GRATEFUL STEVE CLARKE admits Scotland must be great against the Danes after Belarus kept his side’s World Cup hopes alive.
Clarke’s side crashed 3-2 to Greece despite a late fightback in Piraeus as they suffered their first Group C defeat.
But Denmark’s shock 2-2 draw with Belarus in Copenhagen means they can still finish top with a win over them at Hampden on Tuesday.
And relieved boss Clarke is relishing the prospect of a winner takes all showdown with the nation in touching distance of a first tournament since 1998.
He said: “It’s nice Belarus have done us a big favour. We’ve got a lucky break.
“I said to the players at the end of the game that we have to believe in ourselves more because when we play we’re a good team.
READ MORE FOOTBALL STORIES
GREECE 3 SCOTLAND 2
World Cup dream still on after incredible Denmark vs Belarus shock
FREE BETS
Get £30 welcome bonus for Scottish football when you stake £10 with William Hill
“During the last 20 minutes of the game, we put a very good Greek side on the back foot, we created a lot of chances. We look like the good team that I know we are.
“We have to show that more often.
“We had a slow start and we didn’t get a hold of the ball early enough in the game and allowed the Greeks to dominate.
“They got the goal quite early. It took us the best part of 30 minutes really to settle into the game.
“The second half was quite open we had a big chance to make it 1-1 but almost immediately they score a goal that you shouldn’t really be losing.
“Suddenly you’re 2-0 down and then the shot makes it 3-0 and you’re thinking it’s going to be a long night. “But listen this group of players are a credit to themselves and a credit to their country because they didn’t give up.
“They got the goal back immediately, got themselves to 3-2 and we had chances to make it 3-3 as well.”
Events at the Parken, however, mean Scotland will qualify if they can win at Hampden on Tuesday.
Clarke added: “It’s been a strange night.
“I think it proves a little bit that the last game at Hampden against Belarus when we got booed off the pitch, maybe the three points were a little bit better than the people realised at the time.
“Yeah it’s nice that they’ve done us a favour.”
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
