Callum McGregor insists Scotland have to make their Spain glory count. And Steve Clarke’s star believes the sensational Hampden triumph will only keep its gleaming shine if the squad gets to Germany 2024.
McGregor and his team-mates capped a magnificent start to the Euros qualification campaign with a continent-stunning victory over the Spanish. The unforgettable success launched Clarke’s team to the top of Group A after it backed an opening-day win over Cyprus.
But, with just one-quarter of the section completed, McGregor says feet will stay firmly on the ground. The Celtic captain knows the Spain success was a brilliant triumph, yet feels it can only be recounted in truly-celebratory terms if it’s backed up with an appearance at next summer’s Finals. McGregor says that was the message amongst the squad immediately after the triumph with a tough test against Norway in Oslo next up in June as he explained: “Straight away. It’s only two games, and to qualify, we need more points.
“Of course it is a great night, but if we go right through the campaign and don’t qualify then nobody talks about this night, they talk about not qualifying. So, it’s important in that sense as well. Brilliant, we banked the three points on Tuesday night, but it’s so important we come back in June ready to go.”
Clarke made the point himself that it’s all about Germany and McGregor continued: “What Tuesday night does is give us huge confidence that we can go on and when big teams come here, we can get results. Of course we can.
“It’s still important to understand though that it is only two games, we’ve still got a lot of work to go. We have got to stay humble, keep our feet on the ground and keep working, that’s the reason why a result like this comes about.
“It’s because there is a humility within the group that, if you get one result, you don’t think you are away up here. We understand where we are and we need everybody on the same page for that.”
Although the good character of the group and strong management of Clarke will ensure there is no getting carried away, Scotland’s heroes were fully entitled to savour their success over the group’s top seeds. Not only has the win provided a perfect platform to build a successful qualification run, it had a packed-out Hampden jubilant and provided more evidence that the nation is progressing superbly under the guidance of their astute boss.
McGregor said: “It was superb. It’s why you play football, to represent your country in a big game against a top nation.
“To go and win it in that style as well I thought was outstanding. A lot of credit has to go to the players, the manager, everybody together as a group.
“And the supporters were fantastic as well from start to finish. That was probably the perfect way we wanted the game to play out from speaking about it in the days leading up to the game.
“To get the early goal gives everybody a lift, gives us energy in the game, and then you stick to that. You see the gameplan coming off, you nick the ball, you get the transition, and get us up the pitch.
“So, as I said, it probably played out perfectly, but that was no mistake. That was the way we wanted to play the game. It was excellent, a really, really good night.”
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