And from the Scots, we heard fighting talk, we heard self-belief, we heard rallying words.
“Everyone’s fully fit, flying, desperate to be selected and ready to go,” said Clarke.
“We don’t want any regrets,” said captain Andy Robertson with a stern look on his face. “We’re ready, excited, all eyes are on us and it’s time to show what we can do.”
Compared to the sedate language of earlier in the week, this was a different level. Scotland left Garmisch-Partenkirchen in early afternoon on Thursday and, clearly, on the coach trip through the Schwabing-Freimann district and the Werner-Heinsenberg-Allee road approach to the stadium, they put their game faces on.
History was one of the themes. Many men’s Scotland teams with many immortal players have tried to make it out of the group stage of a major championship and none of them have ever managed it.
“We believe we can do it,” said Robertson. Of course, times have changed and, with a 24-team European Championship now, it’s easier now to do it than it ever was when Denis Law and Jimmy Johnstone and Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness were trying and failing.
Third in the group might be enough. “Four points” has been Clarke’s mantra.
If they get even one point against Germany on Friday, then cue euphoria among the Scots in Bavaria. If they get three, then Oktoberfest will come early, dressed in a kilt with bagpipes skirling.