Steve Clarke has the difficult job of selecting the starting line-up for Scotland’s first major tournament appearance since 1998 tomorrow afternoon.
With a 26-man squad at his disposal, picking a team best suited to winning will not be easy. Keeping everyone happy is also almost impossible.
Here at Herald and Times Sport we have taken a look at the squad and players available and made our prediction for which players the boss may opt for against Czech Republic at Hampden.
Goalkeeper – David Marshall
Starting the Derby County goalkeeper is unlikely to be one of those difficult decisions for Clarke.
His performance in the penalty shootout win over Serbia have made him a heroic figure across the country and while Craig Gordon has proven himself more than capable in a Scotland jersey, it is hard to see anyone other than Marshall between the posts.
Right wing-back – Stephen O’Donnell
Scotland are likely to operate with three centre-backs and two full-backs, who will look to fulfil both the attacking and defensive duties of the winger and full-back positions.
The Motherwell defender has become an almost permanent feature of his manager’s squad since he was appointed in 2019.
Capable of both getting forward, while not forgetting his defensive duties, O’Donnell fits the role perfectly.
Left wing-back – Andrew Robertson
Possibly the first name on the team sheet, the Liverpool star has established himself as Scotland’s most recognisable modern player.
Captaining the team, and with a wealth of experience at the highest level of club competition, Robertson could be pivotal to Scotland’s success this summer. Likely to start opposite O’Donnell on the left-hand side of defence, Robertson’s attacking ability and defensive composure will be essential in the group games.
Centre-back – Kieran Tierney
KT has, at times, been somewhat overshadowed by international teammate Robertson, but the former Celtic full-back has become one of Arsenal’s most talented players this year.
Due to Robertson’s quality on the left-hand side, Tierney has been forced to adapt to the central role for his country and he has done so very well.
His experience in continental competitions with both Celtic and the Gunners will help prepare him for the tournament and he is likely to start as one of the three central defenders.
Centre-back – Grant Hanley
No-nonsense and an experienced veteran of international football. Hanley has become a regular feature of the squad over the past decade.
Since his debut in 2011, he has been capped 33 times for Scotland and has experienced first-hand the heartbreak of missing out on the four major tournaments over that time.
With his experience in the set-up, his role in the qualifiers and his dedication over the last 10 years, Hanley seems an obvious choice to start at the heart of defence.
Centre-back – Jack Hendry
Completing the defensive line, Hendry has come a long way in recent years, proving that dedicating yourself to improving can reap great rewards.
Having struggled to make an impact at Celtic following a move from Dundee, Hendry has spent the majority of the last two years on loan in both Australia and Belgium.
His performances for Oostende encouraged Steve Clarke to recall him to the squad in March.
Despite his lack of international experience, his recent performances suggest he will likely start ahead of Leeds' Liam Cooper and Nottingham Forest’s Scott McKenna.
Centre-mid – John McGinn
A key player for Scotland this summer, John McGinn is a dead-cert starter for Monday’s game.
McGinn has been capped 32 times for the Scots and has bagged 10 goals in that time.
His link-up play and attacking threat will be important in the tournament and it is difficult to see him miss out on a starting place.
Centre-mid – Scott McTominay
Another top man with experience at the highest level of club football, and at such a young age, McTominay has fought off competition from some of Europe’s best for a place in Manchester United’s starting line-up.
Capable of both being defensively strong and creating attacking opportunities, McTominay is more than likely to join pal McGinn in the centre of midfield.
Centre-mid – Callum McGregor
While it hasn’t been his year in terms of club achievements, Celtic’s McGregor can take some positives in being part of Scotland’s Euro 2020 squad.
A regular starter for both club and country, McGregor’s defensive ability in midfield, and creative attacking play make him a likely starter on Monday.
He faces stiff competition from teammate Ryan Christie as well as the likes of Stuart Armstrong and Billy Gilmour, but McGregor’s defensive nous makes him the more obvious choice for a place.
Striker – Che Adams
Despite only committing his international service to Scotland this year, Che Adams was a welcome addition to the attacking front for Steve Clarke.
Scoring twice in his four international appearances, Adams’ quick pace and ruthless finishing make the Southampton forward a probable name on Monday’s team sheet.
Striker – Lyndon Dykes
Another player who only recently committed his international future to Scotland, the Australian born QPR forward has led the line in recent months for his side.
With a strong physical presence and decent technical ability, Dykes could help give Scotland an edge over the Czechs on Monday, making him a likely starter alongside Adams.
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