CELTIC skipper Callum McGregor faces another hectic summer schedule as Scotland brought down the curtain on the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign in the 3-3 draw with Norway at Hampden last night.
The influential Hoops midfield leader will be aiming to be involved in the Scottish Cup Final at Hampden on the iconic date of May 25 next year for a silverware lining to mark the second homecoming of Brendan Rodgers.
The Irishman is bidding to guide the Parkhead side to their twelfth title in 13 years before the soccer showpiece is due at the national stadium.
CELTIC CONNECTIONS…past and present Hoops stars have a confab at Hampden following Scotland’s 3-3 draw with Norway. Callum McGregor holds court with Stuart Armstrong, Mohamed Elyououssi, Greg Taylor, Ryan Christie and Kristoffer Ajer in attendance.
As ever, 30-year-old McGregor will be playing his part as he attempts to win a seventh honour since taking over the captain’s armband from Scott Brown in Ange Postecoglou’s debut campaign in 2021/22.
The Euro 2024 Championship Finals are scheduled to kick off in Germany on June 14 – only 20 days after the domestic Cup Final – and conclude on July 14 with the new Scottish season due to commence around the same time.
The Hoops star, and his team-mate Greg Taylor, were involved as Steve Clarke’s side sealed their place in next summer’s soccer extravaganza with two games to spare.
It was party time in Mount Florida following a see-saw encounter with the battling Norwegians who had ex-Celts Kristoffer Ajer and Mohamed Elyounoussi in their line-up at the end of the match.
A four-goal first-half saw the hosts equalise twice. Aron Donnum fired the visitors ahead with a slight deflection off Nathan Patterson before his handball allowed John McGinn to thump in an equaliser via the penalty spot.
PICK IT OUT…Stuart Armstrong whips in Scotland’s third goal with a smart finish.
Jorgen Strand Larsen left Zander Clark helpless with a close-in finish, but once again the Scots fought back and a Kenny McLean header was deflected by Leo Ostigard for the second leveller.
One-time Hoops fans’ favourite Stuart Armstrong whipped in a disguised low shot to put Clarke’s side ahead before his former Southampton colleague Elyounoussi headed in with the clock ticking down in stoppage-time.
The result combined with Spain’s 3-1 victory over Georgia in the other Group A match means Scotland will be in pot three for the Finals.
At the end of the confrontation, the home players donned “We’re off to Germany” t-shirts and acknowledged the cheers of the Tartan Army as they performed a lap of honour.
Delighted boss Clarke, speaking to Sky Sports, said: “It was a nice night for the supporters to say thank you to the team and a nice night for the team and the staff to thank the supporters.
“That part of the night was pretty good!
EURO 24 FINALS, HERE WE COME…the Scotland players perform a lap of honour at Hampden.
“I’ll probably spend the next couple of days recovering then after that I’ll probably look back at the games against Norway and Georgia to see what I and the players could have done better.
“Then I’ll get myself ready for a trip to Hamburg which is great because we’re in the draw. It’s something everyone can look forward to next summer.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”
Scotland will discover their Euro 2024 group when the draw gets underway at 5pm on December 2.
