Clarke's 31-day Scotland timeline: from new deal to sudden exit

Thirty-one days can pass in a flash. Just ask Steve Clarke. That is the time between his signing a new four-year contract and his abrupt resignation as Scotland head coach. After Wednesday's defeat by Brazil in Miami, Scotland's World Cup exit appeared to drag on as much as their 28-year wait to return to the biggest stage. That fate was sealed just before midnight Sunday in Scotland as Croatia defeated Ghana 2-1. For just over 30 minutes, attention turned to the future—what would come next after another abject major tournament showing. Then the bombshell hit. Though it was 00:30 BST on home shores, the notification from North Carolina woke everyone up. News that some may have been thinking, but never imagined hitting the headlines. But how did we get here? From brazen optimism of creating history to national disappointment and managerless in 30 days, BBC Sport Scotland charts Clarke's final 31 days in charge.

Pre-tournament optimism

On 28 May, Clarke signed a new four-year deal, saying it was important to "plan for the future" and give "certainty ahead of the World Cup", while laying "foundations for the long term". Some questioned the timing so close to the start of the World Cup, but it offered security before Scotland's eagerly anticipated return. Just 15 months earlier, he had said there was a "75% chance" he "will not renew his contract after the World Cup", so the four-year deal raised eyebrows.

On 30 May, Scotland beat 10-man Curacao in a tournament tune-up. Clarke claimed it offered a "glimpse into the future" after 19-year-old Findlay Curtis scored and Tyler Fletcher—son of Darren—made his debut. Scotland left the country on a high in their Hampden send-off match, with youth given a run-out, and most appeared content on their journey across the pond with the objective of making history.

On 31 May, Scotland traveled to Fort Lauderdale, north of Miami, for a pre-tournament training camp in sweltering and thunderstorm-laden conditions. This was viewed as a crucial step in their World Cup campaign after debate over previous camp choices for the European Championships. It gave players downtime, a chance to acclimatize, and there was a sense of a culture shift among the squad from previous campaigns.

On 2 June, Clarke told the media the SFA had "spent more than they wanted to" for the stay at the home of Lionel Messi's Inter Miami, but his squad were provided with "everything they asked for". Assistant coach Steven Naismith later confirmed the players were consulted on what they liked and didn't like from previous tournaments, and were asked what they wanted—with acclimatizing and a longer pre-tournament camp among the priorities.

On 6 June, in their final warm-up match, Scotland beat Bolivia 4-0 with Clarke saying, "for once I got everything I asked for". Scotland—finally—headed into a major tournament on a high, with goals aplenty in an eye-catching performance. There was a real feel around the camp that they could "do something special" in Boston, Miami, and maybe beyond.

On 8 June, Scotland's camp officially started in Charlotte. During an open training session, Clarke addressed the watching media, "welcoming them to Charlotte" and thanking them for coming. It may seem a minor point, but the fact the boss once again—after doing so on 2 June—took time to greet the media was well received by those in attendance. A real sense of difference and openness from previous tournaments.

On 9 June, Clarke sat down with the BBC for an interview, citing "this time it's a different Clarke".