The 6 Euro 2024 nations Scotland need to learn from and Steve Clarke can start inquest with these 2 questions - Keith Jackson

It's supposed to have stopped hurting by now. But the deeper we go into Euro 2024 one thing becomes more and more obvious.

The only true way for a Scotsman to enjoy watching the climax to this tournament is to forget that Scotland were actually ever part of it in the first place. Failure to wipe this mere detail from the memory bank only results in a sense of heightened agitation and painful regret. It has become impossible, for example, to observe the heroics of teams such as Slovakia, Slovenia, Romania, Georgia, Austria and Switzerland without wondering how it might have been for us, if only our side had embraced this tournament in the same, adventurous manner.

Come to think of it, Scotland have succeeded in being just about the only smaller nation at the whole event which wilted and froze when the opportunity presented itself to punch above its weight for once. While the rest of them looked upon these finals as the chance to put the foot to the floor, Steve Clarke kept the handbrake on as if he was terrified of the consequences of what might happen if he gave it a bit of serious welly instead.

It’s almost too excruciating to look back on Scotland’s faint hearted contribution while the rest of them are still out there milking Germany for all that it’s worth and drinking whatever beer the Tartan Army left behind. Yes, that massive travelling support played its part by launching a huge ground invasion without throwing a single blow in anger. And that just makes the whole campaign even more galling.

The best fans at the competition had to endure the ignominy of supporting its worst team and then being oxtered off the premises before the real party had got anywhere near full swing.

Clarke, of course, deserves all of our thanks just for making tournament football a modern day reality because, before his time in charge, following Scotland to a major event was in danger of becoming nothing more than a misty eyed memory from way back in the good old days.

Of course, he must now reflect on his own part in why his team failed so feebly to grasp onto the thistle when the chance was there for them to make their own mark.

If they were scared that it might sting then how are they feeling right now, as they watch everyone else grab onto it with both hands. But for some unknown reason – and this is a conundrum for Clarke to work out – his players looked scared of their own shadows over there when they ought to have been feeling bigger, braver and bolder than ever before.

Were they simply given too many instructions from the coaching staff? Were they too frightened to play with a sense of freedom or enjoyment because Clarke had demanded that they stick rigidly to the system and tactics he had laid down?

Of all the lessons he must now reflect upon, Clarke has to accept that the same mistakes must not be repeated in the event that he hangs around to have another crack at the next major finals, the World Cup in two years’ time.

Yes, the intense pressure will come from attempting to qualify for those finals but, in the event that he should pull it off for a third time, then Clarke cannot possibly wish to be sent home early from that one with another load of regrets, having taken a team that’s too timid to actually turn up and compete.

So yes, let’s try to forget for now that Scotland’s players effectively made a mess of
their hotel room beds at their idyllic base in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, from the moment they arrived until it was time to pack up and leave the rest of them to it.

And, instead, let’s focus on those nations which are still there and whose big performers are still swinging punches. That should rule England out, even if they do have a punchers’ chance for as long as Gareth Southgate doesn’t find a way of neutering Jude

Bellingham and Harry Kane like he has done to the likes of Phil Foden and Bukayo Saka. And if they feel slightly emasculated by the whole Southgate experience then how do they think Jack Grealish and James Maddison are feeling, having been dismissed as surplus to requirements?

Much like Scotland, in fact, this English side seems almost paralysed by the strain and pressure of expectation and if they carry all this fear into Saturday’s quarter final against the Swiss then they too will be gone.

Southgate and his players ought to be looking forward to watching Friday’s football knowing two major threats are about to be eliminated first. The best teams in the entire competition will go head-to-head in Stuttgart where a sparkling Spanish side will try to twinkle-toe its way around a German juggernaut which has been building speed and momentum ever since it ran over the top of Clarke’s side in Munich on opening night.

Only one can survive. And it will be the same story in Hamburg a couple of hours later when another two previous winners – Portugal and France – will battle it out for one semi final place.

England ought to be rubbing their hands at the prospect of watching those collisions take place from a safe distance but it does feel as if the sight of a couple of contenders being left bloodied and crushed on the roadside, will only heighten the expectations and add to their levels of self doubt and anxiety.

And to round off the last eight, a rampaging Turkish outfit will storm into Berlin for a confrontation with the Netherlands which is not to be missed, if only for the bedlam and colour their supporters will generate in the stands.

It could have been us, you know. But let’s attempt for the time being not to dwell on it for another moment. The whole process will be made much more enjoyable by simply lying back and thinking of England being escorted off the premises too.