Steve Clarke will name his first Scotland squad for Euro 2024 on Wednesday – but who could be on that plane to Germany?
In recent weeks, that picture has become less clear following injuries to key players.
There are problems at right-back, while decisions need to be made at goalkeeping and in midfield.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that more than 26 cleared players are named – giving Clarke time to evaluate options in the weeks leading up to the June 7 deadline.
A total of 29 players have featured in Scotland’s eight qualifiers – with Clarke saying the “core team” of this successful campaign “deserve the chance to go to the Euros” – meaning he will have very difficult decisions to make…
Defensive dilemma
Aaron Hickey (left) and Nathan Patterson (centre) will miss the Euros due to injury
The big question mark comes at the right back. Aaron Hickey will be out with a hamstring injury after not playing for Brentford since last October.
To Hickey’s likely replacement, Nathan Patterson. The Everton defender is also out after suffering a hamstring injury himself in the stoppage-time defeat to Chelsea last month.
So who does Clarke turn to? Well, the good news is that there will be no shortage of alternatives.
Anthony Ralston could be an option – having featured in recent squads – but is not Celtic’s first choice. Former Aberdeen defender Ross McCrorie could also be in the mix after impressing at Bristol City and was called up last June in place of the injured Ralston.
Ross McCrorie could return to Scotland squad after impressive season
Elsewhere, former Motherwell player Max Johnston won the Austrian title at Sturm Graz this season and was a substitute in last year’s friendly against France, while Liam Palmer made 38 appearances for Sheffield Wednesday.
There is still the possibility of trying to entice Newcastle’s Tino Livramento to declare for Scotland, or will he consider a back-to-the-future approach and deploy Kieran Tierney at right-back instead of his role as center back?
There is also good news on defense. Norwich’s Grant Hanley and Copenhagen’s Scott McKenna – both of whom withdrew from March camp due to injury – returned to action for their clubs before the end of the season.
Grant Hanley (left) and Scott McKenna (right) are both back fit after injury
Regardless of which players Clarke selects at right-back, they will have two warm-up games in June against Finland and Gibraltar to try to win that starting spot for the tournament’s opening match against Germany.
Who will succeed in midfield?
Lewis Ferguson underwent surgery for ACL injury
As Serie A star Lewis Ferguson’s hopes are over after rupture of his anterior cruciate ligament – There could be good news for Scottish fans with Stuart Armstrong returning from injury.
Ferguson featured in three qualifiers and both March friendlies – and while he may not have started in Germany – the Bologna captain would have been in Clarke’s squad had he not was forced to undergo surgery.
Armstrong, meanwhile, was stretchered off during Southampton’s defeat to Cardiff City last month. However, club boss Russell Martin said the player had a “great chance” of making it through.
Stuart Armstrong is recovering from an injury picked up against Cardiff in April.
This is an area of the pitch where Clarke has a variety of quality options.
Callum McGregor, John McGinn, Scott McTominay and Ryan Christie have featured in all eight Euro qualifiers – a feat only matched by striker Lyndon Dykes – suggesting the boss will be consistent with his approach through the middle.
Kenny McLean (7) and Billy Gilmour (5) also featured regularly and are expected to board the plane to Germany.
Ryan Christie, John McGinn and Scott McTominay all set to travel to Germany for the Euros
However, could Celtic’s James Forrest get one of those extra places on the plane? Although he has not played for the national team since 2021, he finished the season in great form with his club, scoring five goals in eight games, and could offer a different attacking option – or even play in a full-back role right.
Aberdeen’s Connor Barron (left) and Celtic’s James Forrest are both in preparation for a place in the Scotland squad
Aberdeen’s Connor Barron is also said to be in line for a surprise call-up after impressing for Aberdeen this season.
Will Gordon make a remarkable comeback?
Angus Gunn (right) is Scotland’s new number one, having replaced Craig Gordon (left)
Norwich goalkeeper Angus Gunn will be Clarke’s No.1 after beating Hearts’ Zander Clark and Motherwell’s Liam Kelly to gloves early in the qualifying campaign.
After pledging allegiance to Scotland – although he played for the England U21s – he took over from the injured Craig Gordon, who was recovering from a double leg fracture suffered in December 2022.
However, at 41, Gordon is back and returned to the Scotland fold as one of four goalkeepers for the March friendlies.
Zander Clark (left) and Craig Gordon hope to make Scotland’s Euro 2024 squad
Only three of them are expected to go to Germany. So who will be absent?
Kelly played the first half of last October’s defeat to France, but in the Scottish Premiership he has kept just three clean sheets all season, while Motherwell have conceded 59 goals, the fourth highest total.
Zander Clark (right) started Scotland’s last two qualifiers ahead of Liam Kelly (left) when Angus Gunn was injured
Clark meanwhile kept 16 clean sheets – a number only bettered by Rangers’ Jack Butland – as Hearts conceded the fewest goals of any club outside the Old Firm.
Gordon has been kept out by Clark at club level – despite appearing in three league and four cup matches – and would overtake David Weir as the oldest Scotland international if he played, at 41 years old.
Clarke determined his options in training earlier this year and suggested playing time would not only factor into his decision.
“I will evaluate everything I have,” said the Scottish boss. “The team composition for a tournament depends on other factors like the stability of the team and the players who have been on the team for a long time, so it’s going to be a difficult decision.”
A surprise for the attacker?
Che Adams and Lyndon Dykes played the majority of Scotland’s matches.
Could there be a surprise at the top of the field?
Dykes and Che Adams were almost guaranteed to make the team, and after a forgettable season, Lawrence Shankland should also be on that plane to Germany.
The Hearts striker has scored 31 goals in all competitions and scored in Scotland’s draw at Georgia.
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A look at some of the best goals scored by Hearts’ Lawrence Shankland in the Scottish Premiership this season as he finished top scorer in the league.
Luton Town’s Jacob Brown and Millwall’s Kevin Nisbet have been left out of Scotland’s latest squad after difficult seasons at club level.
Will Clarke stick to three – or could there be a shock call for another name being considered, Ben Doak?
Liverpool’s Ben Doak reportedly in contention for place in Scotland’s Euro squad
The Liverpool striker, 18, is uncapped at senior level after making six appearances for the U21 side, while another wildcard could be Southampton’s Ross Stewart, who returned to action during the play-off first leg against West Brom.
Ross Stewart has had several injury issues to deal with this season
Watch Scotland’s Euro 2024 squad announcement on Wednesday live on Sky Sports News from 11am.
Scotland’s preparation matches for Euro 2024
June 3: Gibraltar (n), friendly, kick-off at 5 p.m.
June 7: Finland (h), friendly, kick-off at 7:45 p.m.
Who do Scotland face at Euro 2024?
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Scottish boss Steve Clarke on Euro 2024, against Germany, the role of Scott McTominay, the fans and a German beer!
Following recent friendlies against Gibraltar and Finland, Scotland will head to their Euro 2024 base camp in the Bavarian resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen on June 9.
Clarke’s side will play the opening match of the tournament against hosts Germany at the Allianz Arena on June 14.
The Scots will also face perennial qualifiers Switzerland and Hungary, who reached the round of 16 in 2016.
Scotland have a history of kicking off tournaments, having been drawn to face Brazil in the first match of the 1998 World Cup, a match they narrowly lost 2–1 thanks to an own goal by Tom Boyd in the second half.
This time they start at the Allianz Arena before facing Switzerland in Cologne on June 19, while Hungary awaits them in Stuttgart on June 23.
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