Scotland’s dynamic Celtic duo, Callum McGregor and Anthony Ralston, took to the field as their national team suffered a devastating blow at Euro 2024 on Sunday. Coach Steve Clarke’s squad faced off against Hungary with hopes of securing a win to advance to the knockout stages.
Despite the excitement and support from former Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou, the Scottish team struggled to make an impact during the crucial match. With an overwhelming sense of anticipation to break through to uncharted territory in the tournament, the players came up short, failing to breach Hungary’s defense and conceding a heartbreaking goal in the 100th minute.
Throughout Scotland’s time in Germany, there have been doubts about the team’s performance and tactical decisions, particularly centering around Celtic captain McGregor. The omission of winger James Forrest from the lineup, despite his offensive prowess, raised eyebrows and Shane Duffy questioned the decision on social media.
With McGregor and Ralston being consistent inclusions in the starting lineup, the absence of Forrest raised concerns about the team’s attacking options. Despite their efforts, Scotland could only muster four shots in their most important match of the tournament, leaving Duffy and fans alike questioning the manager’s choices.
The lackluster results and minimal offensive output in all three group games have put immense pressure on Clarke. While Scotland may now regularly qualify for major tournaments, the inability to compete at a high level with a talented squad has raised doubts about the team’s potential. The expectations were high, but the results have fallen short, leaving fans and pundits calling for improvements in the squad’s performance at future competitions.
