It may seem as if there is little but pride at stake for Steve Clarke’s Scotland as they bring their dismal Euro 2020 qualifying campaign to a close with a whimper.
But the Scotland boss would do well to avoid falling into the trap of pursuing that line of thought.
Cyprus and Kazakhstan is hardly a high-profile finale and even less appetising to a disillusioned fanbase which has grown accustomed to fearing the worst as far as the national team is concerned.
Kazakhstan already cost Clarke’s predecessor Alex McLeish his job and while another defeat in the final game at Hampden would instantly put the former Kilmarnock manager under similar pressure, surely Scotland cannot lose to them twice?
It’s a measure of how far we’ve fallen that there is genuine doubt as to whether Scotland can win these games.
But the only game which matters to Scotland now is the Nations League semi-final in March next year. That game will truly be Scotland’s last chance saloon when it comes to ending our long and demoralising absence from the finals of a major tournament.
Could you imagine it?
Euro 2020 games being staged at Hampden next summer while Scotland are sitting kicking their heels as the drama unfolds at the famous old stadium.
It really is unthinkable.
That’s why the countdown clock is officially ticking for Clarke and his players.
It’s the hope that hurts you as a Scotland fan. The biannual belief this could be our year.
Well, we’ve been saying it for decades and it still hasn’t been our year. In fact it is coming up for 22 years since Craig Brown led the team out with the eyes of the world upon them for the World Cup opener against Brazil in 1998.
If we’re being honest with ourselves we’ve seldom looked close to qualifying for a major tournament in that time and its why the pressure is building with each passing failed campaign.
The sight of Northern Ireland and Wales qualifying for tournament finals has only compounded the agony the nation.
But come March Clarke and his players can change all that. They can give us hope again by winning our semi-final and putting us within touching distance of the finals.
That’s why these two games against Cyprus and Kazakhstan do matter. Clarke has come into a thankless task of a job knowing his side is hopelessly out of their depth with the likes of Belgium and Russia.
The Kazakhstan defeat effectively ended our slim hopes before the campaign was up and running.
Since then, one morale-sapping heavy defeat after another has followed but we can afford no more. The win against San Marino in our last match must be when a line in the sand was drawn.
Scotland need to build some momentum and some much-needed confidence as the game which really matters draws closer.
