Former Scotland Hero, Kevin Gallacher has given his take on James Forrest’s severe lack of game time for Scotland during Euro 2024.
Following James Forrest’s explosion back into form for Celtic at the end of last season, he was rewarded by Steve Clarke with a spot in his Euro 2024 squad. This marked Forrest’s first time back in the Scotland squad after a three-year absence.
However, even after all the hype-up over Forrest’s form and reintegration into the Scotland team, the Celtic winger received zero game time during Scotland’s ill-fated Euro 2024 campaign in Germany.
Gallacher’s take on Clarke’s Forrest snub
Former Scotland hero, Kevin Gallacher has shown some sympathy for the situation Forrest had to experience during his time in the Scotland camp in Germany. Speaking to the Sunday Post(30/06), Gallacher said…
“When you are an older player, it is the hardest thing to take. You are experienced, you have been through it all before and you are just hoping you get a little chance. Because then people will see what you can do and say there is still life in the old dog.”
“That is the way James will have been looking at it. He was there to support the other players and, if a chance had fallen his way, I am sure he would have taken it.
“However, we don’t know what Steve Clarke’s thoughts were. To have given James a game, he might have had to change the shape of the team. That is the kind of thing the manager has to take into consideration.”
A missed opportunity
While Gallacher’s comments on Steve Clarke’s decision-making certainly ring true, his second point of Forrest’s experience also serves as a cruel reminder of what could have been. While I am of the opinion that Clarke’s substitutions during the Hungary game fell short of expectations, many may have supported his decision-making.
However, Forrest is a player with bundles of skill and experience, and if he were brought on against Hungary, instead of Lewis Morgan for example, it’s possible he could have completely reignited the Scottish attack, and helped the Scots write history and qualify past the Group stage of a major competition.
