STEVE CLARKE, the Scotland manager, has voiced his opposition to the prospect of a biennial World Cup but given his backing to proposals that could see South American sides joining the Nations League.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino and former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger are pushing plans that would see the game’s most illustrious tournament staged every two years rather than the current four-yearly cycle.
Alongside that blueprint are suggestions that the likes of Brazil and Argentina could be invited to participate in the Nations League format that paves the way for qualification to the World Cup and European Championships.
Clarke, who guided Scotland to their first major finals in more than two decades this summer, has his sights set on a place in Qatar next year and believes the FIFA idea shouldn’t gain further traction.
Clarke said: “I’m not too keen on the World Cup proposal. The four year period with the Euros in between fits quite well into the international calendar and I’m happy with that.
“Maybe it’s because I am a traditionalist that I enjoy that cycle.
“The idea of the South American teams joining the Nations League is interesting and something that might be good for the competition.
“Although we can’t complain about it the way it is because it’s a competition that helped us to qualify for Euro 2020.
“I would need to see in detail how it’s going to work. The idea in principle is quite good.”
Scotland will host Ukraine next March as Clarke’s side aim to take another step towards the World Cup and set up a meeting with either Wales or Austria in the play-off finals.
Several members of the squad are walking a suspension tightrope heading into the Hampden fixture but Clarke will take each 90 minutes on merit as he faces an anxious semi-final clash.
Clarke said: “We will have eight or nine on a yellow card v Ukraine with the threat of missing the final if we got there. That’s a shame.
“We’re not the highest number of bookings, others countries are in the same position and potentially a lot of top players will miss a play-off final which is a shame because for those games you want all the best players on the pitch. There is no point trying to protect someone for the final, you have to get there.
“I picked my strongest team against Denmark. I think I had five players on the pitch who potentially could have missed the play-off semi-final. I’m a believer in playing your best team if you can.”
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