With the Euro 2024 kick-off less than four days away now, Celtic interest in the tournament is strong with four Parkhead players travelling to Germany with the Scotland squad.
Callum McGregor, James Forrest, Anthony Ralston and Greg Taylor are all part of Steve Clarke’s plans for the tournament and whilst all three have their own strengths, only one has been tipped to hurt Germany in the tournament opener in Munich on Friday night.
Nicolas Kuhn has spoken out ahead of Scotland facing his home country and has told fellow countrymen to expect Scotland to ‘fight hard’ with one Celtic man leading the battle.
Germany should fear Callum McGregor
James Forrest is proven to be a dangerous player on the wing and Anthony Ralston and Greg Taylor can provide an additional attacking threat down both flanks.
But it is Callum McGregor who Kuhn reckons can cause the most damage to the Euro hosts when the tournament begins this week.
Kuhn said [Press & Journal print edition page 56], “Callum McGregor can hurt the Germans. He is a real leader.
“He is a player who just doesn’t stop running. He doesn’t stop until the final whistle. He also has a strong passing game – and he’s just a great guy too.
“Callum is actually a rather quiet person, but at Celtic, he speaks up in the dressing room when something goes wrong. Then he sometimes intervenes. So he’s the manager’s extended arm.
“Over the years he’s gained a lot of experience here and won over 20 titles with this club. Callum knows how to win big games.
“Germany is definitely the favourite. But anything is possible in a single game.
“The Scots will fight hard. They also have some very good professionals in their ranks.
“Scott McTominay, for example, plays for Manchester United and there are the four guys I play with at Celtic – Callum, Greg Taylor, Anthony Ralston and James Forrest.
“The way they tackle each other in Scottish football is simply different – things are much rougher here than in Germany.”
McGregor has been a stalwart for both club and country over the past few years. But for Steve Clarke in particular, the Celtic captain has been virtually undroppable.
Used in all but one of Scotland’s Euro 2024 qualifiers, it is clear that Clarke trusts the Celtic captain to produce in the big games when it matters.
And just like at Celtic, the Scotland boss will be hoping that McGregor will give him the same battling performances he sees so often at Parkhead.
Because to beat a German side with the likes of Kai Haverts in it, Clarke will need McGregor to have his battle gear on in the hope of getting a positive result against one of the tournament favourites.