Scotland coach Steve Clarke warns team to prepare for tough match against Morocco

Steve Clarke has put his Scotland squad on notice. Morocco, the team that stunned the world by reaching the 2022 World Cup semi-finals, is next on the schedule, and Clarke believes they’ve somehow gotten even better since Qatar.

Scotland’s head coach made the comments after his side ground out a 1-0 victory over Haiti in their opening Group C match on June 14, courtesy of a John McGinn goal.

Clarke was blunt in his assessment of what lies ahead. Morocco aren’t just a good team. They’re a top-10 ranked side that went toe-to-toe with France in a World Cup semi-final and have only added depth since.

The Scotland boss acknowledged that his team’s possession play against Haiti was nowhere near the level required against opponents of Morocco’s caliber.

The match is scheduled for June 19-20 at Boston Stadium, giving Clarke and his staff less than a week to overhaul their tactical blueprint.

One of the most significant revelations from Clarke’s pre-match preparation is his consideration of a back-three formation. The shift would represent a meaningful departure from Scotland’s usual setup, designed to add an extra body in defense while still allowing width through wing-backs.

Clarke has emphasized that exploiting counter-attacking opportunities will be essential.

This is the nation’s first World Cup appearance since 1998. Scotland have never advanced beyond the group stages of a major tournament. Group C includes both Morocco and Brazil, ranked inside the world’s top 10.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.