KING JAMES
Hat-trick hero Forrest sends Scotland into Euro play-offs
JAMES FORREST admitted he was in dreamland after his hat-trick heroics secured a Euro 2020 play-off for Scotland in historic fashion.
The 27-year-old winger became the first Celtic player since Jimmy Quinn 110 years ago to hit a treble in Scottish colours as he wiped out ex-Parkhead team-mate Beram Kayal’s opener for Israel with a series of superb finishes.
‘It was incredible, I’m absolutely buzzing,’ Forrest said. ‘It was great scoring my first goals for Scotland the other night so to come to Hampden and get a hat-trick is the stuff of dreams really. It’s up there with everything else I’ve done with Celtic.’
Forrest went through his first 24 caps without a goal, but now has five in his last two
appearances after a netting a double in Saturday’s 4-0 romp past 10-man Albania.
Those results ensured the national side have the back-up of a Euro 2020 play-off semi-final in March of that year — and will be in the third pot of seeds when the draw for regular qualifying takes place in Dublin a week on Sunday.
Alex McLeish’s men had to hang on for the final 15 minutes after Eran Zahavi pulled a goal back — with Allan McGregor making a fantastic save to deny substitute Tomer Hemed — but Forrest would not be denied a famous entry into an already sizeable record of success.
‘It’s up there with the big nights I have had at Celtic,’ Forrest said. ‘I only got my first goals the other day and now I have five, it’s pretty crazy really. I just want to kick on again from here, get as many caps as I can and hopefully get as many goals as I can.
‘I just have to keep working hard, play well for Celtic and when we meet up with Scotland again I hope I’m still playing with as much confidence.
‘It’s been a really positive ten days, we’ll all go back to our clubs with plenty of confidence.’
Forrest hopes the play-off might not even be needed if Scotland can build upon the form of the past week when Euro 2020 group qualifying kicks off in March.
‘Now we know we have the play-offs, we can have a real crack at the qualifiers,’ he insisted. ‘A lot of people were indifferent about the Nations League, but it’s been competitive games and a great chance to qualify.
‘From the outset we aimed to top the group and we have done that, so the momentum will be there heading into the qualifiers.
‘What we’ve done over the last ten days will give us plenty of confidence and everyone is looking forward to the draw now.
‘We will find out who we will be playing but with the way we have performed, so attacking, creating chances and scoring goals we will fancy our chances against anyone.
‘The group’s been working hard — we have to keep it going now.’
Hampden feared the worst when Kayal curled Israel in front after being given too much space 25 yards from goal.
But Scotland showed real resilience to respond, with Forrest leading the way.
‘We got an early setback but it didn’t knock us back too much and the lads showed great character to come back,’ said the Parkhead star.
‘We had to rely on Allan McGregor near the end, it was a great save and that’s what he’s capable of.
‘Sometimes in games you need your goalkeeper and that’s what Greegsy does.
‘The game changed really quickly, when it was 3-1 we had a few chances to make it four but then conceded and that made the last ten minutes tough.
‘The lads were tired but everyone dug deep and we got there in the end. Everyone is delighted in there.
‘We can’t get carried away now but this is a step forward for us.
‘We have made it into the play-offs and everyone is looking forward to the qualifiers starting.’
I only got my first goals the other day and now I have five, it’s pretty crazy