It’s an early trip back home for Celtic trio Callum McGregor, Anthony Ralston and James Forrest after Scotland’s Euro 2024 exit.
Steve Clarke’s side went to Germany full of hope, expectation and belief that they could progress to the knockout stages.
But instead, they only picked up one point, scored two goals, one of which was an own goal and were beaten by Hungary on Sunday in the 100th minute.
Scotland can have no complaints because they just weren’t at it, from an attacking perspective, during the game and they got duly punished right at the death.
Celtic captain McGregor has come under a lot of stick during this tournament, especially after his side’s 5-1 defeat to Germany on the opening night.
Yes, he and the rest of the players fought back against Switzerland, but it seems as though the old problems were rearing their ugly heads again on Sunday.
James McFadden was on commentary duty and he couldn’t help but notice Aston Villa’s John McGinn ‘having a go’ at McGregor and his Celtic teammate, Ralston for how they were playing out from the back.
The complaint was that the Scots were too passive, weren’t causing enough issues in the final third or making the wrong decisions. They only had four shots on goal in a must-win game!
But McFadden stated that McGregor wasn’t playing the ball forward, like he would do in a Celtic shirt, on the Euro 2024 stage and it was seemingly frustrating McGinn, as he told Match of the Day on BBC One.
Callum McGregor and Anthony Ralston under fire after Scotland’s Euro 2024 exit
“John McGinn was having a go at Callum McGregor and Anthony Ralston,” said McFadden. “When it comes into McGregor, he is on to play that forward pass and Callum McGregor normally does.
“Then when it comes to Ralston, the pass is still on and he goes for the big diagonal. McGinn is the one when the ball comes into him, he is stuck and it looks like he can create something.”
Where was James Forrest?
That’s the million-dollar question. You can’t seem to create consistent chances on a month of Sundays and James Forrest is just sat on the bench.
This wasn’t just highlighted after the second game, but Shane Duffy also brought it up after the Hungary loss.
Forrest had fought his way back into the Scotland set-up after a strong end to the season for Celtic, but probably should have stayed at home given that Steve Clarke ignored him.
If Scotland were creating chance after chance, then fair enough, but that wasn’t the case and he has a lot to answer for, in that regard.
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