Scot Gemmill insists Scotland’s qualification for Euro 2024 will act as inspiration to the next generation.
Spain’s win over Norway on Sunday night secured Scotland’s place in Germany with the feel-good factor emanating amongst the Tartan Army. Clarke’s loyalty to his current crop of players has reaped rewards with qualification for consecutive Euros but a number of Gemmill’s Under-21 squad will have aspirations of breaking into the senior group by next summer.
The clamour for Ben Doak, who will miss the U21 clash with Hungary tomorrow night, to be included will soar if he continues to impress at Liverpool, while several others will be on Clarke’s radar. Nine members of the senior squad to face France tonight progressed the U21s under Gemmill’s tutelage and he wants his current youngsters to use the prospect of going to Germany as motivation.
“Definitely,” Gemmill replied when asked if the Euros would be an incentive. “It’s massive and it’s achievable. It will be difficult because the current players are doing well but you just never know. We will one hundred per cent be referencing it and using it as it’s incredible that we can do that for a second time in a few years.
"It’s down to Steve and his staff but I feel excitement that players are being given that opportunity. I wouldn’t use the word satisfaction [about nine former U21 players in the senior squad] because I love my job and I know how lucky I am to work with these players and the previous set of players. It’s brilliant to see and I had the privilege to tell Max [Johnson] that he was going up to the seniors.
“I understand that we’re a so-called youth team but the Scotland fans want to see us do well and I accept that. We have to be competitive in every game that we play but I think about the bigger picture and developing these players.”
Friday night’s win over Hungary ended in disappointment for Max Johnston on his return to Fir Park as he was sent off late on. But things change quickly in football and the Sturm Graz full-back received his first senior call-up on Monday.
It caps a remarkable 12 months for the 19-year-old as he was playing on loan for Cove Rangers in the Scottish Championship this time last year and Gemmill is delighted by his development.
He added: “Max has the right application and he wants to improve. He knows that he needs to improve and this is obviously a brilliant reward. He’s intelligent enough to know this opportunity has arrived, as most do, because other players aren’t available. It’s now about him going and making an impression.
After two decades of anguish in qualification campaigns, Scotland now possesses a team capable of competing amongst the best in Europe.
Gemmill was part of Scotland’s squad at Euro 96 and the World Cup in 1998 and he believes the gap between the U21 and senior squads has narrowed with more players getting promoted at a younger age.
“The gap between the Under-21s and the full squad felt bigger back then. Using myself as an example, I was playing regularly for Nottingham Forest in the top flight of English football when I was with the 21s. But when I was told old for that squad, I couldn’t get into the Scotland squad until three years later despite playing in the top league.
“That’s where I see the difference right now because younger players aren’t having to wait to get into Steve’s squad. It’s a benefit for the development of young players and it would be interesting to see how that compares with other countries around Europe.”
