SCOTLAND
FIFA World Ranking: 44
Previous Best: Group Stage 1992 & 1996
Last 5 Euros (Latest first): DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ-DNQ
How Qualified: Play-off Winners
Qualifying Record: P10 W5 D0 L5 F16 A19 GD-3 Pts15
Play-offs: Scotland 0-0 Israel (5-3 on pens) Serbia 1-1 Scotland (4-5 on pens)
Tournament Odds: 250/1
Squad
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Hearts), David Marshall (Derby), Jon McLaughlin (Rangers)
Defenders: Liam Cooper (Leeds), Declan Gallagher (Motherwell), Grant Hanley (Norwich), Jack Hendry (Celtic), Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest), Stephen O’Donnell (Motherwell), Nathan Patterson (Rangers), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Celtic), John Fleck (Sheffield United), James Forrest (Celtic), Ryan Fraser (Newcastle United), Billy Gilmour (Chelsea), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), David Turnbull (Celtic)
Forwards: Ché Adams (Southampton), Lyndon Dykes (QPR), Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian)
Group Fixtures
June 14 vs Czech Republic (2pm – Glasgow)
June 18 vs England (8pm – London)
June 22 vs Croatia (8pm – Glasgow)
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History
Scotland don’t have much of a history with the European Championship having only qualified for the tournament twice and not really offering up much in either event. They bombed out in the group stage on both occasions so their immediate task will be to be more competitive in the early stages and look to give themselves a knockout match at the third time of asking. This is the first major tournament the Scots have qualified for since 1998 so it would have been a big deal for them anyway without the home advantage they will enjoy throughout most of the group phase.
Qualifying
Scotland were another side who started out in qualifying knowing that whatever happened in their group they were guaranteed a play-off spot courtesy of their Nations League results. They were landed in a group with Belgium and Russia so finishing in the top two was always unlikely. They managed to maintain enough form during the group phase to hit the play-offs in confident mood and then twice held their nerve in the knockout stage of qualifying, coming through two penalty shootouts to take their place at the main party. John McGinn was their start in qualifying. He bagged seven goals.
Pandemic Effect
I don’t think the pandemic has had too much of a factor on the Scotland side. If anything they might have benefitted from it with them able to bring the likes of Che Adams through while players such as Andrew Robertson and John McGinn had impressive seasons for their club. They have gained a little more confidence with their Nations League and World Cup qualifying results since securing their spot at these finals so the delay has probably been good to them on the whole.
Strengths
Scotland have two of the best left-backs in the world although Kieran Tierney is likely to be utilised at left centre-back in order to allow Andrew Robertson to fill his natural berth. The other strength of this Scottish side is in the middle of the park where Scott McTominay and John McGinn provide the legs to win the ball back high up and allow their more attack minded players to get the ball in positions where they can hurt sides.
Weaknesses
This is a Scotland side without an out and out centre forward, or much in the way of true quality up front at all. Che Adams is a Premier League forward but hasn’t fully established himself at this level just yet so QPR forward Lyndon Dykes could lead the line which could cause some issues. The other thing which might go against them is an overall lack of pace at the heart of their defence which with some of the forwards they go up against could catch them out.
Manager
Steve Clarke served his apprenticeship as an assistant manager for much of his career before taking the full reins at clubs like West Bromwich Albion and Reading where his coaching credentials never really matched the results, albeit in difficult circumstances. His career took off in a spell at Kilmarnock where he was awarded the Manager of the Year gong in the Scottish Premiership in 2019. He took charge of Scotland shortly after and after a difficult start has put his blend on an average squad of players overall and got them to their first finals in 23 years. His record as Scotland boss reads P19 W8 D5 L6.
Key Players
A lot of attention will be on the left-backs in this Scotland squad but if they are going to escape the group and have a successful tournament then John McGinn needs to replicate his club form in a Scotland shirt. The combative midfielder is excellent at winning the ball back and he can also fire in a goal from distance too. He is given the licence to get into the box more in this Scotland setup which assists with his danger in attacking areas.
Team Bets
I respect the extra dimension that Che Adams has brought to this Scotland side but he’s still relatively inexperienced at this level even allowing for the fact that he has hit the ground running in his international career. I feel it is a little soon for him to be leading the line for Scotland in this tournament, if indeed he does play alongside Lyndon Dykes and not on the bench with the QPR man plying the lone furrow up top.
That makes me think there is value in opposing the favourite in the team top goalscorer market and I’m going to do it with the man who led the scoring in qualifying in John McGinn. I don’t expect many Scotland goals in this competition but he wins the ball up high and he has a long range shot on him. McTominay usually sits a little deeper to allow McGinn to operate further up the pitch than he does at club level for Aston Villa. Midfielders breaking into the box are successful at international level at the minute and the 11/2 on John McGinn to be their leading scorer looks good enough to me.
Tips
Back J.McGinn Top Scotland Goalscorer for a 1/10 stake at 6.50 with Bet365
