Scotland manager Steve Clarke is targeting a historic place in the World Cup knockout stages as his side prepare to end a 28-year absence from the global stage against Haiti on Sunday.
The 62-year-old recently signed a new four-year contract after successfully guiding the national side to consecutive European Championships.
However, the former Chelsea defender admits he did not enjoy those previous campaigns.
“I’ve not really enjoyed the previous two tournaments if I’m being honest,” Clarke tells BBC Scotland.
Learning from previous tournament failures
The Ayrshireman feels the Covid-impacted Euro 2020 lacked a true tournament atmosphere due to reduced crowds and home fixtures.
He also acknowledges the squad fell short of their own high standards during their recent appearance in Germany.
“We let ourselves down. We didn’t play as well as we should have done and I probably didn’t make the decisions that I should have,” he added.
Now entering his third major finals at the helm, the veteran coach believes those harsh lessons have forged a more resilient group.
The immediate aim is to finally shatter the barrier that has traditionally prevented the Scots from advancing past the group stages.
Cautious optimism follows impressive warm-up form
A sensational qualification-clinching victory over Denmark last November initially secured their ticket to the showpiece event.
Moods temporarily dampened following underwhelming friendly defeats against Japan and Ivory Coast earlier this year.
However, recent dominant victories over Curacao and Bolivia have restored confidence among the travelling Tartan Army.
“What we’ve achieved up to now is great. Let’s see if we can achieve a little bit more,” says the head coach.
Embracing the ultimate footballing stage
Sunday’s 02:00 BST kick-off against the Caribbean nation marks a monumental milestone for Scottish football.
A significant portion of the current squad now boasts the vital experience of playing in multiple international competitions.
“Now we have to show that tournament experience in a tournament,” he says.
Despite the quiet confidence radiating through the camp, the management team remains acutely aware of the tactical challenges ahead.
For the man in the dugout, reaching this ultimate competition represents the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition.
“I wanted to go to a World Cup as a player. I didn’t manage to do that. It’s taken me 62 years to achieve what I wanted to achieve, so I’m going to try to enjoy it.”
Didier Deschamps will step down as manager of the French national team following the 2026 World Cup, bringing an end to a historic 14-year tenure in charge of Les Bleus.
The 55-year-old tactician has overseen 188 matches since taking the helm in 2012, restoring pride to a nation previously fractured by a mutinous 2010 campaign in South Africa.
If he successfully navigates the upcoming tournament in North America, he will fall just short of Joachim Low’s European record of 198 games managing Germany.
Chasing historical greatness
Victory in the New York final on 19 July 2026 would solidify his status as arguably the greatest international manager of the modern era.
The former Juventus midfielder has already joined Franz Beckenbauer in the exclusive club of individuals to win football’s ultimate prize as both captain and coach.
However, pressure is mounting with former teammate Zinedine Zidane having spent years patiently waiting to inherit the prestigious managerial role.
Balancing generational attacking talent
The outgoing boss possesses a formidable attacking arsenal, blending the elite pace of Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele with emerging stars like Desire Doue and Michael Olise.
Despite this immense firepower, his pragmatic approach has sometimes drawn fierce criticism for failing to maximize the squad’s offensive potential.
During their run to the Euro 2024 semi-finals, the European heavyweights astonishingly failed to score a single goal from open play.
A legacy of tactical pragmatism
Defenders of his methods point to his masterful team-building, such as utilizing an unselfish Olivier Giroud during their victorious 2018 campaign in Russia.
That tactical tweak perfectly balanced the side, allowing his superstar forwards the freedom to dismantle opposition defences.
Now, as the curtain begins to fall on a defining era of international football, the ultimate puzzle remains whether he can bow out with a third consecutive global final.
Bayern Munich are in advanced talks to sign Eintracht Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown, dealing a major blow to Arsenal’s summer transfer plans.
The Gunners had identified the Germany international as a key target to bolster their defensive options following their recent Premier League title success.
However, the Bundesliga champions have progressed rapidly in their pursuit of the highly-rated full-back.
Medical planned during World Cup
Negotiations between Bayern and Frankfurt have been widely reported as overwhelmingly positive.
All parties involved are now increasingly optimistic that a final agreement will be reached shortly.
Contingency plans are already being established for a medical examination to take place in North America.
The lightning-fast defender is currently stationed there while representing his country at the World Cup.
Arsenal face defensive dilemma
Missing out on the Frankfurt star will force Mikel Arteta to rapidly reassess his recruitment strategy.
