As Scotland make their final preparations for Euro 2024, three Celtic players are still waiting to find out if they have booked their place in Steve Clarke’s squad.
Anthony Ralston, James Forrest and Greg Taylor will have their chance to make their case against Finald for the final squad list for Germany tomorrow night.
We discussed yesterday how Ralston has been strongly tipped to make the squad and we also gave our verdict on James Forrest’s display in the 2-0 win against Gibraltar on Tuesday night.
And as we look forward to the upcoming tournament, Declan Gallagher was reminiscing about the last Euro 2020 campaign and, in particular, the iconic Scotland penalty shoot-out night against Serbia where Steve Clarke‘s team qualified for their first major tournament in 23 years.
Greg Taylor prankster
Scotland won the shootout 5-4 after former Celtic goalkeeper, David Marshall, saved Aleksandar Mitrovic’s final spot-kick and that moment sparked scenes of celebration that the Tartan Army have long been starved of.
Part of that night was Scotland defender, Declan Gallagher, And as he recalled the famous dressing room celebrations, he revealed the prank Greg Taylor tried to play on him in front of the assembled media.
Gallagher said, [Superscoreboard Scotland Stories], “It’s just crazy because when Marshy saves that penalty everybody starts running, and then you just see Marshy’s reaction with his hands up, it’s the iconic reaction of Marshy.
“And I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Oh no, are they going to rule this penalty out?’
“And just as soon as we jumped on each other, we knew we had done it. It’s like the relief as well. It’s like the monkey off the back.
“23 years and you get to the Euros. It was just unbelievable plus we knew there going to be a massive party as well.
“There was definitely a lot of singing. I definitely danced. If anybody saw that conga they probably seen a bit too much of me.
“Because I had the top off and Greg Taylor tried to whip the trousers down as well! It was a great night to be fair.”
Taylor has a reputation for being a wind-up merchant not only in the Celtic dressing room but also with Scotland.
Hopefully, when he gets his chance against Finland on Friday, the Celtic defender will prove to Clarke he must take him along with the squad to Germany.
Because as well as offering quality on the pitch, Taylor would be a huge lift in the dressing room with his infectious personality and banter especially when the tension of the tournament preparations ramps up.