Steve Clarke often faces criticism over his preference for veterans, those reliable faces of the Scotland national team who have contributed significantly over the years. Although the Tartan Army expresses immense appreciation for these players, there is a palpable desire to make room for the exciting young talent waiting in the wings, especially with some seasoned players struggling to regain their form at club, and in some cases, not even playing.
The notable absence of young talent like Motherwell’s Lennon Miller sparked considerable discussion before the match. However, Clarke can’t be blamed for choosing to stick with Scottish Football star Ben Doak. But selecting his Middlesbrough teammate Tommy Conway to lead the attack instead of Lyndon Dykes was rather unexpected.
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With Che Adams sidelined due to injury, and his five goals this season contrasting starkly with the isolated strikes of Dykes and Lawrence Shankland, opting for the 22-year-old Conway seemed logical on the surface. Yet it was always a revelation to see his name in the starting XI, especially with experienced players like John McGinn relegated to the bench.
This raises questions about the historical hesitation of Clarke and others to embrace youth in the national team—after all, 22 is considered very young in this context. The Hampden crowd was eager to see what Conway could bring in his first game as a starter.
From the start, he showed a significant amount of heart and effort. It’s an essential trait for anyone taking on the Scottish striker role, often described by Ally McCoist as the loneliest position in football.
Within the first few minutes the skilful Croatians took the initiative, keeping Scotland deep in their own half. The navy blue jerseys gathered in front of goalkeeper Craig Gordon were waiting for a little respite from Conway. He relentlessly harassed the balls while hoping and knew how to maintain possession admirably while waiting for support.
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The atmosphere intensified when the ball reached Doak on the right flank. Facing Manchester City’s brilliant defender Josko Gvardiol, the task was indeed difficult, but Doak responded with a marvelous move that threw the Tartan Army into excitement, also setting up Scott McTominay for what was the first real save of the match by Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Kotarski.
Despite this, Croatia continued to look more dangerous as half-time approached, until a moment of madness from Petar Sucic, who received a second yellow card for a reckless challenge on John Souttar, providing a lifeline rescue to Scotland.
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The crucial question for the second half was whether Scotland could take advantage of the extra space created by Sucic’s sending-off and push forward when opportunities arose, particularly in transition.
The response was almost positive but was on the verge of failure. An opportunity presented itself when Billy Gilmour found Doak, putting him in position to pass back to Conway for what looked like a sure goal—but the cross was misdirected, wasting a golden opportunity.
Amidst this tense atmosphere, Gilmour had another opportunity courtesy of the Croatian defense, but to the surprise of many, his shot flew off target as he usually exudes calm under pressure.
Recognizing the situation, Clarke decided to bring in two of his seasoned players—Dykes and McGinn—while Conway went out after making a commendable impact on his debut.
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With Scotland pressing for a victory that could boost their chances of finishing second in this Nations League group—and to ensure they retain their place in Section ‘A’—there were a few moments of anxiety as Andy Robertson, plagued by a frustrating outing, missed several crosses.
As the match progressed it even seemed that with ten men Scotland might still fail. While there has been some promise in this campaign, they have often fallen short with their points totals. However, in this moment, that feeling would soon change.
Just when the Tartan Army was looking for glimmers of hope—finding excitement in Conway’s emerging talents and Doak’s spark—a familiar face from the old guard demonstrated he still had plenty to offer . It was Doak who orchestrated the decisive moment, racing down the right flank before cutting back to the edge of the area, where McGinn arrived with his characteristic timing, slotting it into the top corner.
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It marked Scotland’s first victory in 11 matches, promising a brighter future as they look towards World Cup qualifying. By then, Conway and Doak would have progressed considerably from the experience, and are likely to play crucial roles alongside stalwart veterans like McGinn in Scotland’s quest to return to the international stage, trodden ground for the last time long before either of the newcomers were even born.
