Will Steve Clarke’s last dance with Scotland be a swinging success… or an unedifying spectacle?

Come what may in the Parken Stadium on Friday evening, this does feel like the beginning of the end for Steve Clarke.

Earlier this year, the Scotland manager declared he was ’75 per cent sure’ that he’d leave his role after the World Cup. For a man not normally given to revealing much in public, it was a clear indication that he feels his race is nearly run.

The only remaining questions are how quickly we reach the denouement and what it looks like.

The fervent hope is that the backdrop to a last shot at glory takes place in New York, Vancouver or Guadalajara next summer. The reality is that this could all be over in 10 weeks after a truncated four-team group concludes with the visit of Denmark to Hampden on November 18.

Ian Maxwell, the SFA’s chief executive, appears relaxed whenever the subject of the manager’s contract situation is raised, but he’ll be cognisant of the fact that he could be interviewing for the position before the Christmas tree goes up in the foyer at Hampden.

Maxwell’s own time in the post has been comparatively smooth due to appointing Clarke as Alex McLeish’s replacement a year in. Qualification for back-to-back Euros came after a 23-year exile from international competition. It reconnected a lost generation with the national team.

While those achievements ensure that Clarke’s tenure will unquestionably be viewed as a success in years to come, it doesn’t mean he’s beyond reproach or scrutiny in the here and now.

Two years ago, the feel-good factor surrounding the team was at a level not known in an age.

On the back of reaching the delayed Euro 2020, Clarke’s side bulldozed their way towards five victories at the outset of qualification for Euro 2024.

Spain left Hampden dazed and defeated. Scotland dramatically won in Norway despite playing poorly. It felt different.

There was a swagger to the side. The whole was greater the sum of the parts. There was a justifiable expectation that the finals in Germany would see the team break new ground by being the first in history to get out of a group.

The downturn came even before the flights and hotels were booked. Scotland lost – not unexpectedly – to England, Spain and France, but were unable to give themselves a shake by the time the tournament came into view.

Having won just one of their nine games prior to heading out – that one coming against lowly Gibraltar – the competition itself was an unmitigated disaster. Fifteen months on, the abject nature of those displays against Germany and Hungary, in particular, still resonates.

Notwithstanding the calibre of opponent Scotland faces in the Nations League and the mini revival witnessed against Portugal, Croatia and Poland, Clarke’s side were torn asunder as they were relegated from League A by Greece at Hampden in March.

A shambolic display in the loss to Iceland at home in June saw the side’s form across two years stand at just four wins from 21 with 12 defeats. A routine victory over Liechtenstein on the road last time out only papered over the cracks.

Those who contended that an amicable parting of the ways would have been best after the debacle in Germany have seen precious little to change their minds.

Clarke begins the World Cup campaign with the high points of his reign now feeling like ancient history.

While his approval rating has fallen, he retains the qualified backing of most supporters. That will change quickly, though, if the side stumble their way out of the blocks.

The manager’s early success in the role enhanced his reputation as a problem solver – a coach who found ways to maximise a group’s potential.

In his first game against Cyprus in 2019, he played Eamonn Brophy up front and had Oliver Burke to thank for netting a late winner.

The pedigree of the squad has improved immeasurably since. Clarke can call upon a handful of players who ply their trade in Serie A including a ballon d’Or nominee in Scott McTominay. There’s a raft of English Premier League players, a sprinkling of Old Firm stars and exciting talents like Hibernian’s Kieron Bowie.

The standard of player available to Clarke is greater than that which his predecessors enjoyed. The fact is that they should be well in the fight to qualify. There will be no excuses for failing to land a blow across these six matches.

The overwhelming concern remains the goalkeeping position. Angus Gunn hasn’t yet played for Nottingham Forest. Zander Clark has lost seven goals in four matches with Hearts. Liam Kelly’s only appearance for Rangers came in the League Cup against Alloa.

Scotland managers were once spoiled for choice. Clarke can only pick a name and cross his fingers.

The withdrawal of Kieran Tierney simplifies things in that the manager has no need to shoehorn the Celtic man and Andy Robertson into a system which nullifies others.

Despite not starting the season with Liverpool, Robertson will take up his customary left-back position. Aaron Hickey is only three appearances into his Brentford come-back but should start on the right. It would be surprising if Clarke deviates from partnering Grant Hanley and John Souttar in the middle.

Billy Gilmour has also only played eight minutes for Napoli yet should still command a holding berth. Clarke is nothing if not loyal meaning Kenny McLean would also be fancied to be deployed there.

McTominay’s selection in the central supporting role seems sure. Ben Gannon Doak’s extraordinary dynamism on the right could potentially wreak havoc with John McGinn and Ryan Christie fighting for the spot on the left. Che Adams’ greater experience probably sees him selected ahead of Bowie.

Denmark will be a formidable opponent. Manager Brian Riemer can call upon players of the ilk of Barcelona’s Andreas Christensen, Marseille’s Pierre Emile-Hojberg and Kasper Dolberg, who escaped Celtic’s grasp to move from Anderlecht to Ajax.

There are familiar faces in Kasper Schmeichel – 114 caps and counting – Matt O’Riley, who’s just moved on loan to Marseille from Brighton, and one time Motherwell loanee Mika Biereth, who now earns a crust or two at Monaco.

A nation with only a slightly bigger population than Scotland consistently punches above its weight. The Danes have qualified for each of the past two World Cups and European Championships. As the highest ranked nation in the section, they’ll be confident of that trend continuing.

With a game against group outsiders Belarus to come on Monday, a point in Copenhagen would make for a promising start for the Scots.

A defeat would strengthen the view that Clarke’s last dance may prove to be an unedifying spectacle.