SCOTLAND face somewhat of a daunting task this summer as they head to the European Championships to battle it out in what is a very strong Group A.
Tournament hosts Germany, Switzerland, and Hungary will be their opponents in the opening stage, a stage they will look to advance through. You can expect there to be Celtic players in the squad, and they will be hoping to make a telling difference.
Scotland aren’t going to Germany as one of the favourites to win the tournament. They’re not even one of the outsiders looking at Euro 2024 betting online. But they’re not going to make up the numbers either. They will be aiming to give a good account of themselves, and it’s something that fans and manager Steve Clarke will demand, too, as well as the players who make the final squad.
Three players who are expected to be a part of Clarke’s selection are Celtic trio Anthony Ralston, Greg Taylor and Callum McGregor. All three could finish the domestic season with a Premiership winners medal to their name, which would be a significant plus heading into an international tournament where having the right mentality is vital. You can never have too many winners in a squad, after all. What could also prove key is that Celtic, in some ways, have had to overcome adversity after disappointing periods, such as back-to-back losses against Kilmarnock and Hearts.
Ralston, 25, is a five-time Scottish Premiership champion. While he’s not played as much as he’d like to have this term for Celtic, he’s got six caps for Scotland to his name, and he’s an able deputy for Everton’s Nathan Patterson, who has suffered with injury problems this season. Ralston can also fill in further up the pitch as a right midfielder if required.
When Taylor is available for Celtic, he starts. The left-back is a key player for his club, and it’s understandable why he’s only got eleven caps so far, with the twenty-six-year-old battling it out with Liverpool’s Andy Robertson, also the Scotland captain, for a starting berth. That trend is likely to continue, but Taylor could get game time, with Robertson having missed a large of the season due to injury. Taylor is dependable and a capable performer, as proven by his performances under Brendan Rodgers at Celtic.
Like Taylor, McGregor is another jewel in the crown at Celtic Park, and he’s the most internationally recognised of the trio after amassing fifty-three caps and counting. The Celtic skipper is a regular starter for Scotland and brings a wealth of experience to the midfield department, which will be crucial when playing the likes of Germany.
The thirty-year-old will head to the Euros, and he will start, more than likely alongside Scott McTominay and John McGinn, making the Scots really strong in the middle of the park, with plenty of know-how thrown in for good measure. And it could be McGregor who makes the difference.
