Exclusive:Gareth Bale predicts 'big boom in Scottish football' on back of stunning Euro 2024 start

Gareth Bale has hailed Scotland’s stunning start in the Euro 2024 qualifiers, predicting it will deliver a “big boom in football” in the country.

Steve Clarke’s side sit proudly at the top of Group A after opening the campaign with wins over Cyprus, Spain, Norway and Georgia.

“I did see that,” Bale, the former Wales star, told The Scotsman in Munich, where he was playing golf in the BMW International Open. “It’s a very good start and hopefully they can push on.”

The Scots top the table by eight points, raising hopes of a first appearance in the finals of a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France.

Gareth Bale pictured durng the BMW International Open Pro-Am at Golfclub Munchen Eichenried in Germany. Picture: Stuart Franklin/Getty Images.

“Obviously they’ve put themselves in a great position and now they have to finish the job off. It’s always hard to get over the line, but they’re in a great position,” added the former Tottenham and Real Madrid man.

“And, when you do get over the line and get to play in major tournaments for your country, there is no bigger honour.”

Bale was speaking from experience, having helped Wales bridge a 64-year World Cup gap by qualifying for last year’s finals in Qatar, and now he’s hoping the likes of Andy Robertson, John McGinn and Scott McTominay get the chance to show off their skills on one of the game’s showpiece stages in Germany next summer.

“It shows, I guess, how close they are as a group because, like us in Wales, you don’t get a pick of a lot of talent because there just isn’t talent there - the country isn’t big enough,” he continued.

“Yeah, when countries like ours start to achieve something, it just becomes more impressive and more special and you will now see the county pull together and you will have this big boom in football, which will be good for Scotland.”

Bob MacIntyre, Scotland’s top-ranked male professional golfer, also saluted Clarke’s side as he prepared for this week’s DP World Tour event at Golfclub München Eichenried.

“It’s amazing,” said the Oban man, sporting a huge smile. “It’s what Scottish football has been looking for since I was a kid. I remember sitting at the golf club, I can’t remember what year it was, but we lost a final qualifier.

“They’re in a great position. I speak to a few of them now and again and they’re just normal guys who love their job and fair play to them as everyone is looking up to them.”

MacIntyre was still at home when Scotland recovered from going behind to a Erling Haaland penalty to beat Norway 2-1 in Oslo on Saturday.

“Me, my dad and Thomas (who has been fostered by the family) watched the game and, at 1-0 down, you were thinking ‘this isn’t what we were wanting’,” said the two-time DP World Tour winner.

“Then, when the first goal went in, we were all jumping about and me and my old man were really jumping about the living room when the second one went in. It’s massive. It’s good for the country.”