FLIGHT RISKS

It's a cruel business but not all of Scotland's Euro qualifying heroes will get to Germany

THE elation on the faces of every member of that Scotland squad which lapped up the Tartan Army's acclaim at Hampden on Sunday night was a joy in itself.

To say they deserved the moment is an understatement after a record-breaking campaign that has injected the pride back into those supporters.

But the brutal truth for some of those wearing the T-shirts bragging 'We're Off To Germany' is.. they won't be.

Simple maths means they can't be.

For the players, part one of the mission is complete - getting Scotland to Germany next summer. Part two is just beginning the fight to make sure they're on the plane.

And if ever there was a warning about the harsh reality that is guaranteed to hit some in the next seven months then it's the same image of unbridled joy in Serbia three years ago when Steve Clarke's class of 2020 ended 23 years of major tournament pain.

Clarke may be accused of being too loyal to players at times but that picture tells a very different story.

For a start three of the five players who held their nerve from 12 yards in that excruciating shoot-out against the Serbs to send us to the last Euros were nowhere near the finals the next summer.

Yes Kenny McLean was cruelly robbed of his place through injury but Oli McBurnie and Leigh Griffiths were cut loose and have never been seen in a squad since.