We MUST go for broke against the Czechs
RFYAN FRASER tore the Czech Republic to bits at Hampden back in October. Scored the only goal of the game in the Nations League, could have had a hat-trick, looked like he had solved everything as part of a new little-and-large partnership with Lyndon Dykes.
What does it say, then, about the trajectory Scotland have been on since the original Euro 2020 was postponed a year ago that it is hard, try as you might, to see a way of squeezing the Newcastle forward into the starting line-up when the Czechs come back to town with a lot more at stake?
Well, it says two things, really. One is that we are no longer stuck in the predicament of praying that Leigh Griffiths stops acting like an eejit and gets himself fit because there is no one else capable of putting the ball in the net at international level.
The other is that we clearly have so many valid attacking options that there can be no other course of action tomorrow afternoon than going well and truly for broke.
Had Fraser not required groin surgery after scoring in both games of the March double-header against Israel and the Faroes and missed the rest of the season at his club, the puzzles no doubt keeping Steve Clarke awake at night would be even more exacting.
Fraser (right) was brilliant against the Czech Republic last year. Terrific against Slovakia as well, playing a part in the lead-up to Dykes’ winner. Lacking sharpness or not, you’d still have him in the team in a heartbeat.
His pace, technical ability and link-up play — the qualities that let him enjoy a free role at Bournemouth to come inside, probe for opportunities — make him such a great foil for a more physical, direct centre-forward.
His delivery from set-pieces and open play would also ask questions of a Czech side renowned for not being terribly good at dealing with cross balls and with some major doubts in the goalkeeping department. RASER’S problem is that we now have Che Adams as an alternative. Of course, those two could be tried together as well. It’s just that Dykes started both of those warm-up games against the Netherlands and Luxembourg and looks like he is going into the tournament as our focal point in attack.
He has been great for Scotland and doesn’t deserve to be dropped. He also gives a little bit of extra height and strength to the team for free-kicks and corners.
Although the overall display was far from perfect, there was enough in the win over Luxembourg to suggest there is the early flicker of a potentially decent partnership there with Adams, too.
Adams is exciting, quick and strong. He can clearly finish as well. Clarke has been making encouraging noises about going on the attack and, therefore, it is unthinkable that we won’t go with two up front against the Czechs.
The national coach has also spoken about how one victory can carry us through to the knockout stages of the Euros thanks to four of the third-placed teams in the groups progressing to the last 16. It’s true. It might. But it might not.
In Euro 2016, Albania and Turkey both won a game in the groups. However, they had a negative goal difference. That’s what caused them to lose out in the end to Northern Ireland and Portugal, whose three points had come by scoring as many as they conceded.
Just going out to win against the Czechs isn’t enough. We have to try to win well. We know we can beat them. The side that recorded that Nations League win eight months ago contained fringe players such as Andy Considine and Greg Taylor. It was quite some way away from being our best XI — whereas all our main players are available this time round.
It is just a case of how best to fit them all in. Indeed, perhaps the most exhilarating thing about now being so close to seeing Scotland playing again in a major finals is the endless debate over what the team should be.
Almost everyone has a different starting line-up, one major question for which they seek an answer as they roam the Covidscarred wastelands in search of a public house willing to let you in for the Czech game without having booked a table six weeks in advance through the QR code that links you up to the app and probably wants a DNA sample and your last five years of tax returns too. Should we really risk wee Billy Gilmour in midfield? Has Jack Hendry improved so much during a year in Belgium that he is now ready to go up against the best in Europe? Do we ignore the fact that Stephen O’Donnell plays for Motherwell and focus, instead, on the many fine performances he has delivered in dark blue?
This stuff would give a Panadol a sore head. Yet, it should inspire confidence and optimism too.
Clarke will no doubt use his squad fully over these three group games. The higher quality of England and Croatia will no doubt demand different tactics, different priorities, different players. The Czech Republic game is about being more than just hard to beat and taking risks, though. It is why our most dangerous guys have to play. That extends to James Forrest starting on the right instead of O’Donnell for this first game, at least.
Fraser, of course, is a versatile sort and can perform there too. In truth, he is a better player than Forrest. However, the Celtic man has had more game time there, knows the role and is arguably stronger at the defensive side of the game. Although injured much of last term, he got seven outings towards the end of the season and is better placed than Fraser for the physical demands of that job.
Right wing-backs also have to stay out wide and Fraser prefers to drift inside, float around. If we are to use Forrest as a wing-back, though, we have to put the emphasis on defending on that side of the back three.
That’s why Grant Hanley maybe makes more sense than the technically better, occasionally erratic Hendry. Clarke likes Hanley and there was probably a reason why he started in that role against Luxembourg during the week.
Any one of a number of players could make up the defence, to be fair. Declan Gallagher’s performance in the play-off win in Serbia was heroic. However, Liam Cooper has come off a season captaining Leeds United in the English Premier League and that bank of added knowledge and experience could be important and just enough to give him the edge.
THAT just leaves midfield. Scott McTominay and John McGinn are nailed-on to play. And Gilmour should be too. Callum McGregor is tidy and intelligent, but he should have left Celtic a year ago. Last term’s carnage at Parkhead probably has him arriving at this tournament with the same glazed expression as the guys who made it on to the last helicopter out of Saigon.
Therefore, the momentum lies with Gilmour. His cameo performance against Luxembourg was so tantalising. His lack of first-team football is a concern, for sure, but there is just something different about this boy. And his clear desire to get out there and boss this tournament is infectious.
Tomorrow’s game is about being bold. About making statements. About getting all our most expressive, big-league players out there on the pitch. That there is no obvious place for Fraser is as exciting as it is agonising. And quite remarkable, too.
He’ll just have to come on and score our fourth from the bench.