John Souttar’s days as an elite-level defender are over. The 29-year-old endured a rough night on Scotland duty as the Tartan Army fell to a 3-2 defeat against Greece in Athens in their World Cup qualifying fixture. That result means that Steve Clarke’s side will need to earn a win over Denmark on Tuesday night to guarantee a place in next summer’s tournament.
While every player is capable of a bad day at the office, Souttar’s performance was the latest in a series of torrid performances for club and country.
Souttar and his fellow Scotland defenders were responsible for two poor goals against Greece on Saturday evening, with ex-Rangers star Neil McCann slamming their defending for Greece’s opener during the BBC’s coverage.
He said: “The goal is a joke. The goal is so unlike a Stevey Clarke team, it’s incredible. I couldn’t believe my eyes.
“We’ve left ourselves in a 2 vs 2, and it’s like we’re chasing the game. It’s mental stuff. I have no idea why Grant Hanley decides that he’s going to break that back four and step in so high.
“It’s a great finish through John Souttar and a ruck of bodies, but it’s the initial press that causes so much chaos.”
John Souttar Not Good Enough For Top Level
While Souttar’s performance against Greece was one of many sloppy displays in the Scotland side, it was the latest in a series of poor performances from the defender.
At club level, Rangers have endured a rough start to the campaign which saw Russell Martin sacked and replaced by Danny Rohl. While a steady upturn has pushed the Glaswegian side to fourth in the Scottish Premiership, Souttar’s performances have been a cause for concern for fans, with Rangers’ sloppy defence a big source of their problems this term.
Souttar is a good player, but is he capable of being a leading star for Scotland as they target a place in the World Cup, or Rangers as they battle back in the hope of being an elite force once again? I don’t think so.
Defensive contributions vs Greece
4
Tackles
0
Blocks
1
Clearances
0
Interceptions
3
Ground duels won
0/2
Individual errors, based on a lack of concentration or mistakes, have proven costly on numerous occasions this term. In truth, Rangers haven’t replaced Leon Balogun, Connor Goldson or Ben Davies in defence, with Souttar certainly not seen as an upgrade on what they had last term.
For Scotland, there’s a valid case for suggesting that Scott McKenna or Callum Hendry are deserving of an opportunity, particularly given the frailties and lack of mobility that a pairing of Souttar and Grant Hanley possess.
Scotland need a win against Denmark on Tuesday to reach the World Cup and Clarke could be tempted to change things up at the back. For Rangers, it’s almost certain that Rohl needs to bolster his backline if he’s to return Rangers back to their former glory.
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