Stuart McCall, former Scotland midfielder, has vivid memories of his experiences at the Euros in 1992 and 1996. Despite starting in all their games, Scotland failed to advance past the group stages on both occasions. One of McCall’s most memorable moments was facing off against his Rangers teammate and England legend, Paul Gascoigne, in the 2-0 defeat at Wembley in 1996. What stood out to McCall was how Gascoigne gave him his shirt during halftime, a gesture inspired by an interview McCall had done where he mentioned his daughter’s wish for a 3-3 draw with both players scoring hat-tricks. Gascoigne had seen the interview and surprised McCall with the shirt without any prompting.
In addition to this encounter, McCall also shared a funny tale from his time rooming with John Collins on international duty. Collins had a habit of doing press-ups and sit-ups during TV ad breaks, which annoyed McCall. To counter this, McCall made sure they watched the BBC all night so that Collins couldn’t exercise. Although McCall enjoyed watching Coronation Street, he sacrificed it to prevent his roommate from doing more exercises.
McCall’s involvement with the Scottish national team extended beyond his playing days. He served as the assistant manager to Gordon Strachan from 2013 to 2017, working with several players who will be part of Steve Clarke’s squad for Euro 2024. Despite Scotland’s recent form not being the best, McCall believes that this current generation has the opportunity to achieve success that eluded him in the 1990s. With thousands of Scottish fans expected to travel to Germany, McCall sees this as a chance for the team to make history.
Switching gears to England, manager Gareth Southgate faced difficult decisions when selecting his final squad for Euro 2024. Among the notable exclusions were Harry Maguire, Jack Grealish, James Maddison, Jarrad Branthwaite, and Jarell Quansah. Southgate explained that Maguire’s absence was due to his ongoing recovery from injury, and with uncertainties surrounding his fitness for the group stages, it made sense to select players who were fully fit. Southgate expressed his admiration for Maguire and acknowledged his contributions to the team.
Regarding Grealish and Maddison, Southgate admitted that it was challenging to leave them out. He recognized their unique qualities and the difficult conversation he had to have with the players. Southgate emphasized that these decisions were made after extensive discussions among the coaching staff, with a focus on fairness and rationale. Despite not making the squad, Grealish and Maddison were described as big characters and valuable teammates.
As for the young defenders Jarrad Branthwaite and Jarell Quansah, Southgate explained that it was too early for them to be included in the squad. While Branthwaite had an impressive season, Southgate felt that it was not the right time to prioritize him over other players. However, Quansah will remain with the team and have the opportunity to experience an England international at Wembley, providing valuable exposure for his development.
In conclusion, McCall’s personal anecdotes shed light on his experiences at the Euros, while Southgate’s explanations provide insights into the difficult decisions made during squad selection. Both Scotland and England have high hopes for Euro 2024, with McCall believing that Scotland’s current generation can surpass his own achievements in the past. Meanwhile, Southgate faces the challenge of managing expectations and making tough calls to assemble a competitive England squad.