Euro 2024: Scotland boss launches charm offensive amid criticism

In a crisis, Scotland sent for Callum McGregor, a brilliant talker, to do the talking on Saturday and now the manager on Sunday. The big guns wheeled out to blast the doubt to kingdom come.

The fact that Clarke was here at all was an illustration of where they’re at right now. Had his team performed admirably against the Germans then the head coach wouldn’t have been anywhere near the media on Sunday. He’d have left one of his other coaches, or a player, to get on with it.

He remarked that this was a job for him and for him alone. A charm offensive, a chance to address the criticism of him and his team while offering some hope for the rest of the group campaign – in case there were any takers.

On a run of one win in 10 games, and the concession of 26 goals, this team, and this campaign, is at a crossroads now.

They’re either going to bounce back, as they have done before in Clarke’s reign, or they’re going to sink against Switzerland and crash out on Wednesday. Unless the bare minimum of a point is achieved in Cologne then Scotland can start their packing.

There are doubts hanging over so many previously go-to players, conversations about formations and what changes he might, or needs to, make. Switzerland only piled on the pain on Saturday when looking powerful and full of goals against Hungary.