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This article is part of the Guardian Euro 2024 Expert Network, a collaboration between some of the best media organizations from the 24 countries that made the cut. theguardian.com previews two countries each day in the run-up to the tournament, which starts on June 14.
Perspectives
I can Scotland go where they’ve never been by getting out of the groups at a major tournament?
When qualifying from a section including Spain and Norway, hopes were high for this script. Yet after that, Steve Clarke’s game went on a seven-game winless streak (before a a tough win against Gibraltar); defeats by France, England, Holland and Spain were understandable; Northern Ireland even less so. For the first time in a while, they seemed bereft.
This blunting of confidence may not hurt Scotland. The conceited Scots rarely prevail. In 1978, the team was kicked out of the world championship and failed. Clarke has assembled a competent squad that should believe they can finish above Hungary and Switzerland, but fall well short of the section’s standout name, Germany, in terms of collective ability.
Scotland are rarely flashy but play in a solid, well-coached system. Clarke and his team must have learned from the last Euros, when they felt they had failed to do justice. The left side is their forte, thanks to Andy Robertson’s marauding and Kieran Tierney’s line-breaking. Scott McTominay, often marginalized at club level, has Clarke’s full confidence. Scotland have an abundance of wealth in central midfield, which should make up for the lack of a top-class striker.
Right back is a problem area. Aaron Hickey was set to play there, but a serious hamstring injury has ruled the Brentford man out. Nathan Patterson, Clarke’s Plan B, was also forced to stay on the sidelines. This provided an opportunity for Bristol City’s Ross McCrory, although Celtic’s Anthony Ralston has moderately more international experience.
Scotland’s class of 2024 are fully capable of breaking their finals misery, but must be at their best to do so.