Euro 2024: Can MacPhee help Scotland to set-piece success?

International football can be a game of fine margins.

For Scotland, any slight advantage could be the difference between a disappointing group-stage exit and the uncharted waters of knockout competition at a major tournament.

But what could Steve Clarke’s side have over their capable opposition in Germany, Switzerland and Hungary?

The answer may well be Austin MacPhee.

As coach and analyst John Walker told BBC’s Scottish Football Podcast, more and more emphasis has been placed on set-piece analysts in the modern game.

He says this trend is reaching an all-time high ahead of the Euros, noting a significant rise in the number of specialists being brought into international set-ups even compared to the Qatar World Cup 18 months ago.

Having crunched the numbers, Walker explains that Scotland’s rate of scoring from set-pieces is far higher than the average club side, putting that success down to MacPhee.

The former Hearts and St Mirren assistant manager is now working with Aston Villa, helping Unai Emery and his side to qualify for the Champions League for the first time since its inception in 1992.

Every team Scotland faces at the Euros will have at least one set-piece coach, but Walker believes few will have the pedigree that MacPhee possesses.

“I think we’ve got the best of the tournament’s set-piece analysts, the one that’s working at the highest level continually in that role,” he said.

“Scotland’s stats are way above club average. I know Austin MacPhee’s a massive part of that.

“I think we’ll see a real rise in corners being converted into goals in this tournament.”