STAR AT TOULON
SCOTT McDERMOTT
IT was a year book-ended by two Toulon semi-finals against the Auld Enemy. And in between there was a joust with Neymar, a mysterious injury that threatened to curtail his career and a Championship play-off defeat with Dundee United. Welcome to Anthony Ralston’s world. To say it’s been an eventful 12 months for the Celtic and Scotland Under-21 right-back would be an understatement. On Saturday he played his part in a 2-1 win for Scot Gemmill’s side over South Korea which cemented a last-four spot in France. When he lines up against England on Wednesday it will almost be a year to the day since they lost 3-0 at the same stage in Fos-sur-Mer. Ralston is relishing the prospect of revenge but irrespective of the result he’ll reflect on a rollercoaster season. Brendan Rodgers showed enough faith to throw him into a glamour Champions League tie with PSG before a knee problem derailed him. Then a loan move to Tannadice failed to yield the promotion they craved as Livingston beat them to it. But Ralston admits the campaign has been a vital learning curve for him that will prove invaluable going forward. He said: “It’s fair to say there have been ups and downs for me. “From the start, living my dream as a Celtic fan by playing for the first team. They’ve been unreal this season and I’m immensely proud to have been part of that. “Then my injury and having to deal with that. It was a serious one and having an operation was all new to me. “In terms of the injury you hope it never happens but it’s about how you deal with the downsides in football, as well as enjoying the ups. “It’s been a good season overall, certainly one to remember. “It’s crazy to think of the things that have happened since we last played England in this tournament a year ago. “It’s been mental but unreal at the same time. “I feel I’ve grown as a player since I was last here. In a way it all started playing in the Toulon. “And after the weekend we’re all happy. It’s nice to have a win like that when you can enjoy it. “The camp’s good. There’s a confidence about the place and we’ve all been lifted by reaching the semi-finals.” It’s impossible to think of Ralston now without casting your mind back to his big night against PSG at Parkhead. A 5-0 defeat at the hands of the starstudded French side would have been a harsh lesson for any young player. But going toe to toe with Neymar added an edge that should sharpen Ralston’s senses for the rest of his career. sport@dailyrecord.co.uk Reflecting on the whole experience he said: “I always look back on it as a positive night on a personal level.
“It’s all about experiences and playing against that calibre of player is only going to give me confidence to go up against anyone.
“Obviously Neymar is a very talented footballer, one of the best in the world. “But I still take great confidence from that night going into every game I play now. Just having it in the back of my head, knowing I experienced it, is good for me. “It’s a good memory for me even if the score didn’t go our way on the night. “I enjoyed the challenge of a game like that at Celtic Park. It’s the thing I grew up as a kid dreaming about. “There were 60,000 fans there on a Champions League night and I’m honoured to say I’ve done it. It will Ralston said: “I’m now in a place where I’m fit and can really push on with my career. “I’m focusing on doing well here for my country because that’s a massive part of it too. “Beating France last week is a result that will stick with me forever, the same as beating Brazil here a year ago. “And if we can go and beat France the sky’s the limit in terms of who we can take out next in the tournament. “Hopefully we can go one step better this year and get to the Final. “Then when I go back to Celtic I want to push on again and show I’m capable of getting into the team.”