Celtic have four players involved at EURO 2024 who will be keen to make history before enjoying some well-deserved recuperation.
Callum McGregor, Anthony Ralston, Greg Taylor and James Forrest will all represent Scotland at the tournament; meanwhile, they are joined by some familiar faces, such as Kieran Tierney, Stuart Armstrong and Jack Hendry.
The Tartan Army take on Germany tomorrow evening before fixtures against Switzerland and Hungary determine the outcome of their exploits in Group A.
Undoubtedly, there will have been a contingent of Celtic who have made the trip over to experience the tournament excitement.
Nevertheless, what are the chances of these four Bhoys getting on the pitch across the next few games? 67 Hail Hail take a look at who could be most prominent.
Callum McGregor will feature heavily for Scotland
First of all, I should clarify that these assessments are based on my opinion only, but you won’t be surprised to hear my thoughts that McGregor will have a major part to play in Germany.
Having surpassed a half-century of caps for Scotland, the club captain, who will face Die Mannschaft on his 31st birthday, has always been a beacon of reliability for the national team, transferring his high standards at the club level over to duties in dark blue.
John McGinn, Scott McTominay, Billy Gilmour and Ryan Christie are among his main competitors for a spot in the engine room; regardless, you would imagine he would start against Germany tomorrow. If he doesn’t, it is a near certainty he will be brought off the bench. That goes for Switzerland and Hungary too, factoring in the whole group stage.
Steve Clarke isn’t prone to major rotation; he is known for instilling a club-like mentality during his camps. However, expect McGregor to be at the forefront of Scotland’s quest for tournament success.
Anthony Ralston is also set to gain minutes at EURO 2024
Following injuries to Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson that rendered their EURO 2024 involvement redundant, Ralston will fight it out with Ross McCrorie for a berth on the right-hand side of Clarke’s backline.
Neither were forecast as being first choice for the position. However, in light of his impressive display at home to Finland last Friday, the 25-year-old has put himself in with a fighting chance of starting against Germany.
Even if McCrorie were to get the nod, rotation is expected at right wing-back across the three games. Tournament football is intense, and given the number of injuries Scotland have encountered in preparation for the trip, Clarke will recognise the need to keep his group fresh for the duration.
From nearly being out of the door at Celtic in 2021, Ralston’s upward career trajectory has been a fascinating watch. What a story it would be if he contributed to making history on the national stage.
James Forrest could be Scotland’s wildcard in Germany
Ending a three-year exile from international duty, Forrest could be a wildcard in Germany coming off the back of a terrific end to the campaign, registering three goals and an assist during the Scottish Premiership run-in, per Transfermarkt.
Ben Doak’s absence from the squad has left a dearth of game-changing players to call upon for variation. Could Forrest be the answer off the bench amid his run of recent form?
His capacity to retain intensity for 90 minutes may have dropped slightly due to age; regardless, no winger in the Scotland squad possesses the same level of ball manipulation, game intelligence, and end product.
He made his first appearance since 2021 against Gibraltar last Monday, and depending on how his fitness holds up, there may be opportunities for him to shine at EURO 2024.
Greg Taylor’s uphill battle for minutes due to competition
You know where I’m going with this already, but Taylor may struggle for involvement in Germany because Andy Robertson and Kieran Tierney will be in front of him in the pecking order.
Scotland are blessed with two of the best left-backs in the world, which could render Taylor as a back-up figure unless injuries take their toll.
Tierney primarily features as a left centre-back for Scotland; however, if Liverpool stalwart Robertson were to pick up a knock, the former Celtic man would likely take over on the left-hand side.
Either way, Taylor has been selected for his second camp at the European Championships on merit. Hopefully, the four Bhoys involved can shine bright for their nation.
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