Scotland Euros Squad: How the News is Broken and What Happens Next
As the anticipation builds for the announcement of the Scotland Euros squad, players find themselves anxiously waiting for the news. Will it come in the form of a phone call, a WhatsApp message, or a social media notification? The moment they receive an email from team manager Ashley Philip, requesting their presence at the biggest Scottish football party in recent memory, their dreams will be fulfilled. However, two players will have their invites revoked before the finals start.
The official announcement of the squad will take place around 11:00 BST on Wednesday in a “little bit rowdy” social media video. This is when the 28 players will learn that they have been selected to represent their country at Euro 2024. Some players already know that they are guaranteed picks, but not everyone is in that position. A few weeks ago, the Scottish FA contacted the clubs of every player under consideration, around 35-40 of them, to check if they are fit and available. This Fitness for Duty request is more administrative than anything else.
The Scottish FA’s chief medical officer Jonny Gordon and national team physio Stuart Collie maintain regular communication with the clubs. Additionally, a team led by sports science and data manager Mark Leslie and performance analysis manager Mark McKenna continually monitors the players’ data. However, not all clubs pass this information on to their players. Therefore, some players may still be surprised when they receive the email on Wednesday.
Once the players receive the email, they will be provided with useful information about where to go, when to get there, and what to bring. The email will also contain details of backroom staff, doping advice, and information about well-being. Team manager Ashley Philip will personally speak to all 28 players to sort out their travel requirements. Some players may need more guidance than others.
Getting to the team hotel can be a challenge for some players. Some may need to fly in from outside the UK, while others may be closer to home but unable to drive or unfamiliar with public transport. However, they will be reimbursed for their expenses. Most players will be collected from airports or stations upon arrival.
The most important thing the players need to bring is their passport. There have been instances in the past where players arrived at the airport only to realize they had brought the wrong passport. Therefore, all documentation is handed over to Ashley Philip for safekeeping once the players arrive. Apart from their passport, the players will travel light. They will be provided with kit as soon as they arrive, so all they really need are their boots, shinguards, and their preferred aftershave.
The squad will receive an itinerary for their time at the Euros. They will have access to an app called Teamworks, which will provide them with individual training plans, meeting times, meal information, analysis, and media requirements. This app ensures that all necessary information is readily available to the players on their phones or tablets.
Being part of the Euros finals brings some additional responsibilities. One particular point of difference is the Uefa content gathering day. This is when rights holders can gather various content such as team line-up poses and TikTok challenges. Uefa has sent a 15-page memo to associations outlining the requirements for this day, which is expected to take up to four hours.
While there used to be a squad WhatsApp group, it has evolved since the days of Scott Brown. The important information is now disseminated through the Teamworks app. However, there is still a player-specific group managed by the captain and senior squad members.
When it comes to tickets, each player will be given an allocation. This is enough for them to invite their close family members but not enough to satisfy all the requests from distant relatives they haven’t seen in years. Players will need to speak to Ashley Philip to arrange their ticket allocations.
As the players prepare for their journey to the Euros, they can expect a mix of excitement and nerves. The email they receive on Wednesday will mark the beginning of an incredible journey representing their country on the international stage.