During Scotland’s Euro 2024 debut against Germany, Callum McGregor, a seasoned winner with Celtic, faced a stark contrast in fortunes. The usually dominant Celtic captain suffered through a devastating defeat and a lackluster performance that was a far cry from his usual standards.
Coming into the game, Steve Clarke’s squad was aware of the challenge ahead against a powerhouse like Germany on the global stage. The question loomed large: could Scotland upset the odds and pull off a remarkable victory? Was Germany vulnerable to another upset in a major tournament?
However, any possibility of a surprise win was quickly crushed when Florian Wirtz scored early on, setting the tone for a nightmarish outing for Scotland.
Despite McGregor’s usual stellar contributions for Celtic, he struggled to make an impact and was substituted just past the hour mark. Calls have emerged for him to be excluded from the lineup for Scotland’s next match against Switzerland.
Amidst the criticism, John McGinn, McGregor’s midfield partner in the match, received backing from his brother Stephen McGinn who stressed McGregor’s importance to the national team. Stephen refused to entertain the notion of dropping McGregor, underlining his significance to Scotland even as he dealt with injuries towards the end of the Scottish Premiership season.
