For the first time since 1998, Scotland will participate in a major international tournament at Euro 2020.
After years of disappointment and torment, Scotland will finally be able to blend into the European Finals once again. Frankly, it’s been too long.
However, the Tartan Army is in a difficult group. They will face Croatia, the Czech Republic and their lifelong rivals: England.
There is certainly one match out of the three group stage matches that will stand out for Scottish fans. It has been almost 25 years since Scotland and England last met at the European Championship.
This is the clash that fans will be waiting for. But what else is there to know about Scotland’s entry into the Euros?
Everything you need to know about Scotland at Euro 2020
Who is the coach of the Scottish national team?
Scotland is currently run by Steve Clarke. He has directed West Brom, Reading and most recently Kilmarnock in the past.
As a player, he played six games for Scotland between 1987 and 1994. Clarke was best known for his time at Chelsea, where he spent eleven years and made 421 appearances.
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Clarke was impressive at Kilmarnock, winning 40 of the 79 games he managed. He racked up a points record for Killie and won the SPFL Manager of the Year award two years in a row. He left in 2019 to fill the vacant position in Scotland, where he remains to this day.
So far, it has proven its worth for Scotland. Taking them to their first big tournament of this millennium is more than enough to justify this.
Sure, Clarke’s Scotland was defeated by Belgium and Russia. That’s not too surprising, given the gulf in the quality of the available players. On paper, Serbia also had a better team than Scotland, but they were able to get the result they needed. For her desire and courage, Clarke deserves credit.
Who has been selected in the Scotland team for Euro 2020?
Porteros: Craig Gordon (Hearts), David Marshall (Derby County), Jon McLaughlin (Rangers)
Defensores: Liam Cooper (Leeds), Nathan Patterson (Rangers), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Grant Hanley (Norwich City), Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest), Stephen O’Donnell (Motherwell), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal), Declan Gallagher (Motherwell), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Jack Hendry (Oostende)
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Centrocampistas: Billy Gilmour (Chelsea), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), David Turnbull (Celtic), Ryan Christie (Celtic), John Fleck (Sheffield) Unido)
Delanteros: Ryan Fraser (Newcastle United), Lyndon Dykes (Queens Park Rangers), Che Adams (Southampton), Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian), James Forrest (Celtic)
Che Adams’ first major tournament
Che Adams raised a few eyebrows when he compromised his international future in Scotland. Previously, he had been capped with England in the U-20 category, but never with the first team.
He was eligible through one of his grandparents and decided to make the leap after talking to Clarke.
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Adams has had a respectable season for Southampton, scoring nine goals and recording five assists. Previously, he scored goals for Birmingham and Sheffield United.
Realistically, with England depth at the top, Adams was going to have a hard time clinching a first-team spot. If it’s international football you want, then moving to Scotland seems like a smart choice.
The tartan army is not blessed with quality in the last third – the adaptable Adams could be the solution.
Group stage schedule
Scotland will play the Czech Republic for the first time on June 14 in Glasgow no less. The Czech Republic are the least intimidating of Scotland’s three Group D rivals, but they are not easy to convince.
They have quality in their ranks, especially in the form of Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal. Patrik Schick is perhaps their most dangerous player, scoring 13 goals in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen this season.
Croatia will pose a threat. They didn’t reach the World Cup final by accident three years ago, and they are still a strong team. However, they are not the team they were in 2018.
Mario Mandzukic and Ivan Rakatic have retired from international service. Also, they don’t have a young superstar that comes to mind. There is Nikola Vlasic, but now he is 23 years old.
They still have players like Ivan Perisic, Mateo Kovacic and the legendary Luka Modric, so don’t underestimate them.
England have a very strong team, exemplified by their wide range of attacking options. It’s fair to say that Scotland has no one to rival the talents of Harry Kane or Phil Foden.
It won’t be easy for Scotland, but anything can happen that day. This season has shown us how strange and unpredictable football can be – a surprise in Scotland is possible.
Scotland will be happy to have reached the final of the European Championship. Despite this, with players like Andy Robertson, Billy Gilmour and a determined coach, they are not whipping the boys. The Tartan Army has come to fight, and no game against them will be easy.
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