Che Adams has packed a fair amount into the 18 months since he nailed his colours to the mast for Scotland. Twenty-one caps, three appearances at Euro 2020, five goals and among them one for the ages to see off a star-studded Denmark at a rocking Hampden.
No wonder, as he prepares for cap number 22, the Southampton striker rates his decision to pledge allegiance to the nation of his grandmother as one of his best. it might have taken four years from the first SFA approach for the Leicester-born 26-year-old to finally accept the invitation.
But he’s not hung around since and Adams reckons the opportunity to be promoted into the top tier of the Nations League and dine with European football’s elite just proves he made the right call. Not just that but he’s adamant being involved in Steve Clarke ’s side has made him a better player and that the squad deserve to have a place among the continent’s best.
A draw against Ukraine will be good enough to secure that spot in Group A. And Adams said: “It’s a fantastic prospect to be among the elite. To play against some of these players would be a massive achievement and everyone is ready for this. The nation is ready for it too - as the team has got so much better in the last 18 months so we deserve to be there playing against these big teams.
“It’s testament to everyone that’s involved with the national team. Pledging myself to Scotland is definitely one of the best decisions of my career. You can see it from the way I’m playing. I am playing like it’s my last game. The past 18 months I have developed as a player and as a person as well. That comes from the gaffer and the belief and faith he puts in me to play for the nation.
“All I can do is try to repay him. I will always do my best for the team, put myself out there and that’s the thing that people see now - everyone in the squad is willing to put their body on the line. Everyone is pulling in the same direction and that is massive in football.
“We go into every game wanting to win them. That is what the gaffer has installed in us. As players, we know what is acceptable and what is not. Going back to the Ireland game, that wasn’t acceptable. The gaffer told us that straight away. It was down to us to dust ourselves off and go again in this camp. We have done that to date. We know how many points we need – I think it was seven. So hopefully we can win and have over-achieved! Well, not overachieved, so much, but done well.”
Rocketing through the promotions from the third tier to the top in just four years and three campaigns would be cherished like a major honour by the success-starved Tartan Army. And doing so while passing England on the way own would be the icing on the cake. But Adams insists the banter with his team mates back at Southampton can wait.
He said: “No one has really said anything. Hopefully we can achieve that. It has been a great camp so far. The lads have played extremely well. We are happy just to be here and keep winning. That is the motivation as a team – to get self belief and self confidence by winning games. The confidence the manager has shown in us, it’s been very good. We are pushing on now.
"Everyone can see how good a team we are. These games aren’t easy, playing against the likes of Ukraine, Ireland…they are all hard games and hard places to go. Everyone want to do well for the nation. There is so much quality in the squad, it’s crazy. The squad has always been good. It is just about having that self belief. Everyone believes in what we are doing and knows we can beat these big teams and big countries.”
Adams did everything but find the net as he emptied the tank in the Hampden clash between the sides last week. His efforts worked a treat for Lyndon Dykes who replaced him on 77 minutes and nodded home two late goals against a Ukraine defence shattered from chasing Adams. The duo then swapped roles against Ireland on Saturday as Dykes got the nod to start. But after overcoming a bug which hit the Scots squad in the last 48 hours, Adams is expected to lead the line in Krakow. And he insists the friendly competition with the QPR hitman and the other strikers in the squad is pushing them all on to reach the next level.
Adams insisted: “Competition in football is always helpful and Lyndon came on, scored two and played exceptionally well. He had the right to start the other day, and he did well as well. As a striker then yeah, you need competition. It’s so easy to get complacent and just expect to play whereas now the other players and competition we have in the squad .. I don’t think any spot is safe. Everyone is of the same quality and standard to play. I feel fresh and ready to go. I’ll see what the manager does. It’s another test and I’m looking forward to it.”
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