Scotland have secured their place at Euro 2024 after a brilliant qualifying campaign that saw them finish second in their group behind Spain. Steve Clarke’s men will be hoping to make an impact at the finals in Germany, where they will face some of Europe’s best teams. But who will be on the plane to Germany next summer? Here are some of the contenders for the 23-man squad, based on their current form and fitness.
The goalkeepers: Gunn, Clark or Kelly?
One of the biggest dilemmas for Clarke is who will be his number one goalkeeper at Euro 2024. Craig Gordon, who was the undisputed first choice at Euro 2020, is out with a long-term injury and unlikely to recover in time for the tournament. That leaves three candidates: Angus Gunn, Zander Clark and Liam Kelly.
Gunn, who plays for Norwich City in the Premier League, has recently switched his allegiance from England to Scotland after being capped by the Three Lions at under-21 level. He is the son of former Scotland keeper Bryan Gunn, who played six times for his country in the early 1990s. Gunn has impressed for the Canaries this season, keeping four clean sheets in 12 games.
Clark, who is 30 years old, has been a stalwart for Hearts in the Scottish Premiership, helping them to the top of the table. He has been in the Scotland squad before, but has never made his debut. He is known for his shot-stopping ability and commanding presence in the box.
Kelly, who is on loan at Motherwell from QPR, is the youngest of the three at 27. He has also been in the Scotland squad before, but has not played yet. He has been in fine form for the Steelmen, keeping six clean sheets in 14 games.
Clarke will have to decide who will be his first choice, and who will be the backup. It is possible that he will rotate the keepers during the friendlies before the tournament, to see who performs best.
The defenders: Tierney, Robertson and who else?
Scotland have two world-class left-backs in Kieran Tierney and Andy Robertson, who play for Arsenal and Liverpool respectively. They are both guaranteed to be in the squad, and Clarke has found a way to accommodate them both in his system, with Tierney playing as a left-sided centre-back and Robertson as a wing-back.
The other centre-back spots are up for grabs, with several contenders vying for a place. Grant Hanley, who plays alongside Gunn at Norwich, is the most experienced of the lot, with 38 caps. He is a strong and reliable defender, who can also score the occasional goal.
Jack Hendry, who moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Ettifaq from Celtic in the summer, is another option. He has been a regular for Scotland since Euro 2020, where he scored a stunning goal against Croatia. He is a ball-playing defender, who can also play as a right-back.
Liam Cooper, who captains Leeds United in the Premier League, is another seasoned campaigner, with 16 caps. He is a leader and a fighter, who can also chip in with goals from set-pieces.
Ryan Porteous, who joined Watford from Hibernian in the summer, is one of the rising stars of Scottish football. He is only 22, but has already made 10 appearances for Scotland. He is a tough and aggressive defender, who can also play in midfield.
John Souttar, who moved to Rangers from Hearts in the summer, is another young talent, who has overcome several serious injuries in his career. He is 25, but has only played four times for Scotland. He is a composed and elegant defender, who can also pass the ball well.
Aaron Hickey, who plays for Brentford in the Premier League, is the youngest of the lot at 19. He is a versatile defender, who can play on either flank. He has impressed for the Bees this season, making 11 appearances. He has also been capped twice by Scotland, and scored his first international goal against Moldova in September.
The right-back position is also up for grabs, with several contenders vying for a place. Nathan Patterson, who plays for Everton in the Premier League, is the frontrunner. He is only 20, but has already made seven appearances for Scotland. He is a fast and attacking full-back, who can also defend well.
Greg Taylor, who plays for Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, is another option. He is 24, but has already made 15 appearances for Scotland. He is a hard-working and reliable full-back, who can also play as a wing-back.
Stephen O’Donnell, who plays for Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, is another experienced campaigner, with 25 caps. He is a solid and dependable full-back, who can also play as a centre-back.
Clarke will have to decide who will be his preferred centre-back pairing, and who will be his backup. He will also have to decide who will be his first choice right-back, and who will be the backup.
The midfielders: McTominay, McGinn and who else?
Scotland have a wealth of talent in midfield, with several players who can play in different roles and formations. Scott McTominay, who plays for Manchester United in the Premier League, is the most versatile of the lot. He can play as a defensive midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder, or even as a centre-back. He is a powerful and dynamic player, who can also score goals. He is one of the leaders of the team, with 32 caps and seven goals.
John McGinn, who plays for Aston Villa in the Premier League, is another key player for Scotland. He can play as a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder, or even as a forward. He is a tireless and tenacious player, who can also create and score goals. He is one of the most capped players in the squad, with 40 appearances and 12 goals.
Callum McGregor, who captains Celtic in the Scottish Premiership, is another important player for Scotland. He can play as a deep-lying playmaker, a central midfielder, or even as a left-back. He is a technically gifted and intelligent player, who can also dictate the tempo of the game. He is one of the most experienced players in the squad, with 38 caps and two goals.
Billy Gilmour, who plays for Brighton on loan from Chelsea in the Premier League, is one of the brightest prospects of Scottish football. He can play as a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, or even as an attacking midfielder. He is a skilful and creative player, who can also tackle and intercept. He is only 21, but has already made 11 appearances for Scotland, and was named man of the match in his debut against England at Euro 2020.
Stuart Armstrong, who plays for Southampton in the Premier League, is another versatile player for Scotland. He can play as a central midfielder, an attacking midfielder, or even as a winger. He is a fast and energetic player, who can also dribble and shoot. He is one of the most consistent players in the squad, with 31 caps and four goals.
Lewis Ferguson, who plays for Bologna in Serie A, is another young talent for Scotland. He can play as a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, or even as an attacking midfielder. He is a strong and composed player, who can also pass and score. He is only 23, but has already made eight appearances for Scotland, and scored his first international goal against Cyprus in March.
Kenny McLean, who plays for Norwich City in the Premier League, is another experienced campaigner for Scotland. He can play as a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, or even as a forward. He is a hard-working and reliable player, who can also link up well with his teammates. He is one of the most capped players in the squad, with 39 appearances and two goals.
Ryan Jack, who plays for Rangers in the Scottish Premiership, is another option for Scotland. He can play as a defensive midfielder, a central midfielder, or even as a right-back. He is a tough and disciplined player, who can also protect the back four. He is 30 years old, but has only played 10 times for Scotland, due to injuries and competition.
Clarke will have to decide who will be his preferred midfield trio, and who will be his backup. He will also have to decide who will be his attacking midfielders, and who will be his backup.
The forwards: Adams, Dykes and who else?
Scotland have a few options in attack, with different types of strikers who can play in different formations. Che Adams, who plays for Southampton in the Premier League, is the most prolific of the lot. He can play as a lone striker, a partner striker, or even as a winger. He is a fast and powerful player, who can also dribble and finish. He is one of the most capped players in the squad, with 19 appearances and six goals.
Lyndon Dykes, who plays for QPR in the Championship, is another key player for Scotland. He can play as a lone striker, a partner striker, or even as a target man. He is a tall and strong player, who can also hold up the ball and head it. He is one of the most regular players in the squad, with 18 appearances and five goals.
Ryan Christie, who plays for Bournemouth in the Championship, is another versatile player for Scotland. He can play as a striker, an attacking midfielder, or even as a winger. He is a skilful and creative player, who can also run and cross. He is one of the most experienced players in the squad, with 27 appearances and five
