For Scotland, the last six years have been something of a renaissance period. The Scots qualified for their first international tournament in 22 years at the 2020 European Championships. Two years later, Scotland narrowly missed out on qualification for the World Cup in Qatar. That culminated in qualification to a second consecutive European Championship at Euro 2024.
Steve Clarke has managed to build an impressively competitive international team. A core of talented individuals has a full team spirit. Scotland has returned to the map of international soccer after years in the wilderness.
History has not yielded success
This, after all, is a nation with a wealth of talent in their storied former generations. Players like Dennis Law and Graeme Souness, Kenny Dalglish and Billy Bremner, Pat Nevin, John Collins and Ally McCoist. These teams beat the world’s best. Scotland triumphed over France in 1997 just before Les Bleus won the ensuing World Cup and European Championship. In 1978, Archie Gemmill’s brace sank the Netherlands in the group stage of the World Cup. That game lives long in the nation’s memory. Also, locals still delight in a victory over the English world champions of 1966.
And yet, for a side whose history has been touched greatness in moments, there remains one giant obstacle. They have never got out of the group stages at an international tournament.
Scotland has come close several times. It has beaten giants only to be outdone by a minnow. There have also been times when you would’ve thought it more probable than ever before. Reaching the second stage of a tournament has always proved elusive for Scotland.
This summer’s Euro 2024 represents Scotland’s greatest chance yet to break that cycle. The nature of the 24-team tournament means that there will only be 8 of those who’ve qualified for the tournament that will not be making it out of the group stage. Four of the six third-place teams receive a spot in the…
Source link : https://worldsoccertalk.com/uefa-euro/scotland-resurgence-provides-chance-at-history-in-euro-2024/
Author : Matthew Walsh
Publish date : 2024-05-29 20:23:31
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.