Anthony Ralston’s Scotland critics are awfully quiet today | OneFootball

Anthony Ralston’s Scotland critics are awfully quiet now. Another solid display from Celtic’s right back at Hampden last night in the 1-0 win over Croatia…

John McGinn celebrates with Anthony Ralston during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 match between Scotland and Croatia at Hampden on November 15, 2024. (Photo by Euan Cherry/Getty Images)

It was an early birthday present for the now 26 year-old who performed resolutely at the national stadium on Friday evening. Playing a key role in back-to-back clean sheets, Scotland won their first competitive match since September 2023 which came in an encounter with Cyprus in Euro 2024 qualifying at Larnaca.

John McGinn’s late winner in a crucial Nations League outing secured Scotland a rare win at Hampden against a disappointing 10-man Croatian side who looked devoid of ideas.

Incredibly, the impressive and much needed 1-0 victory over the Croats is the first win in Glasgow for Steve Clarke’s men in more than 17 months.

John McGinn celebrates scoring with teammate Anthony Ralston during the UEFA Nations League match between Scotland and Croatia at Hampden on November 15, 2024. (Photo by Euan Cherry/Getty Images)

Importantly, Scotland have remarkably given themselves a credible chance of reaching the Nations League quarter-finals which would subsequently mean becoming a pot 1 team for World Cup qualification.

The permutations are clear. Scotland must beat Poland in Warsaw on Monday night and hope already qualified Portugal defeat Croatia in Zagreb. Also, Scotland need to win by two or more goals, or alternatively aspire that Croatia lose by two goals or more. Those three scenarios must occur for Scotland to finish 2nd.

Meanwhile, Anthony Ralston won cap number 18 for his country and started his ninth consecutive game in a row under Steve Clarke. That in itself shows the trust the Scotland boss who finally broke his duck of 1 win in 16 has in Celtic’s experienced second choice right-back.

Getting the nod over Scottish Premiership’s Player of the Month Nicky Devlin exemplifies the confidence Clarke has in maintaining a place in the starting XI for Ralston. Quite easily, he could have been taken out the squad following a collective calamitous Euro 2024 campaign, but consistency since the tournament in Germany for his country has been laudable.

Monday night will be another significant challenge for Ralston in dark blue colours. Should Scotland pull off second place, confidence in this group of players will have been fully restored. Let’s hope they can complete what will undoubtedly be a tough test.

Conor Spence

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