Jack Hendry believes Scotland’s Group A draw for the 2024 European Championships represents “a hard but exciting challenge” as the nation prepares to open the tournament versus hosts Germany before playing Switzerland and Hungary.
Hendry, capped 28 times for his country, was an important part of Steve Clarke’s team that qualified for Euro 2024 with an impressive two matches to spare. The recent tournament draw sees Scotland kick off the competition against Julian Nagelsmann’s side in Munich on June 14, before facing the Swiss in Cologne five days later, and the Hungarians in Stuttgart on June 23.
And central defender Hendry, who plays for former Rangers manager Steven Gerrard’s team Al Ettifaq in the Roshn Saudi League in Saudi Arabia, is relishing the opportunity of representing Scotland for the second Euro tournament in succession.
Hendry said: “There’s never going to be an easy draw in the European Championships. It’s three interesting teams, obviously not teams that we’ve come across as much as other teams in the past, so it’s going to be a new test for ourselves. Every game is going to be a hard challenge but it’s an exciting challenge and one that we’ll try and make the country proud.”
The 6ft5 ball-playing 28-year-old was part of Clarke’s squad at the COVID-affected Euro 2020, starting Scotland’s opening match at Hampden Park in the defeat to the Czech Republic. However, with a full contingent of fans in stadiums this time around, plus the added prestige of unveiling the tournament against the globally renowned hosts, Hendry believes Euro 2024 takes on greater significance.
Hendry said: “It’ll probably be the biggest occasion of my career. To be at the Euros for one, but then obviously to open it up against the hosts Germany and take part in that game will be extra special. From now till the end of the season, I’ll be working extremely hard at Ettifaq to ensure I get in that squad and try and get in that starting eleven because it’ll be an extra special occasion. And it can only put me in good stead by playing against top players in this league in Saudi. It would be amazing to be part of that and hopefully I can do so come the summer.”
While Al Ettifaq provide Hendry’s immediate focus – including an upcoming game away in Riyadh against Cristiano Ronaldo’s team Al Nassr on Friday December 22 – next on the agenda for Scotland are the two friendly matches in March. Scotland travel to the Netherlands on Friday March 22 before hosting Northern Ireland at Hampden four days later.
The former Partick Thistle and Celtic player said: “I’m sure the games in March will help in us preparing and looking forward to the summer – it’s going to be important to go into those games (at Euro 24) with good momentum.”
