Why Celtic's night in Cologne was mixed concerning Scotland

Whether it's conscious or unconscious bias, you will for your club’s representatives to do well on the international stage, despite wearing the blue of Scotland rather than the green and white hoops of Celtic. Therefore, you celebrate achievements and bemoan shortcomings almost identically to the way you would if they were playing under Brendan Rodgers when they feature under Steve Clarke. They are extensions of the football team you are invested in, so you support them and want them to do well for their country.

Last night was a mixed night for everyone involved with the national team, whether you were a player, manager or simply a spectator watching on. Indeed, it was a much better showing than the first time out versus the host nation, as Scotland drew 1-1 with Switzerland to move up to third in the table. Because of this, they leapfrogged Hungary in Group A, their opponents on Sunday evening in Stuttgart.

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As was the case in the first match last Friday, Celtic captain Callum McGregor started for Clarke in Scotland’s midfield, whilst Anthony Ralston retained his right-back spot despite struggling in Munich. As you will know by now, both were involved in the dramatic events of last night, though the midfielder had a better night than his fellow teammate out wide on the right flank.

Let’s start with the positives, though, and it was a return to form for McGregor in the middle of the park. Partnered by Brighton’s Billy Gilmour in place of Ryan Christie in the engine room, the pair linked up well, allowing Scotland more freedom and time to dictate the play from the centre of the pitch. Both were key in the make-up of the opening goal, which was coincidentally scored by another midfielder in the shape of Scott McTominay.

Following a calm touch on the chest and lobbed pass by Gilmour, Scotland’s skipper Andy Robertson was on his bike, as Switzerland were hit on the counter attack by their opponents. Recognising the space that his captain had left, McGregor became the de facto left-back and gave the Liverpool full-back an option as he ran through the middle of Switzerland’s disciplined defensive line. Almost belatedly, Robertson worked the ball out to McGregor, before the Celtic captain cut the ball back to McTominay, whose shot hit off the leg of Newcastle’s Fabian Schar and into the back of Jan Sommer’s net.

Though the opener was originally awarded as a Schar own-goal, the dubious goal panel awarded it to the Manchester United midfielder, thus meaning that McGregor picked up an assist for his contribution. He had a good game, completing 94 per cent of his passes on the night, as his calmness in possession and constant drive brought the team forward on more than one occasion.

Unfortunately, McGregor’s teammate Ralston was front and centre of Switzerland’s equaliser, as he played a slack pass that evaded both of his centre-backs and fell to the one player he would have been trying to avoid. You only have to look at the resume of teams that Xherdan Shaqiri has played at to understand the danger that the diminutive winger possesses. Bayern Munich, Inter Milan and Liverpool have all housed the ‘Alpine Messi’ at some point in his career, and the winger rolled back the years, with a first-time shot from Ralston’s intercepted pass that left Angus Gunn with no chance of saving it between the sticks.

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Let’s not beat about the bush here, Celtic’s right-back struggled for large parts of this game, after failing to impress versus Germany five days prior. Slack on the ball and positionally wayward, Alistair Johnston’s backup had some scary moments in last night’s match. In spite of this, however, he did manage to stabilise, particularly in the second half, helping his country to a much-needed point. It must be said that better players than Ralston have crumbled on stages like this in the past, so credit must come his way for keeping himself composed and not allowing his head to drop after that early mistake.

Indeed, McGregor and Ralston only make up half of the Celtic Scotland contingent, with Greg Taylor and James Forrest waiting in the wings for an opportunity to feature. Neither have managed to make it off of the bench thus far in this tournament, with Clarke seemingly keen to stick with his starting 11 for as long as possible in games. If we’re being realistic, it will be more likely that the veteran Forrest will feature over Taylor, even after Kieran Tierney’s unfortunate injury.

Elsewhere, there are Celtic links all over the Scotland squad, from former youth players to familiar faces in the first team. Robertson was a youth player at the club, whilst Jack Hendry, Tierney, Stuart Armstrong and Lewis Morgan have all previously played for the side in years gone by. Celtic’s blueprint is all over this international side, you could say - not a bad thing!

As mentioned before, Sunday’s match versus Hungary is a massive event for the whole country, not just the players and the coaches. With the opportunity to get out of a group for the first time in their international history, the team knows that they are effectively in a ‘win or bust’ scenario. A draw would almost certainly mean elimination from the tournament, whilst a win would effectively secure qualification to the next stage. A nation expects, and the squad know what they must do.

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For Celtic’s representatives at the tournament, they have a date with destiny in just three days time with their international teammates. Del Amitri’s 1998 World Cup anthem for the tournament was aptly named ‘Don’t Come Home Too Soon’.

For the likes of McGregor, Ralston, Taylor and Forrest, they will be hoping that will not be the case after this weekend’s events.