Sporting director Andrea Berta must now decide whether to pursue alternative left-back targets or shift focus entirely to the opposite flank.
The North London club have struggled extensively to manage recurring injury problems at right-back.
Ben White and Jurrien Timber have both endured significant spells on the sidelines over the past two seasons.
Arteta’s tactical shuffling
These persistent fitness issues have forced the Arsenal manager into several unconventional tactical adjustments.
Cristhian Mosquera has frequently been deployed out of position on the right side of the backline.
Arteta has even experimented with anchoring midfielder Declan Rice in the right-back role to navigate severe injury crises.
With a demanding campaign ahead, securing durable defensive reinforcements remains an urgent priority at Emirates Stadium.
Newly crowned WBA regular welterweight champion Jack Catterall has set his sights on division unification amid delays over a mandatory bout with Rolando Romero.
The British fighter secured his piece of the world title puzzle by defeating Shakhram Giyasov via unanimous decision in Egypt last month.
Romero, the WBA’s designated super champion, was given a 180-day window from May to face the new titleholder.
However, reports suggest the American might take an interim bout this summer before fulfilling his mandatory unification obligations.
Alternative targets await
Speaking to the media, the Chorley-born boxer expressed frustration at the potential delay but remains open to other high-profile matchups.
“News is circulating now that he’s going to take a fight, an interim fight or a keep busy fight in August, which is not ideal.”
“There’s potential for him to get cuts, but either way I’m going to fight for that ‘super’ title.”
If a clash with the super champion fails to materialise, the southpaw is eager to explore alternative blockbuster bouts in a deeply talented weight class.
He highlighted the winner of Lewis Crocker’s upcoming fight with Liam Paro, alongside Conor Benn, Devin Haney, and Ryan Garcia as potential opponents.
Career resurgence
The 33-year-old has experienced a significant career resurgence since a highly controversial defeat to Josh Taylor in 2022.
Winning seven of his subsequent eight contests, including a long-awaited rematch victory over Taylor, has propelled the athlete back to the summit of the sport.
Reflecting on his recent triumph over undefeated Olympic medallist Giyasov, he admitted revelling in his underdog status.
“I never really get emotional but after the fight the emotions were shown.”
Feeling better than ever, the world titleholder is determined to capitalise on his current momentum and secure further career-defining showdowns.
Seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton believes his first grand prix victory for Ferrari is imminent after securing consecutive second-place finishes to move up to second in the 2026 Drivers’ Championship.
The 41-year-old endured a difficult debut campaign with the Scuderia in 2025 but has experienced a remarkable resurgence this season.
Following a maiden podium in red in China, the British driver has claimed back-to-back runner-up spots in Canada and Monaco.
These impressive results leave the Formula 1 veteran trailing championship leader Kimi Antonelli by 66 points.
“I mean, it couldn’t be closer,” he admitted following the Monaco Grand Prix.
“But it’s still 66 points. I can’t believe that I’m second in the championship and I’m really happy and thankful for that.”
Praise for Mercedes successor Antonelli
Antonelli replaced the sport’s most successful driver at Mercedes last year and has dominated the early stages of the current campaign.
The 19-year-old Italian has secured victory in the last five consecutive races for the Silver Arrows.
He is currently thriving under the guidance of Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff and former race engineer Peter Bonnington.
“He is doing a phenomenal job,” stated Hamilton.
“He’s got an amazing team around him with Bono, with Toto and the whole team. And I’m really happy to see them doing what they do best.”
Chasing down the championship leader
Despite the significant points deficit, the record-breaking centurion remains highly motivated by his younger rival.
“It just encourages me to want to level up, and I think encourages everybody wanting to level up,” he explained.
“I’m going to do my best to try and chase him down for the rest of the year.”
The former McLaren star likened Antonelli’s meteoric rise to his own breakout rookie season in 2007.
“It’s a real privilege to witness it, be on the podium with two of the youngest guys here,” he added.
Lionel Messi marked his return from injury with a penalty as Argentina defeated Iceland 3-0 in a World Cup warm-up match in Alabama.
The Inter Miami captain was introduced in the 70th minute to the delight of an 88,000-strong crowd at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
He confidently converted from the spot shortly after his arrival to double the advantage for Lionel Scaloni’s side.
Ezequiel Barco had previously opened the scoring in the first half, while Thiago Almada added a third goal to seal a comprehensive victory.
