The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Scots can capitalise on delay
Uefa: Decision gives key players time to get fighting fit, says ex-manager Brown
Former Scotland boss Craig Brown hopes the national team can benefit from the European Championship play-offs being delayed.
Uefa announced yesterday that no international would take place in June, when the games had been pushed back to after their original March dates.
At a conference call involving the 55 member nations yesterday, it was decided to shelve the games until further notice, with all European and numerous youth tournaments following the same fate.
Games can potentially be rescheduled for the international September, however this was not confirmed by Uefa yesterday.
Scotland have a playoff for the European Championships, already moved to next summer, against Israel to play, as well as a potential play-off final against either Serbia or Norway. Brown, the last man to take Scotland to a major international tournament, hopes the delay can allow some of the team’s key players to recover their fitness.
He said: “The delay maybe gives John McGinn time to get fit, Leigh Griffiths time to rediscover his match fitness. It might be a blessing in disguise.
“Scott McKenna is another – I’m a strong fan of his and he’s been outstanding. Scotland could have a fit Scott McKenna, John McGinn,
Andy Robertson, Kieran Tierney, Ryan Christie and Callum McGregor.
“Successful international teams are usually older. When Germany won Euro 96 they had one of the oldest teams in the tournament. But these guys are still pretty young.
“Even with a few months’ delay, certainly if they are all fit by then, we’ll have a good group of young players.”
The Champions League and Europa League competitions have also seen their fixtures suspended until further notice.
Uefa had hoped to get remaining league fixtures played by June 30, after shifting the Euros to allocate time in the calendar.
Senior football in Scotland is suspended until April 30, while the Highland League have already declared their season over and named Brora Rangers champions.
Brown reckons the national side could have a strong Aberdeen influence in it, once football resumes.
He added: “It could be prominent in the national team. I would hope Scott McKenna would be in and Andy Considine, although he’s a bit older, if there’s the same problems at centrehalf he could be right in there.
“You’ve also got Mikey Devlin once he gets matchfit again, Ryan Fraser and Ryan Jack, Kenny McLean and Ryan Christie from further afield.
“There could be quite an Aberdeen influence.”