World Cup 2026: Pampered, protected & primed – so why didn’t Scotland players perform?

While his performances might have left a little to be desired – although he was far from alone in that – McGinn did deliver plenty off the pitch.

The Villa captain was put up after each match to do at least two interviews.

And he was also the first player to do the daily media conference in camp, having to bat away a question about Norway head coach Stale Solbakken branding Clarke “unprofessional”.

The squad took part in an open training session that morning, allowing kids from a local school a glimpse of them at work. Another sign of the new Clarke and the culture shift among the squad.

Then, little cracks started to show.

During the Morocco match, Scott McTominay and Jack Hendry were caught on camera having a bust-up during a hydration break.

The latter laughed it off when it was his turn in the media spotlight in Charlotte, but the Napoli midfielder never did have his say on it. Outwith one short BBC interview at the start of camp, he was protected from the media.

Even his injured club team-mate, Billy Gilmour – who flew across with his leg in a brace to join the squad and throw the ceremonial first pitch at a Miami Marlins baseball game – spoke to the media.

The more things change, though, the more they stay the same.

A completely different set-up to Euro 2024 – a tournament everyone said they’d learned so much from – with everything the players wanted has ended with the same outcome on the pitch.

Big players failing to show in the big moments, even with the big treatment.

Clarke – who didn’t comment after his furious post-match media conference following defeat by Hungary in Stuttgart two summers ago – went one step further by resigning three days after the humbling by Brazil.

At that point, Opta still had Scotland’s chances of creating history at 42%, but Clarke conceded they were “going home” even at that stage.

It was a poor percentage given the meticulous planning, expenses spared and fine-tuning details applied to this tournament.

So, why hasn’t it worked? Who knows when – or to whom – we’ll next get to ask that question.