Scotland’s Most Impactful Players at Euro 2024

Scotland’s Most Impactful Players at Euro 2024

One point from three group stage games saw Scotland make a quiet exit from Euro 2024 at the earliest opportunity. The Tartan Army travelled to Germany this summer in a positive mood, but across all three group games the team looked undercooked and lacking in quality in key areas.

Their 5-1 hammering by host nation, Germany, on the opening night set the tone for Scotland’s tournament. They were too defensive and too respectful of their opposition, allowing the Germans to trample all over them into a three-goal lead by the half time interval. Even in their second group game with Switzerland, they managed to edge themselves in front through Scott McTominay, but lacked the composure and mental toughness to close out the win.

In their winner-takes-all encounter with Hungary, Scotland were lacklustre throughout. They failed to test the Hungarian keeper with a shot on target until second half stoppage time. The overriding feeling among the Scottish fans was underwhelmed. Scotland’s appearances at major tournaments have been fewer and further between in recent decades, so to show little appetite or ambition to attack leaves a bitter taste in the mouths of many of the Scottish faithful.

A lack of goal threat has been the biggest bone of contention, with Che Adams looking continually isolated as Scotland’s lone striker. The lack of game time for red-hot striker Lawrence Shankland, left many of the Tartan Army puzzled.

All of which has left England as the lone UK representative in the knockout stages of Euro 2024. Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions have been similarly underwhelming in the competition to date, but still have quality in all the right areas of the pitch to make an impression. In fact, they’re still joint-second favourites with Germany at bet365, with 5.50 considered the best odds for Euros outright wagers on England this summer.

As the Scottish FA prepares to conduct a root-and-branch review of the team’s Euro 2024 preparations and performances, let’s do our own assessment of the Scottish players who did themselves the most justice at Euro 2024:

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Billy Gilmour

23-year-old midfielder, Billy Gilmour, reinforced his importance to the Scotland squad, not just now but in the years to come. Gilmour was comfortably Scotland’s most composed player in possession, showing and retaining the ball throughout. Gilmour started on the bench for the opening game in the competitive Group A against Germany but was promptly selected for the Switzerland and Hungary games.

Gilmour enjoyed a breakout season in 2023/24 with Premier League outfit, Brighton & Hove Albion. He carried on that form against the Swiss with a mature, composed performance which belied his tender years. He was one of the few players who tried to play through the lines and make things happen against Hungary too.

Jack Hendry

29-year-old central defender, Jack Hendry, can come out of the tournament with some credit despite the team conceding seven goals in three Group A games. His best showing was in the Hungary game, where he stood tall amid Hungary’s direct aerial threat.

Hendry, who signed for Steven Gerrard in the Saudi Arabian Pro League last summer, formed a relatively solid defensive partnership with Grant Hanley, while looking keen to play the ball into the likes of Gilmour and McGinn.

John McGinn

Aston Villa ace, John McGinn, was utilised in a more advanced midfield role by Steve Clarke. McGinn was tasked with attempting to link the midfield and the lone striker, Che Adams. McGinn was one of the few who really looked up for the battle of Euro 2024 knockout qualification. He’s been the nation’s most productive player in the midfield for several seasons now and nothing changed on that front in Germany.

Eyebrows were raised high when Clarke opted to substitute McGinn in the Hungary game, 15 minutes from time, with the Scots still needing a goal to reach the last 16. Perhaps the biggest issue for McGinn at this tournament – and in other Scotland games – is that too few players are on the same wavelength.

By the time of the next Euros, the Tartan Army will hope that the likes of Gilmour are the beating heart of this squad. They’ll also hope the likes of Scott McTominay are rather less anonymous than in this tournament.

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