“Scotland’s shackles of the past must be shaken in their World Cup quest.”

That in itself is an indirect compliment to Clarke, who has brought Scotland out of international exile and within touching distance of going to the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.

Since the late and great Craig Brown walked off the field at Saint-Etienne in the summer of 1998, six different Scotland managers have tried and failed to get their side to the major tournament.

The playoffs came and went. The same applies to the international careers of many players who deserved more.

Then came Clarke in 2019. Masih Kilmarnock successfully took the national team from losing in Kazakhstan to the European Championships twice in a row. He did it with a combination of a hard-to-beat Browns logo, a host of emerging talent and a host of outstanding results.

Spain won at Hampden. Norway flipped in its own backyard. Serbia won on penalties five years ago. Croatia beats Glasgow.

Scott McTominay, John McGinn, Billy Gilmour, Andy Robertson. Some old, some new, but they have players with a reputation and pedigree to match, who have helped bring Scotland out of the shadows of irrelevance and into the spotlight.

This rise has brought scrutiny. Some are cruel and some are worthy.

In the 2022 qualifying semi-final against Ukraine, Clarke’s side collapsed on one occasion, just like this, and that meant a lot.

Two Euros have gone through without the gauntlet being laid on any of their opponents. Only three goals were scored in six matches.

These examples are warnings from the past, but they should be used as motivations for the present. As if any were needed.

The point of all this is that Scotland have often failed to seize the opportunities they have taken for themselves. The moment has slipped by.

On Tuesday, this group will have the opportunity to qualify for the World Cup. No strings attached, no what ifs.

Denmark has participated in five of the past seven World Cups but, as with the host nation, weaknesses are inherent. There is a weakness that the Belarusians have exposed and it must be attacked mercilessly. Conversely, the signs of Scotland’s strong second-half performance against Greece should certainly be repeated from the start in Glasgow.

There is an overwhelming feeling that Scotland’s fate on Tuesday depends not on what the clever Danes do, but on what Clarke’s side can conjure and awaken from within themselves.

The quality is there. The incentive is there. The opportunity is there.

We’re about to find out if the courage to take it is there.