Scotland ended a winless run of seven games to finally taste victory again on Friday night as Steve Clarke made a number of surprise decisions to his starting XI when facing Croatia.
Clarke’s men have failed to win for a while given they struggled at Euro 2024 and find themselves in the top tier of the Nations League. A difficult run of games, but Scotland have failed to turn up any trees.
That was until Friday night. In front of a hopeful Hampden Park, Scotland came up against a Croatia side that included the likes of Luka Modric, Mateo Kovacic, Andrej Kramaric and other Croatian players.
But Scotland secured a 1-0 thanks to sub John McGinn scoring the only goal of the game, though the goal was created by Liverpool youngster Ben Doak who is currently impressing on loan at Middlesbrough.
Ben Doak is Scotland’s man of the moment, could’ve joined Leeds
The 19-year-old made a handful of Liverpool outings last season, making 10 matches. But Doak needed game time and he has got it this season by joining Middlesbrough on loan, having a hand in four goals.
That form has seen Doak become first choice for Scotland, and he was the man with a plan on Friday. He turned £77m Man City defender Josko Gvardiol inside out on Friday night, earning a standing ovation.
It was Doak that created the goal, going past Gvardiol before his cross was turned in. A player who could have joined Leeds under Jesse Marsch, with The Mirror saying Leeds made a better offer than Liverpool.
Doak is enjoying a brilliant season, having starred among Celtic’s ranks. Goals, assists, speed, tenacity – Doak has the potential to go on and be a top-level player and is already showing why for Scotland.
Middlesbrough’s right flank could easily have been Leeds’ wing
With Luke Ayling at right-back and Doak on the right of the attack, the combination could have easily been seen under Marsch in the Premier League but instead, Micahel Carrick has combined them at Boro.
Victor Orta was renowned for bringing in young talents to Thorp Arch and mixing their potential with the renowned Leeds academy system, and Doak could have been another example but he chose Liverpool.
