Graeme Souness believes Scotland's exit from the World Cup stemmed from a deficiency in belief within the squad, asserting that no player stepped up to dominate on the global stage. Scotland's return to the tournament after a 28-year absence saw them advance past Haiti but ultimately fall short against Morocco and Brazil.
Souness, who represented Scotland in three World Cup squads, expressed disappointment with the star players' performances, stating they did not do themselves justice. "We just weren’t good enough," he commented. "I never saw any Scottish player walk onto the pitch and go, ‘You know what? This is my stage. I’m going to be the best player here today’. I never saw that kind of real belief."
He added that while manager Steve Clarke achieved significant success in qualifying the team for competitions, he ultimately could not overcome the limitations of the available talent when facing stronger opposition. "I think the manager, over the vast majority of his tenure, got as much as he could out of that group of players," Souness said. "When you are a national team manager you are totally reliant on what the nation produces at that time. And I don’t think we’ve produced the most talented group in recent history."
The Scottish Football Association is now tasked with finding a successor to Clarke, who stepped down after seven years. While Souness has been linked to the managerial post in the past, he indicated that his time for such a role has passed. "No, I wouldn’t last," he stated, reflecting on the changing dynamics of team management. "I accept that I’m from a different generation and I think it’s never been more difficult for the guys today doing it. I wouldn’t last five minutes in a dressing room."
Souness also commented on the ongoing debate about whether to appoint a Scottish coach or look internationally, emphasizing that the individual's ability to succeed is paramount. "I’m sure there will be a lot of Scottish coaches who would want the job. It’s not always the case of going foreign to get something better. But I’m not bothered. I’m not interested in what language he speaks as long as he does the business."