Stephen Halliday: Let’s hope Euros are worth waiting for

Scotland could have been preparing for first match

Scotland manager Steve Clarke. Picture: Ian MacNicol/Getty

Having watched Italy kick things off against Turkey in Rome last night, we would have been submerged in a veritable feast of action with three games each today and tomorrow boosting trade in pubs up and down the country.

If things had worked out as the Tartan Army hoped, Scotland would also have been in a fevered state of anticipation for the country’s first appearance in a major tournament finals for 22 years with a Hampden date against the Czech Republic on Monday 
afternoon.

Of course, there have been far more grievous losses as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. But the absence of that unique buzz created by a tournament summer is another cause for lamentation.

With a bit of luck, Steve Clarke, above, and his Scotland players will make the experience all the sweeter in 12 months’ time.