Gordon Strachan names four Scotland stars that will fire to Euro knockouts

Gordon Strachan is confident Scotland will get through the group stages of Euro 2024 and reach the knockouts of a major tournament for the first time this summer.

The Gothenburg Great will be watching on as Steve Clarke's side face hosts Germany, Switzerland and Hungary in search of a place in the last 16, with Julian Nagelsmann's Germans up first on Friday night.

And in predicting a summer to remember for the Tartan Army, the former Aberdeen midfielder has named his four Scotland stars that could be the heroes that secure a famous knockout tie.

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"It’s hard to single-out one player as the most important in this Scotland team," Strachan told Prime Casino. "I think it will be the guys that have performed brilliantly for Steve Clarke, so the midfield four for me are as important as each other because they all do something a little bit differently and each player has his own individual qualities.

"Callum McGregor, Billy Gilmore, Scott McTominay and John McGinn. They're the four most important players. The performances of those players will decide how far Scotland can go at the EURO’s.

"Scotland’s most prolific scorers are midfielders. McTominay has scored seven goals in eight qualifying games. We don’t need a prolific striker when a midfielder like Scott is registering those kinds of numbers.

"John McGinn is capable of doing the same thing. He scored three in eight games, so that’s ten goals between them. We have players that can score goals, they just happen to be our midfielders."

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On McGregor and Gilmour, Strachan added: "When you get the ball back, are you brave enough on the ball not to just dismiss it? If you dismiss it, it'll just keep coming back at you.

"What McGregor and Billy are good at in particular, when the ball comes to them, it's never getting dismissed. They can start moves from the edge of their box because they're that brave on the ball. That's important. That's what Billy gives you.

"If Billy gets the ball, I would guarantee you that we have possession after that with a minimum of three passes because his passing is so delicate and his awareness is fantastic. That calmness is really important because it can either settle you down when you’re under the cosh or it can help you pick a pass that launches an attack."

The run up to the Euros has been filled with injury woe for Scotland, with Lyndon Dykes and Ben Doak cruelly missing out on a place on the plane to Germany through injuries.

That has prompted the late additions to the forwards of Lewis Morgan and Tommy Conway, with all focus on whether Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland can be the leading man in the lineup in Munich on Friday.

Strachan has no doubts about his abilities at the top level however, after the former Dons forward scored his third goal for Scotland in the 2-2 draw with Finland in what was their final game before heading out to Germany.

The former Celtic boss added: "What is international level? Hungary and Switzerland, what level do most of their players play at? Where do most of those guys play and for what clubs?

"There are a couple if that in each team who play at the top level. Granit Xhaka is one of them. Dominik Szoboszlai is another, but the rest? Where are they from? Are the clubs that most of these players play for as good as Celtic and Rangers?

"Shankland scores goals against Celtic and Rangers, so I think it’s unfair when people say that a player can’t play at an international level. If you’re talking about the biggest and the best nations, the nations with the best players, your Brazils, then I think you can talk about international level.

"There are grades to international levels, which is shown by how international teams are grouped in the Nations League. If you’re talking about the top grade, then maybe some people have a point.

"Would Shankland play for Brazil? Probably not, but if you’re talking about the grades below that, then, yes, he’s absolutely ready to play at an international level.

"I like Shankland as a player. I think he’s intelligent. That intelligence has helped him as he’s got older. He’s twenty-eight, so coming into his prime. His body shapes become stronger; he has upper body strength.

"He uses his body well and he can work with midfield players in terms of his link up play and movement. He's improved immensely over the last four years.

"He understands what he's good at and what he's no good at. He finishes all sorts of goals: right foot, left foot. He can head the ball as we saw against Finland."

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Despite fears when fans saw captain Andy Robertson exit training early on Monday, he has been declared good to go and continue his preparations for the Germany clash.

Had he missed out, the duties on the left wing may well have fallen to Kieran Tierney; a player who Strachan refuses to believe is putting himself in the shop window at the Euros with his Arsenal future uncertain.

Strachan said: "You've got to know Kieran Tierney to understand what motivates him. With Tierney, playing well at the European Championships to show that he’s capable of playing for the biggest clubs, that will never, ever be something he goes into games thinking about.

"He’s a humble kid that is only interested about performing. He won’t be thinking that this tournament is a shop window for a move from Arsenal this summer. Kieran will concentrate on his football, and by doing that, his future will take care of itself."