I wanna be a Euro warrior
Josh out to gatecrash squad for finals as Serie A pals give Clarke’s Tartan Terrors a battling nickname
JOSH DOIG has revealed his Serie A team-mates have been so impressed with Scotland’s exploits they have labelled them as “Warriors”.
And the Sassuolo starlet is still hoping he can gatecrash Steve Clarke’s Euro 2024 squad ahead of this summer finals in Germany.
The former Hibs defender helped Scotland Under-21s take another step closer to qualifying for a Euros of their own when he played a captain’s role in this week’s 4-1 win over Kazakhstan.
Doig lashed in a brilliant opener and the win sent them level on points with Spain at the top of Group B.
The left-back has twice been called up for the full squad but has yet to make his debut.
After his £5million move from Verona in January, he still holds out some hope he can make it.
Doig said: “There’s a buzz around Scottish football at the moment. I’ve felt it over in Italy.
“The boys in the team are saying that Scotland are making a name for themselves now as the Warriors.
“The Italian boys have been calling Scotland a team of warriors, which is true. That’s what we’ve always been.
“The first team are doing so well it filters down to us. It gives us a confidence booster to see the quality that’s coming out of Scotland now.
“We’re one step away from it with the 21s, the young boys that are looking to break through. Everyone’s got that taste for it now and that eagerness to make the jump to the first team.
“I’m in that limbo stage but obviously first and foremost I’m with the 21s at the moment.
“However, it’s hard not to look when you’ve had that little taste with the first team. It’s just such a special group at the moment.
“I’m looking forward to the Euros and we’ll see what happens with the squad.
“It’s up to me how I play back over in Italy now until the end of the season. I’m just going to have my head down and focus on my games first. What will be, will be.
“Scotland have Kieran Tierney, Andy Robertson, Greg Taylor, boys who have been in that position for ages now. Boys I’ve looked up to all my career, growing up watching them. “Even to be put in a category with them is crazy. It’s kind of disbelief but I think I’ve earned it by playing through the age groups at Hibs then coming over to Italy. “It has been difficult but to be put in a category with them, to be challenging for a spot against them, it’s crazy. “For the 21s, we’ve got that core of a squad now and I think we’ve got that belief. Every game now is so important because obviously that’s the goal at the end of the day – to qualify.”
Doig, 21, is involved in an Italian relegation dog fight after surviving last season in a play-off with Verona.
Sassuolo sit second bottom but only two points from safety and Doig has no regrets about the move. He said: “It has been crazy. That’s been nine games now. I’ve played every match, except for that last one when I was suspended.
“Italy has always been the same. It’s the best lifestyle. I can’t complain about anything.
“The football’s been a bit up and down, which it always is. But if you look at the league table it’s so close at the moment. I had the same last season with Verona.
limbo I’m in that it’s hard stage but when not to look had taste you’ve team with first
“It’s so tight but you need to fight until the last game, which we did last season. We got away with it. “We’ll be looking to do it this season as well with the last nine games we’ve got coming up.”