With the competition having been delayed for a year, anticipation for the big kick-off tomorrow is high, not least given it will be the first time many of the players will have played in front of a significant crowd for the first time in 15 months.
The unique, pan-European nature of this tournament means there are wonderful opportunities to play at some of the continent’s most iconic stadia over the next month, and with four games being played here in Glasgow, it is especially fantastic to have Scotland at their first major tournament in 23 years, with Rangers players as part of their pool too.
This week, as we build up to the big kick-off, we’ll preview each of the five Light Blues players who will be in action. Today, we’ll finish our build-up with a youngster who has more than earned his place in the Scots’ squad – Nathan Patterson…
NATHAN Patterson wasn’t even born the last time Scotland played at a major tournament, and given his youth, may not even have been conscious of a Scottish qualifying campaign until that of Euro 2008.
Even this time last year, the thought of him potentially featuring at a major tournament seemed fanciful given he had just one Rangers appearance under his belt – but his call-up was thoroughly deserved and serves as an inspiration to the club’s Academy players of just what can be possible.
As a deputy for captain James Tavernier, Patterson made a total of 14 appearances for the Light Blues and more than proved his worth on the biggest of stages, with five of those matches coming in the Europa League and two in Old Firm matches.
Coming on for his debut last Sunday at half-time as the Scots faced Luxembourg in their final warm-up match, Patterson was a standout performer on the right-hand side, and did his chances of earning one of the starting shirts against the Czech Republic on Monday no harm at all with his showing.
That is set to be some occasion, as the Scots will not only play their first tournament game in a generation, but also walk out at Hampden in front of a passionate home crowd.
For the first time in 15 months, a significant crowd will be in attendance (12,500) and with international travel all but banned, they are pretty much guaranteed to be united in their backing of the home side.
That game is big enough, but four days later, they play arguably the highlight match of the group stage when international football’s oldest rivalry is reopened when Scotland travel to Wembley.
The group stage then rounds off for Scotland back at Hampden when Borna Barisic’s Croatia head to Glasgow on Tuesday, June 22.
Infamously, Scotland have never made it beyond the first stage of a major tournament, but the way the Euros are set up, just one win and limited damage to goal difference could see them through to the Round of 16 as one of the four best-placed third-place teams from the six groups.
Should they make it through, their Last 16 tie could also be at Hampden, but it could also be in one of Copenhagen, Seville, Wembley or Budapest.
Regardless of whether he features or not, it is an incredible achievement for Patterson to make the squad, and the experience he gets on European football’s biggest stage can only stand him in good stead.
And, not only will he be joining Ibrox teammate Jon McLaughlin in the squad, but he’ll also find fellow Rangers Academy former players Billy Gilmour and John Fleck in the pool, that duo having impressed recently in the Premier League with Chelsea and Sheffield United respectively.
SCOTLAND FIXTURES (timings BST)
Monday 14 June – Scotland v Czech Republic - 2pm - Hampden
Friday 18 June – England v Scotland – 8pm - Wembley
Tuesday 22 June – Scotland v Croatia - 8pm - Hampden
SCOTLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Craig Gordon (Hearts), David Marshall (Derby), Jon McLaughlin(Rangers).
Defenders: Liam Cooper (Leeds), Declan Gallagher (Motherwell), Grant Hanley (Norwich), Jack Hendry (Celtic), Scott McKenna (Nottingham Forest), Stephen O'Donnell (Motherwell), Nathan Patterson (Rangers), Andy Robertson (Liverpool), Greg Taylor (Celtic), Kieran Tierney (Arsenal)
Midfielders: Stuart Armstrong (Southampton), Ryan Christie (Celtic), John Fleck (Sheffield United), James Forrest (Celtic), Ryan Fraser (Newcastle United), Billy Gilmour (Chelsea), John McGinn (Aston Villa), Callum McGregor (Celtic), Scott McTominay (Manchester United), David Turnbull (Celtic)
Forwards: Ché Adams (Southampton), Lyndon Dykes (QPR), Kevin Nisbet (Hibernian)
Coach: Steve Clarke
PREVIOUS FIVE TOURNAMENT PERFORMANCES
World Cup 2018: DNQ
Euro 2016: DNQ
World Cup 2014: DNQ
Euro 2012: DNQ
World Cup 2010: DNQ