Scotland head to Euro 2024 with an unfamiliar sense of optimism within the air.
The Tartan Military are collaborating of their fourth European Championship having beforehand by no means made it previous the group stage – together with three years in the past in disappointing model at Euro 2020.
However after qualifying with video games to spare this time round, there may be real hope that Steve Clarke’s males might have what it takes to lastly go additional.
Can this Scotland aspect take the following step and make their mark on the worldwide event stage? Let’s have a deepeer dive to search out out…
Sealing qualification… with ease!
Scotland qualifying for a significant event is uncommon sufficient, so the convenience at which they did so is one thing of a relic.
They wanted a nail-biting penalty shoot-out in a play-off match in opposition to Cyprus to achieve Euro 2020 however this time round it was way more easy crusing.
Pitched as 14-1 outsiders to win a gaggle containing 2012 winners Spain and Erling Haaland’s Norway, the Scots claimed the scalp of each these sides throughout a memorable marketing campaign, with Scott McTominay transitioning into an unlikely goalscoring machine.
They spent a lot of the marketing campaign in prime spot earlier than being pipped by Spain however solely after a spot at Germany this summer season had already been secured.
Profitable 5 out of eight video games total and in addition sealing promotion to the highest tier within the Nations League, Scotland seem able to tackle Europe’s prime groups.
Dangerous timing?
After qualifying final Autumn whereas driving the crest of a wave, Clarke might have been forgiven for wanting the event to begin there after which, with their kind since then hitting a sticky patch.
After their Nations League promotion, Scotland organised friendlies in opposition to higher-quality opponents – taking over England, France and the Netherlands.
These three video games between September and March led to 3-1, 4-1 and 4-0 defeats… earlier than they misplaced 1-0 to Northern Eire.
It was a stark reminder of the step up required to develop into a risk on the worldwide stage.
Their warm-up video games forward of the event have ever so barely dampended optimism too. After labouring to a 2-0 win over minnows Gibraltar, they let a two-goal lead slip to attract with Finland.
Their group
Group A: Germany, Scotland, Hungary, Switzerland ✅#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/GRedQ1cVPj
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) December 2, 2023
Although it may have been worse, qualifying from a gaggle made up of Germany, Switzerland and Hungary won’t precisely be a stroll within the park and they’re unsurprisingly outsiders to win the group at 11-1.
They are going to have the entire of Europe watching once they kick off the event in opposition to the hosts on Friday, with optimism rising over their nation’s prospects beneath Julian Nagelsmann.
Taking something away from that opener appears to be like a tall order and the Scots will look to the opposite two video games as the possibility to get the factors wanted.
That’s simpler stated than accomplished although. Switzerland won’t be a risk to the grand prize however are an skilled event group, whereas Hungary have some notable stars of their ranks.
However with the format probably permitting a 3rd place within the group to qualify for the knockout levels, it may effectively be anybody’s recreation.
Clarke informed BBC Sport: “The underside line is we want 4 factors to come back out the group, that ensures that you just’ll come out of the group nearly without end. That at all times occurs
“Three factors and a zero objective distinction would in all probability get out of the group in order that’s what we’ve to take a look at – each recreation in isolation, guarantee that we’re aggressive in each recreation and realistically you go into the final recreation with an opportunity to qualify.
“We play in opposition to Hungary within the final recreation, that’s the place we wish to be – in the same state of affairs the place we all know we are able to get a end result and we are able to qualify.”
Who will they face in the event that they make it out of the group?
Ought to Scotland trigger an enormous upset and win Group A, they might tackle the runners-up in England’s group.
That probably means Denmark within the final 16, earlier than qualiying nemeses Spain within the quarter-finals offering they prime Group B.
In the event that they end second within the group, a last-16 tie in opposition to one in all Spain, Italy or Croatia probably awaits. Come by that and it may very well be England within the quarter-finals. Yikes!
Ending third within the group would in all probability end in drawing the same high-profile title from Teams B, E or F – containing Spain, Belgium and Portugal respectively.
Who can be key for them?
🔢 Your @EURO2024 Scotland squad numbers 🏴#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/g0cevYWsNS
— Scotland Nationwide Workforce (@ScotlandNT) June 10, 2024
Scotland will not be wanting family names we repeatedly see gentle up the Premier League however there are aerguably a couple of noticeable gaps within the aspect Clarke has to select from.
Captain Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney majke up a powerful left aspect, with Brighton creator Billy Gilmour additionally working in these areas.
Jack Hendry and Nathan Patterson maybe don’t provide the identical risk on the fitting, creating one thing of an inbalance within the group.
That’s not to say there isn’t a lot extra high quality elsewhere, with McTominay at all times coming alive for his nationwide aspect, as does fellow superior midfielder John McGinn who has simply loved an outstanding marketing campaign for Aston Villa.
These two can be tasked with taking the goalscoring burden away from a light-weight set of goalscoring strikers, with Lyndon Dykes dominated out and Che Adams not a prolific No9.
Laurence Shankland actually has been that with 31 objectives for Hearts this season, nonetheless. The 31-year-old is filled with confidence and will show one thing of an unknown amount on the continent.
Good vibes solely
Regardless of a couple of disappointing ends in the build-up to the event, Clarke has obtained no time for any negativity as they embark on one other main event journey.
He stated: “Any time I learn a little bit snippet from somebody who desires to be a unfavorable Norman I simply dismiss it as a result of what’s to be unfavorable about?
“We’re going into one other main event, the squad is in place and we’re all decided to do in addition to we are able to for our nation. Why not simply loosen up and luxuriate in it?
“That’s what we’re going to attempt to do. Clearly we’ve obtained to attempt to produce the products on the pitch and that’s what we’ll do.
“I simply don’t perceive why anybody could be unfavorable a couple of second European Championships in a row and actually good squad of gamers who’ve proven how good they’re for his or her nation.
“Let’s get behind them and provides them an actual probability.”
The welcome celebration 🇩🇪
🕺 @jmcginn7 #EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/RUErC8rTRO
— Scotland Nationwide Workforce (@ScotlandNT) June 9, 2024
Verdict
Scotland have come on leaps and bounds in three years and the way in which they had been comfortably swept apart at Euro 2020 – apart from THAT England draw – is unquestionably out of the query.
Clarke’s troops have an actual probability of creating historical past by reaching the knockout levels, one thing no different Scottish group has achieved, and so they have pretty much as good an opportunity as Switzerland or Hungary in that group.
However whether or not troubling the larger nations in the event that they get there may simply be a step too far.
