King Charles has offered his “sincere commiserations” to Scotland after they were knocked out of this year’s World Cup. The Scots won their opening match but with two defeats and a minus-three goal difference, they failed to secure a place in the last 32. Their departure was confirmed on Saturday night following Croatia’s 2-1 win against Ghana, just hours after King Charles had opened the seventh session of the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
King Charles's Statement
In a statement posted on social media on Sunday, Charles paid tribute to the “joy” the Scottish team brought to the nation. “To the players, outgoing manager and support staff of Scotland’s football team, I would like to offer you my sincere commiserations on exiting the World Cup,” the message read. “While I know what a huge disappointment this will be – just as it is for New Zealand, who didn’t make it through this time and have my similar sympathies – I hope you may be able to return home with proud hearts for the joy you have given to so many in having qualified for the first time in over 25 years.”
Message to Other Realms
Charles added: “I fear that traditional sporting rivalries mean it may be too much to hope that the devoted Tartan Army of yours will now cheer with full voice for the three other realms still in contention, but my wife and I nonetheless wish England, Australia, and Canada the very best of luck for the battles ahead.” The message, displayed over a blurred image of Scotland fans, ends with Charles’s signature above a saltire flag.
Steve Clarke Resigns
John Swinney earlier said he was “sorry” to see Steve Clarke had resigned following Scotland’s exit. Clarke led Scotland to three out of the last four major tournaments, marking the national team’s first World Cup finals appearance since 1998. Writing on X, Swinney paid tribute: “I am sorry to hear that Steve Clarke has stood down as Head Coach @ScotlandNT. He has taken the team and the country on an exciting journey to reach the World Cup for the first time in 28 years and he has so much to be proud of. I wish him well for the future.” Swinney also reposted Clarke’s open letter to supporters, calling it “a fantastic, loving message to Scotland”.
Clarke's Open Letter
The three-page letter, entitled Bye-Bye Scotland, finished with the words: “The most emotional part of this goodbye is for my players, without whom we wouldn’t have had any of the memories that we’ve accumulated from 2019 until now. They deserve all the praise and adulation that they receive and it was truly an honour to be called their gaffer. Thanks for having me and good luck to my successor.”
