Pundit claims Euro 2024 was ‘a step too far’ for Scotland striker

Che Adams was the preferred option up front, with Steve Clarke opting to start the Southampton forward rather than Lawrence Shankland or Tommy Conway for all three Group A matches. 

Adams failed to find the net in any of those games, and his struggles were further highlighted when a promising counter-attack broke down during the first half of the must win clash against Hungary.

Former Celtic and Scotland star, Alan McInally, believes the European Championships were maybe just a step too far for Adams, who was crucial to the national team qualifying for the tournament, and the national team perhaps lack someone with the attributes to lead the line at that level. 

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“I’m sorry, but yeah, I mean, every striker has had a finger pointed at him,” he stated. “50 years ago, 10 years ago or in modern day football, it doesn’t change.

“Listen, Harry Kane is getting battered because he’s only scored one goal. Che Adams, by the way, in qualifying, was important for us. He really was important, genuinely.

“At the big tournament, it was just one step too much for Che Adams, unfortunately. I mean, as much as he tried his absolute best, and incidentally, he’s going to be a Premier League player next year, people forget he’s only just come out of the Championship.

“That was the level that he was playing at. That’s just a reality for Scotland. We don’t have someone that I would take right now in the Premier League. I played golf with Robbie Fowler yesterday and I said to him, ‘If you’d played up front for us yesterday, we’d have scored.’

“You know, we just need someone who takes a snapshot, tries to beat somebody, gets the ball in the box and scores a goal. Che Adams is just nowhere near that, unfortunately. He gives what he can give you. He’s an honest, professional football player. But international class, you can throw the finger at a few of them to say, they’re not international class and that’s why we’re not still in an international tournament.”

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McInally acknowledges that Shankland, who was top scorer in the Scottish Premiership last season, may have not done a better job, but he’s baffled why the Heart of Midlothian talisman didn’t at least get more game time to prove it. 

“Maybe, maybe because I don’t really know what difference he would have made,” the 61-year-old added. 

“There’s no question that Lawrence Shankland is a better goal scorer than Che Adams and has proven that last season. But then people say, ‘Well, he only played in Scotland. It’s easier in Scotland to score goals than it is in the Championship or the Premier League.’

“Okay, if that’s the case, fine. But he’ll probably be disappointed he only got that amount of time, to be honest. But you can talk about any squad. I’ve got the squads here in front of me. France, Randal Kolo-Muani, Bradley Barcola and Kingsley Coman have hardly played.

“Anthony Gordon and Cole Palmer should be playing for England. Rafael Leao had an unbelievable season and is in the Portugal squad but is hardly ever used. Vitinha at PSG has only started one game for Portugal. Take your pick. For the Netherlands. Brian Brobbey hasn’t played.”