Scotland's S theme kept going on Nations League draw night as Steve Clarke spurned

Sweden nearly made it a full house - and Barnes isn’t in it

It started at 5pm UK time and was all over, certainly as far as Scotland were concerned, by around 5.40pm. That was a win in itself for manager Steve Clarke, who is still muttering about losing the will to live after attending the World Cup draw in December.

Mercifully, the draw for the next edition of the Nations League was much simpler, placing top seeds Scotland in a group with Switzerland, Slovenia and... North Macedonia. After the first three balls selected by France legend Patrick Vieira, there was a fear the S theme would continue with Sweden emerging from Pot 4.

They were the ones to avoid, their lowly seeding surely a temporary result of bafflingly poor recent form. Scotland were spared being pitched against Alexander Isak and co and got North Macedonia instead. This positive development was overshadowed shortly afterwards when Clarke revealed that Harvey Barnes won’t be involved in this or any other competition, including the World Cup. Not with Scotland at least. The Newcastle United winger has declined the opportunity to switch eligibility from England.

In a way it meant the S theme had continued. Spurned. Barnes, Clarke explained, wants to concentrate on England, which says something about the player – he doesn’t lack confidence in himself.

The current England manager Thomas Tuchel has shown little inclination to pick him so far and the German has just signed a new two-year deal with the English FA. That news might have made things a little uncomfortable for the official Scotland party present in Brussels. Ian Maxwell, the SFA chief executive, and president Mike Mulraney would have been very aware that the future of the manager sitting beside them is not so cut and dried. As with Tuchel until his new agreement was announced, Clarke's current contract lasts only as long as Scotland remain in this summer's World Cup.

The German clearly didn’t want to be in the strange position post-draw of being asked about Nations League fixtures that he might not even be involved in. This was exactly what Clarke found himself doing. “The teams are evenly matched,” he mused. Indeed, it’s possible to wonder whether this state of flux factored into Barnes’ decision to turn down Scotland's overtures. What’s the point in the Newcastle United man saying yes to Clarke if he doesn’t end up sticking around and the next manager might not fancy him?

Whatever the reason, Barnes won’t be around for Scotland next Autumn when the fifth iteration of the Nations League kicks off again and neither might a raft of players following the World Cup. Never mind Clarke’s own intentions, some current stars might decide it’s time to give their body a rest and focus on club football.

The World Cup will be just a memory for both Scotland and Switzerland, probably the most potent team in Pot 2. It’s a far from straightforward group, with the Swiss the obvious rivals for top place and promotion back to League A, if that’s even desirable for Scotland. Musical entertainment was provided by The Blackouts, a Swiss light-up dance group (it says here). Not to be confused with The Blackouts, a post-punk band from Seattle.

The latter might have shaken things up. Are we ever happy? This draw avoided all the pitfalls endured in Washington DC. But it might have done with a little jazzing up. Perhaps Uefa reasoned that with everything else going on, it was best just to keep it simple – and play it straight.