Rangers fans erupt over green tinted facts as Hotline drops Celtic truth bomb over Euro bragging rights

It's all eyes on Euro 2024 for Scotland - well, for some on the Hotline at least.

Some are more concerned with domestic affairs and Gordon Ashley seems to have sparked a debate that Rangers fans just won't let go to focus on Steve Clarke's men. The Celtic diehard took aim at Rangers for their Champions League record - digging up the humbling at the hands of Liverpool and branded Celtic the real big guns of Euopean football in Scotland.

But Alan Flett refused to let that slide as he bit back: "I think you’re the one who needs to pipe it down. Your attempts to justify Celtic’s European results are laughable. These marches were twenty years ago and you haven’t won a game since. You conveniently forget to recall the likes of Cluj, Ferencvaros and Bodo/Glimt. Do any of these European giants ring a bell? As for your view that Rangers go further because we’re in the Mickey Mouse cup, Celtic aren’t even good enough to qualify for that Mickey Mouse cup."

Willie Mercer, Dumfries piled on: "Mr Ashley is at it again, spouting his green tinted facts in his attempts to belittle Rangers and their European record. His beloved Celtics recent Champions League group stats are not exactly stellar.

"Of the last 4 times they reached the group stages they finished bottom 3 times and were only second bottom by virtue of goal difference. They won 3 games, drew 6 and lost 15. Scored 19, conceded 64. When you take into consideration their abject failure to make any progress or impact in the times they dropped down the European competitions that erodes his attempts to champion them as some sort of European giants. I would suspect that Mr Ashley's high ground isn't giving him the greatest of views."

Peter Lyons also found himself in the firing line after claiming the Europa League was a 'Mickey Mouse' competition after Rangers surge to the final. Stuart McLeod, Stepps emailed: "Now it's Peter Lyons who has a touch of the Mr Ashley about him. The guy wants to shoot down the exploits of Rangers in Europe as the good runs in the Europa League were Mickey Mouse.

"If only our club had named at suite at our ground then ran a play for reaching a Mickey Mouse Final I may have found that embarrassing. Some clubs have been knocked out of three competitions in the same season including the Mickey Mouse Cup and it's wee sister the Conference League as well."

But back on to Euro 2024, and there was some eyebrows raised by the Tartan Army following the late-fight back from Finland. After the 2-2 draw, William Simpson demanded better in the tournament opener against Germany: "What is it about Scotland that they end up with one against one in the goal area, When other teams move in waves pushing forward? Finland played it to perfection. It's hardly rocket science. We will need to tighten up against Germany, that's for sure."

After the game, Tommy Forbes, Aberdeen was baffled the Clarke hadn't picked up the phone to Southampton star Ryan Fraser. He emailed: "I cannot believe Steven Clarke has omitted Ryan Fraser burning it up with Southampton. Instrumental in their promotion success. if Clarke has a reason tell us. We are fans going to Germany we deserve to know."

Scott Gowers, Edinburgh was hovering over the pre-tournament panic button stating: "Fortress Hampden is no longer the case. The last four games at Hampden we haven't won. Fair enough the England defeat was by a team way above us in FIFA rankings but the other three matches were against clubs currently 8, 22 and 34 places below us in the current rankings rankings.

"I want to be positive for the Euro's but these damning stats don't bode well for us. We played better against Finland than we did against 73rd placed Northern Ireland (worst performance ever) but were still unable to win. Clarke needs to get us out the group or he'll surely be out of a job."

Captain Andy Robertson encouraged the nation to dream - but Davy Mason had a quick reality check: "Dream on lads. That’s all it will be. Robertson is adamant they will go all out for glory. Does that mean they will actually try and score goals and not look for tap-ins as obviously no one can shoot from outside the box?"

And Michael Stewart wasn't getting a let-off for his commentary antics - having been involved in a heated exchange with boss Clarke during Premier Sports' post-match coverage. Dr Robert S Pender said: "A lot of play showing good link up. The only thing that spoils the viewing is the perpetual commentary from Michael. He is a master in tactics, knowledgeable in medical affairs. Just wish he would shut up."

It wasn't all doom and gloom for the Scots with William Hutchison, Aberdeen opting to take a swipe at the Auld Enemy after England's defeat to Iceland. He wrote: 'I am still laughing at Gareth Southgate reply to England's defeat v Iceland. The players were tired after playing so many games during the season and friendlies, but had no complaints when they beat Bosnia in their friendly."