ACROPOLIS NOW

Clarke stands on the brink of history in the cradle of civilisation as he attempts to give birth to Tartan Army's World Cup dream date

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IF the final destination is meant to become a moment for the ages, then where better to start off the journey than right here in the most ancient acropolis of them all?

Because when Steve Clarke sends Scotland's players out tonight in Piraeus, the port city of Athens, history will be peering down upon them from the fabled old hills above and ushering them to step forward.

Yes, the cradle of modern civilisation may have witnessed one or two more important events over the centuries - like the birth of democracy and some other stuff like that. But, in the grand scheme of things, who gives a Socrat-toss?

A win for Clarke's side - or at least the avoidance of defeat - will leave the manager and his men standing on the brink of achieving something quite astonishing, albeit by our own admittedly low brow standards.

Because then all roads will lead back to the centre of the footballing universe, or Hampden Park as it's known, where Scotland will take on Denmark on Tuesday night, knowing a return to the greatest stage in the game is no more than 90 minutes away.

"The players are ready. They realise the magnitude of the games coming up," was how Clarke put it last night after arriving in town. Although he didn't really need to.

Quite simply, after nearly 30 years as some sort of pariah sporting state, this very moment could hardly feel any more weighty or significant than it does right here and right now.

In this city of ruins and mythology. Clarke spent the week with his squad at a warm weather training camp in Belek, Turkey. In one short hop on a charter flight they left their palatial digs behind to get on with the business they left home for in the first place.

It won't have been cheap. That's for sure.