During Scotland’s tumultuous 5-1 defeat against Germany in Munich, tensions flared as Steve Clarke clashed with his set piece specialist, Austin MacPhee, in a fiery exchange on the touchline. The incident, brought to light by STV commentator Sam Matterface, stemmed from a botched free-kick routine mid-way through the second half.

Matterface shed light on the altercation, noting, “While it wasn’t captured on screen, a discord arose in the Scotland technical area following a disappointing free-kick, with Steve Clarke and Austin MacPhee engaging in a heated discussion. Clarke was insistent on optimizing their set-piece strategies.”

As the game unfolded, Scotland’s striking legend and co-pundit, McCoist, weighed in, emphasizing the importance of capitalizing on set plays. “Seizing opportunities like free kicks to put pressure on the opposition is crucial, especially when you’re down to ten men. It’s your chance to swing the momentum back in your favor,” McCoist remarked.

Subsequent footage from ITV cameras revealed the intensity of Clarke and MacPhee’s confrontation on the sidelines. MacPhee, currently associated with Aston Villa in the English Premier League, previously served at St Mirren and as assistant to Ian Cathro at Hearts. Reflecting on his journey to Euro 2024 with the Scotland squad, MacPhee shared, “Being part of Clarke’s team at a major tournament was a lifelong aspiration, stemming back to my fan days during France 98.”

Recalling the nostalgic trip to 1998’s World Cup in France, MacPhee reminisced, “Attending a major tournament like that with Scotland was a dream come true for me. My buddy Grant and I saved up the whole year, bought a car, packed a tent, stashed £2,000 in the glovebox, and embarked on an epic road trip adventure. From sailing from Newcastle to Amsterdam to cruising down the Champs-Elysees in Paris in a right-hand drive Renault 5, it was an unforgettable journey.”