Managing the captain’s fitness
The veteran forward has been carefully navigating a left hamstring issue ahead of the upcoming Fifa World Cup.
He recently exited a domestic fixture against the Philadelphia Union with muscle fatigue, forcing him to miss his national team’s previous friendly victory over Honduras.
However, the coaching staff have gradually integrated him back into group training to ensure his readiness for their tournament opener against Algeria on 16 June.
“We’re going to distribute the minutes of the players who will play tomorrow to try to avoid any mishaps.”
This was the cautious approach outlined by manager Scaloni prior to the fixture, ensuring his squad avoided unnecessary strain.
World Cup defence preparations
The penalty against Iceland represented the 911th career goal for the Argentine icon across both club and international football.
It also takes his phenomenal international tally to 117 goals for the South American nation.
The reigning world champions look to be in formidable form as they prepare to defend the global crown they famously secured in 2022.
Jordan Staal scored twice, including a remarkable third-period winner, as the Carolina Hurricanes defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 on Tuesday to level the Stanley Cup Final at 2-2.
The veteran forward struck the decisive blow while stretched out on his stomach just over six minutes into the final frame in Las Vegas.
His acrobatic effort ensured the visitors wrestled back momentum in a wildly unpredictable and high-scoring championship series.
Game five takes place in Raleigh on Thursday, giving the Hurricanes an opportunity to edge closer to their first title in two decades.
Staal matches historic scoring record
The Carolina captain has now found the net in each of the first four games of the championship round.
He becomes the first player to achieve that specific playoff feat since Mike Bossy managed it for the New York Islanders 44 years ago.
Rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi was handed a surprise start for the road team and delivered 18 crucial saves to secure the vital victory.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour opted to rest regular starter Frederik Andersen, elevating Pyotr Kochetkov to backup duties on the bench.
The inexperienced netminder was quick to praise his captain’s game-winning intervention during the post-match interviews.
“He’s a big-time player. He leads us every day, plays the right way and is rewarded.”
A final defined by dramatic momentum shifts
Tuesday’s encounter was the first match of this gripping final not to be decided by a single goal.
Remarkably, a two-goal lead has vanished in all four matchups so far, highlighting the volatile nature of the contest.
The 33 combined goals scored across the opening four fixtures tie the third-highest offensive tally in Cup final history.
Nikolaj Ehlers sealed the win with a late empty-net strike, capping a superb individual performance that included two assists.
Jackson Blake and Logan Stankoven also registered on the scoresheet for the triumphant Eastern Conference outfit.
Bussi steps up on the biggest stage
The unexpected starting goaltender expressed his delight at making an immediate impact in such a high-stakes environment.
“This is what a lot of kids grow up dreaming of doing. I’m honored to have the opportunity.”
Mark Stone, William Karlsson and Brett Howden all beat the debutant, but the hosts ultimately fell short despite a resilient third-period push.
Vegas goaltender Carter Hart stopped 23 shots, though his efforts could not prevent the Golden Knights from surrendering their overall series advantage.
The United States defeated Brazil 1-0 in a chaotic international friendly in Fortaleza on Tuesday night as the hosts remarkably received eight red cards.
The narrow victory provided a measure of revenge for Emma Hayes’ side after suffering a 3-1 defeat to the same opposition on Sunday.
Following a fiercely contested and scoreless opening period, the decisive moment arrived early in the second half.
A shot from Portland Thorns striker Sophia Wilson deflected off Isabela Chagas to force a match-winning own goal.
Disciplinary collapse in Fortaleza
However, the fixture will be remembered primarily for an astonishing breakdown in discipline from the home side.
Emotions boiled over in front of a passionate crowd at the Arena Castelão as the Brazilian head coach and several staff members were dismissed in the second half.
Forward Bia Zaneratto was also sent off as the hosts began to completely lose their composure.
Tarciane was subsequently shown a red card for elbowing the American goal creator, reducing the South Americans to nine players on the pitch.
Building toward next year’s World Cup
The disciplinary collapse continued even after the final whistle sounded.
Referee Paola Cebollada López dismissed two more players following the conclusion of the match, bringing the staggering total to eight.
The demanding physical encounter fulfilled the expectations of the American manager, who had stressed the need for greater toughness on the road against next summer’s Women’s World Cup hosts.
The four-time world champions will now enter a lengthy hiatus from international action.
They return to competitive play on 27 November when they face El Salvador in the Concacaf W Championship.