Who should go to Germany for Scotland this summer?
By Jack Cranmer
Here’s City Live’s take on who’ll be on the plane to represent Scotland at the European Championships
With Scotland heading to Germany for the UEFA European Championships, Steve Clarke has the task of choosing his 23-man squad to hop on the plane. It’s an unenviable task but we have looked at the options and picked what looks to be the ideal squad.
Goalkeepers:
Angus Gunn: First choice at Premier League promotion-chasing Norwich. Gunn will follow in his father Bryan’s footsteps as a major tournament squad member for Scotland. However, unlike his father who went to the 1990 World Cup finals as third choice keeper, Angus will undoubtably head to Germany as undisputed number one.
Zander Clark: Clark has kept 14 clean sheets for Hearts this year as they have eased away from the rest of the pack in 3rd. He has the best record in the league behind only Jack Butland and his excellent form has even kept Hearts legend Craig Gordon out of the Jambo’s first XI despite the veteran’s return from injury.
Craig Gordon: Despite not regaining his place at Tynecastle, Gordon should still be on the flight to Germany. The 41-year-old’s experience will be an invaluable asset to a young squad. The keeper has managed 74 caps over a 20-year international career despite missing years through serious injury as well as having Allan McGregor and David Marshall as competition over the majority of his career.
Defenders:
Aaron Hickey: Undoubtedly Scotland’s best right back, the former Hearts wonderkid, now Premier League star with Brentford, has transitioned across the park over the past few years after starting at left-back for the Jambos. Hickey has pace and directness going forward and good crossing ability as well as being solid at the back. Experience in Serie A and the Premier League has developed Hickey into a prized asset for the national team. However, a serious injury in October has kept the full-back out of action and he will be touch and go for the tournament in the summer but has not as yet been ruled out. Waiting in the wings if Hickey cannot make a recovery are both Celtic’s Anthony Ralston and Motherwell veteran Stephen O’Donnell, who starred as Scotland earned a point against England at their last Euro venture.
Nathan Patterson: The Everton full-back has been subject to criticism after his poor display in Scotland’s defeat to Northern Ireland. Patterson gave away possession for the goal and his overall display was well below his usual par. Clarke blamed the error on a lack of match sharpness for the former Rangers youngster who has been displaced in Sean Dyche’s Toffees side. Patterson should still head to the Euros despite his recent woes as his overall qualities do make him an asset, especially if Hickey misses out.
Grant Hanley: The veteran defender has been a mainstay in the national side over the past decade through many ups and downs but has shown tremendous mental toughness to keep his place and improve with the side to become a defensive asset. He is a certainty to be on the plane to the continent.
Scott McKenna: Despite being shipped out to Denmark by relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest, the former Aberdeen stopper should be another stick-on for a place in the squad. A towering colossus at the back, McKenna is in the prime of his career and has established a place in the Scottish backline for himself and his performances will be a deciding factor on how far Scotland go at this tournament.
Ryan Porteous: An opinion-splitting figure in the Scottish game, Porteous’s decision to depart Easter Road for England will be a big one for his career as he was becoming a caricature and pantomime villain in the Scottish league. The move away from the limelight to Watford has allowed Porteous to focus on his game and improve enough to ensure he will be with the national squad this summer.
Jack Hendry: A move to Saudi Arabia has not dampened Hendry’s international career as it has for others. Trusted by Clarke, the former Celtic man should still make the squad, but his longer-term international future may be at risk if he does not move back to a more competitive footballing nation.
John Souttar: This final central defensive pick could go either way depending on the domestic season’s outcome. Should Souttar help safeguard Rangers to a shock treble win or even a domestic double of Premiership title and League Cup, then he should have a seat on the flight to Germany. However, should the Brechin-born defender allow more mistakes to creep into his game like they did against the Netherlands then Leeds skipper Liam Cooper will be waiting in the wings. Cooper himself could also be set for an excellent club campaign with Leeds at present topping the English Championship, but in terms of quality overall Souttar should just about edge it.
Kieran Tierney: Nobody has ever doubted Tierney’s quality. Injuries have hampered his career in recent years and have seen him lose his place at Arsenal and end up out in La Liga on loan. He is still playing at a top level and, should he stay fit, he will remain one of the first names on Clarke’s squad list.
Tierney is key to how Clarke’s side play (Image: Getty Images)
Andy Robertson: Scotland captain, European Cup winner. No more needs said. Should his injury sustained against Northern Ireland prove not to be too serious he will be the first name on the squad list and the team sheet.
Midfielders:
Scott McTominay: A scorer of vital goals and a midfield maestro, he can also cover both in defence and attack if needed. McTominay is an essential piece in Clarke’s side and will already have his itinerary ready for Germany.
McTominay was the star of Scotland’s qualifying campaign (Image: Getty Images)
John McGinn: A dynamic box-to-box midfielder and another who can pop up with vital goals. The Villa man will be on the flight to Germany without a doubt.
Stuart Armstrong: Having matured into a fine player with Southampton, despite relegation he has stayed with the Saints. He will hope to achieve both Premier League promotion and secure a place in the squad before the season is out. He will be hopeful of producing a big moment at these finals to finally be fully forgiven for not clearing the ball against England in the 2-2 draw in 2017.
Ryan Christie: The former Celtic midfielder has become both a Premier League and Scotland regular in the past few years and should feel secure about his place for the finals barring any sudden injury or severe loss in form.
Lewis Ferguson: Since making the move to Italy with Bologna, Ferguson has gone from strength to strength. He now captains the Emilia-Romagna-based side and has been linked with a move to Juventus. He has to be a pick for the squad on current form and should be a mainstay for the side in the coming years.
Billy Gilmour: Once hailed as the next superstar of Scottish football, Gilmour’s move to Chelsea didn’t quite work out as hoped. The Ayrshire-born midfielder has however found a home at Brighton and become a regular in the English top-flight and his composure and quality on the ball at such a high level should secure him a spot on the plane.
Callum McGregor: Celtic captain and a calming influence in the midfield, should he stay injury-free McGregor is a definite pick for the squad and the starting 11.
Kenny McLean: A whipping boy for some in the Tartan Army when squads are announced, McLean silenced many doubters with a final-minute winner away to Norway to set Scotland on their way in Group A. McLean is yet another trusted lieutenant of Clarke and it will be a toss-up between him and Ryan Jack of Rangers for this final midfield spot. Clarke clearly likes both players, but Jack’s injury woes will surely see him yet again miss out on tournament football like they did for Euro 2020 and the Norwich midfielder will be the one to capitalise on his misfortune.
Forwards:
Che Adams: Adams has become the main attacker for the Scottish side since switching his allegiance in 2021 and is enjoying his most fruitful season for club side Southampton this campaign. He has pace and is a decent finisher despite not being overly prolific and should be another certainty for the squad.
Lyndon Dykes: He offers something different in attack with his strong build and aerial presence. The Australian-born striker is a favourite of Clarke and should be in the squad. A valuable asset off the bench, he could be crucial in close matches.
The QPR striker could have a key part to play for Scotland in Germany (Image: Getty Images)
Lawrence Shankland: He has doubters over whether he is international quality, but the Hearts captain should be on the squad based on this season’s form. He has blown every other striker in Scotland away and leads the scoring charts with 20 league goals already this campaign. This may be his only chance to perform on this stage and he really must take any opportunity he gets to maintain his international career. Jacob Brown and Kevin Nisbet will be on standby should any opportunity arise with injury to any of the attacking options.