![Scotland have to overcome the odds to get out of group](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1718250574/articles/kICt4iJD21718263742635/SCOTLAND-HAVE-TO-OVERCOME-THE-ODDS-TO-GET-OUT-OF-GROUP.jpg)
Steve Clarke does NOT endorse this article – and that’s fine, we’ll get back to Steve Clarke in a moment. In case you hadn’t heard, Scotland are heading to just a second men’s major international tournament in 26 years. After the subdued, Covidrestricted taste-test of Euro 2020 three years ago, Euro 2024 in Germany is the real deal: the Tartan Army will be back, released onto the continent in their tens of thousands and in full voice, buoyant after a qualification campaign that taught a nation how to dream again. Nothing could possibly lessen the excitement now. Nothing.
Hang on though. Injuries to who? One win since when? Germany are finally themselves again? Steady on. This wasn’t going to be easy, but squeezing past the minnows of Gibraltar in a friendly last week did not suggest Scotland will be going to the Euros on a wave of optimism. Clarke was hardly echoing the hubris of Ally MacLeod in 1978 when the Scotland manager took a pop at “negative Normans” in the press. “What’s there to be negative about? Why not just relax and enjoy it,” he said. “I just don’t understand why anybody would be negative about a second European Championships in a row.”
Clarke is not wrong – but there are, admittedly, some big issues ahead of tomorrow night’s opener against the hosts. A thin squad has been further depleted, with injuries striking in key positions where there are shortages of replacements. Rightbacks Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson, and Italy’s midfielder of the year Lewis Ferguson, were already ruled out before Lyndon Dykes, the battering-ram forward who had played a vital part in Scotland’s recent success, suffered an ankle ligament injury in training. Euro 2024 can simultaneously feel like the tournament Scotland have waited a generation for, while also arriving at just the wrong time for this squad.
This story is from the June 13, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the June 13, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![An emergency cut short our trip - can we get a refund?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1752291/B4lVr7m_B1719901517720/AN-EMERGENCY-CUT-SHORT-OUR-TRIP-CAN-WE-GET-A-REFUND.jpg)
An emergency cut short our trip - can we get a refund?
I am sorry to hear of the reason for curtailing the holiday. In such circumstances, the first issue is the arrangement for returning home early.
!['Winning ugly' Raducanu evokes Three Lions spirit](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1752291/vBDdlfhzg1719901363898/WINNING-UGLY-RADUCANU-EVOKES-THREE-LIONS-SPIRIT.jpg)
'Winning ugly' Raducanu evokes Three Lions spirit
It’s been two years since Emma Raducanu – 2021’s breakthrough British sporting star – strode out onto the Wimbledon stage with the weight of an expectant crowd on her shoulders.
![Southgate hopes the lessons of 1966 can inspire success](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1752291/d4k0NmAXl1719901178141/SOUTHGATE-HOPES-THE-LESSONS-OF-1966-CAN-INSPIRE-SUCCESS.jpg)
Southgate hopes the lessons of 1966 can inspire success
As the Three Lions scrape through to the quarter-finals at Euro 2024, the England manager is drawing on history to keep his whole squad of players hungry
![Shootout sends below-par Portugal into quarter-finals](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1752291/aCoE8k7uU1719901061830/SHOOTOUT-SENDS-BELOWPAR-PORTUGAL-INTO-QUARTERFINALS.jpg)
Shootout sends below-par Portugal into quarter-finals
The Cristiano Ronaldo show rumbled into Frankfurt, and it didn’t disappoint.
![Dour France get lucky to sink Belgium in a stinker](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1752291/5nNVMpl_H1719900108561/DOUR-FRANCE-GET-LUCKY-TO-SINK-BELGIUM-IN-A-STINKER.jpg)
Dour France get lucky to sink Belgium in a stinker
Of course, it wasn’t pretty.
![Bankers' bonuses return as families struggle with bills](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1752291/ndYfebtQW1719900013666/BANKERS-BONUSES-RETURN-AS-FAMILIES-STRUGGLE-WITH-BILLS.jpg)
Bankers' bonuses return as families struggle with bills
The bonus boys and girls look set to make a comeback in the City of London.
![Why Russia is ordering its troops to take no prisoners](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1752291/IUvtKlgox1719899275475/WHY-RUSSIA-IS-ORDERING-ITS-TROOPS-TO-TAKE-NO-PRISONERS.jpg)
Why Russia is ordering its troops to take no prisoners
Putin's commanders in Ukraine are compelling their men to murder defenceless enemies
![Banksy's Glastonbury boat stunt was tasteless and lazy](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1752291/HsOtimjoE1719899145564/BANKSYS-GLASTONBURY-BOAT-STUNT-WAS-TASTELESS-AND-LAZY.jpg)
Banksy's Glastonbury boat stunt was tasteless and lazy
Rather than Coldplay’s “spectacle of a lifetime”, or the return of Avril Lavigne, or the return (again) of the Sugababes, the Glastonbury moment that caught the nation’s attention was a tasteless stunt by Banksy.
![Here's why I'm glad I caused a BA flight to be cancelled](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1752291/o41ZEeFx71719899052294/HERES-WHY-IM-GLAD-I-CAUSED-A-BA-FLIGHT-TO-BE-CANCELLED.jpg)
Here's why I'm glad I caused a BA flight to be cancelled
It was all going swimmingly until we began our descent into Gatwick.
![A 'Republican front' could yet deprive Le Pen of power](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1752291/bPa7hAwo21719898908640/A-REPUBLICAN-FRONT-COULD-YET-DEPRIVE-LE-PEN-OF-POWER.jpg)
A 'Republican front' could yet deprive Le Pen of power
“We are in uncharted territory”, was the most neutral assessment of the first-round results in France’s legislative elections.