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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
Sport
Euan Robertson

Stephen Welsh insists Celtic focus can wait after 'worst' ever Scotland performance

Stephen Welsh isn't focusing on Celtic right now after Scotland Under-21's awful display against Turkey.

The 22-year-old believes the first half performance at Tynecastle on Friday was the 'worst' that he's experienced from representing his country at youth level.

Scot Gemmill’s side are effectively out of the race for a spot at Euro 2023 after the 2-0 defeat to the Turks.

Welsh - who captained the side - scored an own goal and the Hoops defender insists the level of performance was simply unacceptable.

"That first-half performance was one of, if not the worst I’ve seen from a Scotland team at any age group,” he said.

"From past experience going through the age groups - 17s, 19s and now 21s - even if a side is better than you, you still work harder than them.

"We weren’t aggressive enough, didn’t think we applied ourselves enough at all and on the ball I think we were very, very poor.

"We looked in shock when we got the ball, we were shaky and maybe a bit of nervousness but I think we need to move on from that now.

"We’ll analyse the game over the next couple of days but we’ve got a massive game against Kazakhstan coming up and we can’t lose that, we need to go out and win.

"We need to look back on that and see but then again they are very good on the ball, we didn’t get within three or four yards of them every time they got the ball."

Welsh will be involved in the Ange Postecoglou's squad for Celtic's crucial trip to face Rangers on Sunday, but his only focus is on Scotland's upcoming clash against Kazakhstan's Under-21s.

He added: "It’s no secret that there is a big game coming round the corner but for me it’s about Kazakhstan and I can focus on Celtic after that."

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