Graeme Souness breaks an unwritten Celtic rule as Hotline enters a time machine to skewer Rangers hero

The Tartan Army in Germany look ready to go again after a few days of drowning their sorrows following Friday’s opening nightmare.

Steve Clarke needs to lift the Scotland boys for Switzerland on Wednesday but if they are looking for a pep talk, they might not find it on the Hotline. Still, not everyone is doom and gloom as one caller did his best to look on the bright side.

William Hutchison, Aberdeen, said: “I wish everyone would get off Steve Clarke's and Scotland players' back. Yeah it was a bad performance and even worse result. The players know themselves that's unacceptable, but we have two games left so let's put that behind us and cheer the boys on to win – and qualify.” As for the rest? Perhaps the Scotland squad should look away now. Wullie Graham, Bristol, said: “We had the look of a beaten team before we even took to the pitch on Friday night.

“In the tunnel Andy Robertson looked like a frightened school boy that had been sent to see the head teacher. Why Billy Gilmour did not start the game is beyond me. He is the one player that can hold the ball and make a pass. Let’s hope we can get a result on Wednesday. Otherwise it's home early and another glorious failure.”

Willie Mercer, Dumfries, said: “Your so-called top class players decide to go AWOL at the same time, an average keeper, Ryan Porteous who was always a bomb waiting to go off, and poor Tony Ralston who was so far out of his depth he should have been wearing a diving suit, and the headless chicken that is Ryan Christie.

“Mix this with Mr Clarke’s revert to type team selection and tactics, then the 5-1 mauling was not surprising. I don't see how Clarke can turn this around.”

Jamie Thompson, Yoker, said: “Having watched all the Euro matches without doubt Scottish players are the worst. They lack skill passing, free kicks, defending and team work. Scottish clubs should all hang their heads in shame they rely on foreign players instead of developing their youth.”

Paddy Gowans emailed: “All this moaning about the Scotland result, let's be honest we've not got any class players in our team, our young boys don't get a chance for all those foreign players. We need to get back to basics.”

Old Firm fans always shoehorn their way into any debate and Graeme Souness having a pop at Callum McGregor opened up a domestic scrap.

Tim Gibbons emailed: “I’m not sure that Souness was right to publicly throw McGregor under the bus, given his own track record. I think the Rangers midfielder’s challenge on George McCluskey back in 1986 might have merited having a big red circle drawn around it if we’d had video analysis back in the day!”

But Gary Stevenson, Newtonhill, said: “How dare anyone call out McGregor aka the Colossus for the performance against Germany. Do people not realise that there is an unwritten rule never to criticise McGregor? Please, no more criticism or Celtic will appeal.”

England got off to a winning start despite some scares. And Alan Lough, Dunbar, said: “Congratulations to the jingoistic and hysterical England presenters and commentators who didn't give Serbia a chance, only for the Serbs to end up the best team on the night. They were only denied victory by superb saves from Jordan Henderson. What a bunch of fools – again.”

Back to the home front and Rangers summer recruitment drive isn’t impressing everyone. Jimmy Mac, Glasgow, said: “Does Clement really think that 19-21 year olds are going to win the league for us or do well in Europe? Rangers need proven seasoned players in the mix to back up those younger players with at least three midfielders and a centre forward. Sign either Lawrence Shankland or Bojan Miovski – or sell Cyriel Dessers and bring them both in.”