McCulloch: Win or lose at Euros, Scots have already shed ‘glorious failure’ tag
Lee McCulloch knows from painful experience what it is like to get caught up in one of Scotland’s glorious failures.
The 45-year-old was a midfielder in Alex McLeish’s side who beat France home and away to raise the nation’s hopes of reaching Euro 2008 in Austria and Switzerland – only to then crash and burn in the final game at home to Italy.
The fact that the Azzurri grabbed their key second with a disputed goal deep in stoppage time simply added to the misery.
Yet as he looked ahead to the tournament’s 2024 finals, McCulloch insists that no matter what happens in Germany, the current group of players need have no fears of being lumbered with such an unenthusiastic epitaph.
“What happened in 2007 was a sore one, no doubt about it,” he said. “We had done well. We had got some good results, beating France a couple of times and Ukraine at Hampden, in a game I scored in.
“Unfortunately, though, when it came to it, we just fell a little bit short. At the time we were really annoyed because we felt that was us landed with the ‘glorious failure’ tag again.
“But listen, the boys have shed that label now. They have got over the hurdle of getting us through to a major finals.
“The manager deserves so much credit. Not just for the team he has built but also for the culture and the environment he has developed. It’s a culture which is not just about the individual but about the collective.
“Let’s hope we now go and become the first team in Scotland’s history to get through to a knockout stage. What an achievement that would be!”
And the former Kilmarnock manager, now retired from coaching having turned down an offer to join Robbie Neilson at Tampa Bay Rowdies, can see it happening.
“I think we did well in the draw because Germany first up is the perfect start for us,” he said.
McCullooch revealed he has tickets for Scotland’s games but admitted that the decision whether he goes to them or not is likely to depend on his two sons.
“As the opening match it is probably the biggest game of the tournament, I am really looking forward to it.
“To play against the hosts, to open the tournament – what an experience that is for everyone. For all our players, the management and, of course, the fans. The whole world will be watching so if we can get a result, it would put Scotland right on the footballing map.
“I do not know if it is maybe just because I am a super positive guy, but I think we will get something out of it. I would not rule us out of getting a point or even winning the game!”
McCulloch was speaking at the advance launch of a Murrayfield friendly to promote his old club Rangers’ pre-season fixture against Manchester United in July.
It is a game that will attract plenty of interest, not least because of the involvement of Scott McTominay – a player he tips as a potential matchwinner in Germany.
“Scott has done so well for Scotland, he was arguably the best player through the qualifying campaign,” he said. “If he was not the best then he has certainly been one of the best.
“You look at the goals he scores, and the importance of those goals and you can see straight away what an important contribution he has made to Scotland’s run.
“Hopefully, he can continue to show that form through the Euros themselves. I would make the same argument for John McGinn; he is another who could make a big impact for Scotland at the finals.
“It always helps if you have goalscoring midfielders in your team and especially in Scotland’s case.
“When you go with the formation the manager favours, you really need to have your midfielders chipping in with goals. With Scott and John in the side, that is exactly what you get.”