

‘Callum is a controller. He controls the games, he dominates games. He does the same for Celtic.

‘But when you have a conversation with him, he doesn’t talk like a footballer. He talks like a coach, with all due respect.

‘He understands the game and he keeps it simple. But he’s a huge influence on this team.

‘I have nothing but admiration for him. I enjoy watching him play and I’m delighted he’s getting to 50 caps. Hopefully I’ll still be here when he gets his 100th cap.’