Experience can help Scotland create history in Germany, says McFadden

The countdown is well and truly on for the tournament and the excitement is starting to build for fans, players and manager Steve Clarke, who is already plotting his 23-man squad.

Another man who is struggling to contain his excitement is Scotland hero James McFadden, and despite having a hint of jealousy that he isn’t involved himself, he feels that the national team can achieve something special when they head to Germany later this year.

He explained: "We've shown that we can compete with anyone. I think we've got a good chance as long as we play to the level we know we can do.

"I'm looking forward to the build-up and seeing if there's any surprises in terms of who's going. I'm buzzing for an actual summer tournament that we're properly involved in.”

Scotland of course qualified for the last Euros, which ended an agonising 23-year absence from a major tournament. Despite the qualification, performances failed to live up to expectations in the group stage and ultimately Steve Clarke’s side crashed out before the knockouts got underway.

McFadden was disappointed by Scotland’s showing at Euro 2020, but he feels the close-knit squad will have learned a lot from the experience that they can now take with them as they head to Germany.

He continued: “I think that experience, although it wasn't great and the players will still be hurting from it and disappointed with it, will definitely be better for it.

"I think the players will be ready for it and the manager will be ready for it. It will be a different experience. Two of those games were at Hampden and one was at Wembley, all not in front of full crowds.

"To open the tournament in Germany is going to be sensational. I think we're a much stronger group now and will go into it confidently.

"I don't think we'll be shouting from the rooftops, but we're confident."

The opening match of the tournament is an exciting proposition for Scotland and McFadden feels that with the pressure all on the hosts, Clarke’s side could potentially cause a huge upset.

"It's tough for Germany because they're not playing competitive games,” he said. “They're playing friendlies and have changed managers too.

"I think they'll still be good, but I think we've got a great chance because the focus is going to be on Germany and the pressure is going to be on Germany.

"They'll have to perform in front of their home fans, having not been playing well and not getting great results in friendlies. It's a massive occasion for both teams."

McFadden was a man who countlessly produced for Scotland in the final third of the pitch and that is probably a weak point of the squad currently.

Clarke has chopped and changed between Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams in recent campaigns and Lawrence Shankland also staked his claim in the last round of international fixtures.

"I think our current strikers aren't maybe those goalscorers that need to be fed chances, it's guys who do a brilliant job for the team in terms of supporting and pressing,” explained McFadden.

"Steve Clarke has built a team that gets the likes of John McGinn and Scott McTominay scoring the goals. There's not really been a focus on a striker to score a lot of goals.

"I think Lawrence Shankland coming on and scoring recently for Scotland has shown Clarke that he will score at international level. He doesn't need a lot of chances to score at international level.

"If we're chasing a game late on, you can throw him on and he'll sniff out a chance.

"His form has been sensational so I think he's definitely put himself in the frame to go.

"Our talisman has been McGinn, it's been McTominay. I honestly think it could be anybody.

"I don't actually think we'll need one. I think the team is set up so more often than not it'll be the midfielders that get the opportunities.

"The strikers stretch the defence, hold the ball up and go and compete to create the spaces. It could be someone else. The strength of the team will be the key for Scotland."

Scotland have never qualified for a knockout stage at a major tournament in the past, but McFadden feels this could well be the year with matches against Germany, Switzerland and Hungary to come in Group A.

Asked if Clarke has shown tactically that Scotland can mix it with some of Europe’s best, Faddy responded: "I think he's shown it. It's different pressures, going to the Euros, the opening ceremony and all that.

"I think he's shown we can play against anyone. Spain away was more about defending and there was more than three points at stake in that game.

"It was a case of frustrating them and trying to hit them. Scott McTominay scores a wonder goal in that one that gets chalked off.

"In the Spain game at home it was a fully deserved victory. There were a lot of good parts in that game, good attacking and good defending from us.

"I think Scotland can take belief from that and go and beat anybody. Why not."

McFadden was pulling on the boots again at Stephen Dobbie’s testimonial last weekend at Palmerston Park as Queen of the South fans got their chance to give a club legend a fitting send-off.

Dobbie was never capped at international level for Scotland, but McFadden feels he could have easily pulled on the navy blue at Hampden Park.

He added: "It was a great turnout for Dobbs and very well deserved. Even though I was playing against him, it was great to see how much he meant to these fans.

"I played with him here and it's no wonder why they love him to me because he had a brilliant career.

"I was only here for a short time but I can see the impact he had at the club. It was a pleasure to play with him and a pleasure to be involved in his testimonial.

"I think when you see someone up close you can see just how good they are. I think especially at a time when there were a lot of players getting a chance, Dobbie never managed to get that.

"I think he'd be disappointed with that, but he still went on to have a fantastic career regardless."