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Photo credit should read ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP/Getty Images
Scotland fans react to Celtic man Ryan Christie's performance
Ryan Christie’s international chance came last night in Scotland’s heavy 4-0 defeat to Belgium at Hampden.
The result doesn’t make qualification for Euro 2020 mathematically impossible. However, it does make it highly improbable. Scotland will have the Nations League playoffs to fall back on in March if they do indeed crash out.
Ryan Christie started for Scotland against Belgium (Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images)
But it wasn’t so much a personal horror show for Christie. He was given the chance to start the contest by Steve Clarke, and managed to play for 86 minutes before being hooked for John McGinn. Throughout the contest, Christie was the only one looking to drag Scotland forward and make things happen.
Granted, not many, if any, clear-cut chances were created by anyone. However, touching on his performance, here is a look at what some Scotland supporters are saying:
https://twitter.com/Derek123453/status/1171152760085065728
Scotland terrible again. Christie the only player that was looking up for it. How brilliant has Kevin de Bruyne been though. Absolute class.
— David Mackintosh (@ictdave1) September 9, 2019
Ryan Christie showing in 5 mins why he should have started against Russia
— OpticsBhoy (@Opticsbhoy) September 9, 2019
Only players I seen actually put a shift in tonight for Scotland were Ryan Christie, Andy Robertson and Robert Snodgrass. Rest were absolutely woeful, need to be much better than that, absolutely no effort at all
— Carson9TV 🇮🇹 (@Carson9TV) September 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/greigstott/status/1171159275407912960
Hard to find any positives from this game! Possibly Ryan Christie’s performance. Always looking to get on the ball even under pressure.
But you’ll get nowhere near a major tournament with Stephen O’Donnell as your right back!
— Daryl (@darylbhoy) September 9, 2019
https://twitter.com/Liam67M/status/1171152201521278977
https://twitter.com/Pope_Charlie_M/status/1171152125742723074
Ryan Christie proved a point tonight
It wasn’t a game-changing decision, but Scotland at least have a more energetic midfield with Christie in there. Against Belgium, it ultimately made little difference, but the Celtic man proved his point on the night.
You now have to wonder how big a mistake it was from Clarke to omit Christie from the starting line-up on Friday. Against Russia, which was a much more winnable contest than last night, the former Inverness and Aberdeen star was missing from the starting XI.
Christie should’ve started against Russia (Andy Buchanan/AFP/Getty Images)
Russia totally overan Scotland in the midfield during their 2-1 win at Hampden. And, ultimately, that result put a cloud of depression over the national team heading into the Belgium match.
Christie now has seven caps to his name with Scotland. Last night’s performance should guarantee him another couple next month against Russia and San Marino respectively – injury dependent of course.
Christie must now build on his terrific Celtic form (Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
But the Scotland supporters were evidently impressed with him, as McGinn dropped out.
Callum McGregor also featured alongside Christie in that midfield, but he wasn’t at his best throughout the contest.
As for Christie, however, he can at the very least be satisfied with his own individual efforts last night.
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