'Anything can happen': Callum McGregor says Scotland go to Euros full of confidence

Callum McGregor says Scotland are going to Germany full of confidence and insists “anything can happen” if they play to their capabilities.

Steve Clarke’s side play the hosts in the opening game next week before also taking on Switzerland and Hungary in their quest to reach the knockout stages for the first time.

McGregor is looking forward to playing in the “amazing” stadiums and witnessing the atmosphere that German football is famous for but will also be going to get the job done on the pitch.

The Celtic captain was part of the team that qualified for Euro 2020, which was played a year later and in front of half-empty stadiums due to the coronavirus pandemic. He admits it was a bittersweet experience due to the conditions and the fact Scotland only managed to get a single point.

He said: “Covid was killing it a little bit, but still to be at the tournament, you could see early on the magnitude of the competition and being involved in such a thing was brilliant.

“The country was well behind us, of course they couldn’t get into the stadiums, but straight away when we arrived we knew we were at a big tournament. It just had that feel about it and it was great.”

The midfielder scored Scotland’s only goal of the tournament, continuing a trend that only players with a surname beginning in Mc have scored for Scotland at the Euros following goals from Brian McClair, Paul McStay and Gary McAllister in 1992 and Ally McCoist in 1996.

And despite Hampden being well below it’s usual capacity due to the restrictions, he said the noise when the goal went in made it feel like a full house.

He said: “It was a good finish, I think we had a wee spell of possession, it got crossed in and I had a nice touch from the left to set up on my right and just focused on getting it on target. I was thankful to see it go through the boy’s legs and into the back of the net.

“The noise that came off the crowd, it felt like it was full and sometimes when you watch it back it doesn’t quite marry up with the sound.

“After ending the wait to get there I think everyone was probably thinking ‘just give us a goal’ and we managed to do that. The only disappointing aspect was that we didn’t get out the group and didn’t quite perform on the day in terms of the big set up we had, and the fact that if we won we would have went through.”

McGregor, who is coming off the back of another successful season with Celtic after lifting the league and Scottish Cup trophies, remains a key-man for Steve Clarke as they prepare to head off to Germany after Friday’s friendly against Finland and he believes they are capable of getting results at the top level.

He said: “It’s all set up now and obviously being in Germany as well it’s a brilliant football country. The stadiums and atmospheres will be amazing and I’m sure the Tartan Army will enjoy themselves as well.

“We go there full of confidence, we know we are a good team and if we go there and perform, anything can happen, so we have to go in full of confidence and full of belief and see where that takes us.”