TWO GAMES VERSUS THREE LIONS WILL BE A DREAM COME TRUE
Ant set to sit out Hampden crunch to get his own crack against English
ANTHONY RALSTON will happily skip cheering on Scotland in their must-win clash against England if it means playing in an Auld Enemy battle of his own.
Victory over Indonesia in their final Toulon Tournament group game today would almost certainly see the Under-20s set up a last-four clash with the Three Lions.
That showdown would take place just 48 hours before the senior teams battle it out in Saturday’s World Cup crunch at Hampden.
Ralston was hoping to go to the National Stadium as a fan but will still be in France if Scot Gemmill’s side reach the Toulon semi-finals for the first time in 22 years.
And the Celtic full-back admits it would prolong a dream end to the season after Brendan Rodgers handed him his first start before the Scots beat Brazil three days ago.
Asked about the prospect of taking on England, Ralston said: “It would be a great allround occasion.
“And if that happens we will deal with it. We would just go in with the same attitude.
“If I was back home I would definitely try to get a ticket and go along to the full team game at Hampden.
“I support Scotland – it’s my national team. But if we go through to the semi-finals in Toulon we will be in the Final or third and fourth place play-off and that would mean we would still be here on Saturday. That’s the aim.
“It has been the stuff of dreams after my first Celtic start and then beating Brazil.
“I’ve been a Celtic fan all my life along with my family so that was amazing.
“And then to come over here and have the experience of being away with Scotland and beating Brazil was outstanding. We were buzzing after the Brazil game. We believe we’re the first Scottish team to achieve that and now we have to move on.”
A 2-0 win for Gemmill’s side today would mean only a freak result in the Czech Republic’s clash with Brazil could see them eliminated.
But Ralston is adamant they won’t take an already eliminated Indonesia side lightly – despite the Asian minnows failing to score in their two Group C defeats. The 18-year-old said: “We go into the game against Indonesia in exactly the same way as we approached Brazil.
“You just need to deal with the fact we are favourites. It doesn’t matter to us. I don’t know the permutations – we are just going to try to win.”
Ralston will line up for Scotland’s final group game a month to the day since doing so for his club in their 4-1 win over St Johnstone at Parkhead.
Rodgers hailed Ralston for his display and the defender admits it was a dream come true when the Hoops boss took him and fellow teenage debutant Michael Johnston to salute the fans afterwards.
He said: “It’s a moment I will never forget. I’ve been a Celtic fan all my life so to walk over to the Green Brigade was amazing.
“I can’t wait to go back and see what the manager feels lies ahead for me. He’s changed me as a player and given me a great deal of confidence.”