Shocking moment two Celtic star left out after Scotland Head Coach Steve Clarke announces his squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Barclays Hampden.

Steve Clarke has message for Celtic pitch invaders as Scotland boss drops World Cup starting XI hints

The comparison is not hard to draw and flies in the face of every ill-considered comment defending supporters flooding the pitch before full time in Celtic’s Premiership title shootout victory over Hearts on Saturday.

After Scotland qualified for the World Cup on a night of nights in November, the players were free to frolic on the pitch amid delirious scenes. Fans stayed firmly off the pitch even though the elation was just as pronounced.

If the Tartan Army can control themselves following the end of a 27-year exile, and on a night when Scotland scored three of their greatest-ever goals, then why can’t all Celtic supporters restrict themselves to celebrating in the stands just over a year since they last won a Scottish league title? That question has been asked more than once in recent days.

Granted, Celtic achieved their latest success—their fourteenth title in the last 15 years—in extraordinary circumstances. But that pivotal victory over Denmark was similar. Scotland fell behind against ten men before clinching the all-important third goal amid unbelievably dramatic tension in added time.

While Steve Clarke was reluctant to conflate the international scene with the domestic one, he expects the Tartan Army to maintain their tradition for making friends in the United States when naming his 26-man World Cup squad on Tuesday. The countdown is now firmly on as Scotland prepare to kick-off their World Cup adventure v Haiti on 14 June. There are two friendly matches before then, including a farewell friendly v Curacao at Hampden on Saturday week.

“The reputation of the Tartan Army and the Scottish fans is well known worldwide,” said Clarke.

They will go away, they will enjoy themselves. I think even over the disappointment in Germany the Tartan Army were top supporters. They made a lot of friends in Germany and I’m sure they will make more friends over in the States.”

The scenes at Celtic Park left a slightly sour taste in the mouth following an extraordinary season in Scottish football that was replete with compelling stories, such as Hearts’ sustained title charge and Martin O’Neill’s return, on two occasions, to Parkhead.

The fear is that some reputational damage occurred right at the end. High-profile figures such as former Hearts chairman and Labour grandee Lord George Foulkes are reported to have petitioned Fifa to protest the premature conclusion of Saturday’s crunch game.

“I think the international scene is separate from the domestic scene,” Clarke noted. “So the feel-good factor is around the international team. We feel good about ourselves and feel good about the last qualifying campaign.

That finished on a fantastic emotional high here at Hampden so we are good. Listen, the way the league season ended with the scenes on Saturday at Celtic Park was not good for Scottish football. I think it’s a bad look that doesn’t do anybody any favours. It’s much better that the people celebrate but stay where they should stay.

People invading the pitch is not right because player safety is endangered,” he added. “That is not correct – anywhere. There is no way anyone would come through that door and try to disrupt you guys doing your job, it’s just not correct. On the pitch is the players’ place of work. People should not go on the pitch, it’s quite clear.”

When it was pointed out to him that this was the case in November against Denmark, he agreed. “That just shows that you can enjoy yourself without going out on the pitch,” he said. “There is no need for people to be on the pitch.”

Two strikers on agenda – and two starters confimed

Whether for positive or negative reasons, there is significant new interest in Scottish football. Clarke is keen to show a good face to the world. He has selected a squad that he feels can generate some excitement in the States. Playing with two strikers is on the agenda. He liked what he saw in the latest match against Ivory Coast, when George Hirst partnered Che Adams in attack.

Although it’s a low bar, Clarke is desperate to improve on Scotland’s showing at Euro 2024, when they scored just two goals – a deflected effort and an own goal – and stank the place out to the extent that they were officially branded the worst team at the tournament.

Scotland will likely line up with two strikers in the opening game against Haiti. It is incumbent on Clarke’s side to hit the ground running and secure three points.

“I thought the system worked quite well that game, it is something I have in mind that I can maybe use in one of the games over in the USA,” said Clarke. “If you remember way back to the very start of the qualifying campaign when we went away to Denmark—a really difficult game—we played 4-4-2 with two strikers and it went really well for us.”

He expressed the hope that Ben Gannon-Doak and Aaron Hickey, two players still in the initial stages of playing again after lengthy spells on the sidelines, can manage to play “three-quarters” of the opening match, which means he has confirmed two of his starting XI at least – fitness permitting.

The rest are not too difficult to predict. As many as seven of the players who lined up against Germany in Munich two years ago could start in Scotland’s opening match again, with the likes of Gannon-Doak and Rangers’ Findlay Curtis serving as potential secret weapons.

Even the often taciturn Clarke, who missed out on two World Cups as a player, cannot possibly downplay the significance of the upcoming tournament for him and his loved ones. As well as manager, he is occupying three other roles. “To go to a World Cup and I am the husband, the father and the grandfather is something special,” he said. “It means a lot to us.”