France – Scotland: Scott McTominay, the X factor of the Tartan Army!

At the top of group B and officially qualified for Euro 2024, the France team will face Scotland, who will also be present in Germany from June 14 to July 14, at the Decathlon Arena – Pierre-Mauroy in Lille. A friendly meeting organized Tuesday evening (9 p.m.) between two successful selections during the qualifiers. If the Blues of Didier Deschamps have never trembled to validate their ticket, like their recent success against the Netherlands, the Tartan Army has, for its part, made a strong impression within group A. With 5 victories in 6 matches and after the defeat (0-1) of Norway against Spain, Steve Clarke’s team thus won its ticket for the 17th edition of the European Football Championship. A qualification that the Scots owe largely to the impressive performance of a certain Scott McTominay.

An XXL course during the qualifiers!

Aligned alongside Callum McGregor in the Scottish 3-4-2-1 during these qualifying phases, the Manchester United defensive midfielder, who also played an attacking midfielder role, continued to shine. Replacing against Cyprus on the first day, the native of Lancaster notably scored twice at the end of the match (87th, 90+3rd) despite playing just 23 minutes at Hampden Park. The start of a sparkling campaign where the Scottish international finally scored 6 goals (double against Spain, a goal against Georgia and a goal + an assist in the return match in Cyprus), making him the current second top scorer in these qualifications, just behind Cristiano Ronaldo and his 7 goals. Once again starting last Thursday, against La Roja, the Red Devils player was even close to freeing his team at the hour mark.

On a free kick at the entrance to the area and in a tight angle on the left side, the Scottish international (40 caps, 6 goals) sent a missile into the opposite corner of Unai Simon. Unfortunately for him, the match referee canceled his goal for a little nudge from Jack Hendry on the Spanish goalkeeper. A decision which did not fail to make Steve Clarke react at a press conference. “The referee has made his decision, there is no need to dwell on the subject. I think there was a bit of confusion at the moment, whether it was offside or a foul on the goalkeeper. If you take those two together Jack Hendry was slightly offside and when he advanced towards the goalie they interpreted that as Jack being involved in the play but I will tell you now that he There’s no way the goalkeeper could have saved that ball, no matter where Jack Hendry was. The goalkeeper could never have saved this goal, whatever Jack Hendry’s position..

A move to play with the Red Devils…

No matter, if Scotland ended up breaking down, losing 2-0 against the 2010 world champions, the objective has now been achieved with a guaranteed place at Euro 2024. Great architect of this happy outcome, Scott McTominay thus confirms its rise in power. Little used by Erik ten Hag on the Manchester United side, the one who has only played 186 minutes of play since the start of the season is, in fact, taking advantage of every opportunity to stand out. Just before the break, the 1m91 right-hander, for example, got the Red Devils out of a more than compromised situation against Brentford. Trailing 1-0 by the Bees with two minutes already into added time, the Mancunian number 39 put on the savior costume by scoring a double on the wire (90+3, 90+7). A remarkable performance, moreover in a context of crisis for the residents of Old Trafford, currently in tenth place in the Premier League.

An X factor both for club and national team, Scott McTominay demonstrates a disconcerting offensive realism, all the more so given his remote position on the pitch. And if some observers try to justify this success by his past as number 9 within the Mancunian academy, the framework of the Tartan Army is surprised. “People always said to me: ‘You played as a striker when you were little. I’ve never played as a striker. I played two games with (former reserves coach) Warren Joyce because we didn’t have a striker. So, every time I score a goal, people always say: He was a striker, that’s why. I have never been an attacker! I’ve always been a midfielder, a number eight, so it’s funny to hear things like that.”. Refusing to consider himself as an attacker, the number 4 of the Scottish selection, on the other hand, clearly shows that he is a midfielder with an eye for goal. An aspect that the person concerned is also working on in training.

Delayed growth, a bright future?

“Just being alive in the box, being quick, not being on your heels or sleeping in the box (is essential) – every time there is a chance to score a goal, he you have to grab it. That’s what I always thought. I spoke to Darren Fletcher, Mitchell (van der Gaag) and the coaches, and that’s what they say: ‘Every chance you get, show up.’ That’s what I tried to do in training and show the manager that I was capable of going through moments like that, and I hope that continues in the future if we come together in as a team and we start playing the way we know how to play.”, confided McTominay after his resounding double against Brentford. A relatively late and quite unexpected takeover which does not seem, in any case, to surprise the main person concerned. Recently interviewed by the Manchester United channel, the child of the Red Devils also confided that his peak could come later, given the way he developed at Carrington. And for good reason.

With stunted growth at the start, the man whose contract runs until June 2025 has long had to fight to establish himself at the highest level. “My dad was great because he always said: Take your time, son. You’re going to grow up and you’re going to be bigger, because he knows that, right? When you’re a child, you don’t know that. And we always say to ourselves: I’m always last. But when I grew up, at 17 or 18, I sat next to him and I was above him. I was like, ‘What is going on here? Four years ago you told me not to worry, and now look. I am taller than my father: I am taller than my father and he is 1.80 m tall! So it’s a bit crazy.”revealed, in this respect, the one who now exceeds 90 meters.

An atypical development giving the 26-year-old player great prospects for the rest of his career. “The way I look at it now is that I grew up maybe four years after everyone else, so my best years will be four years later too”. And to add: “so i’m 26 today and my body age is technically that of a 22 year old. When I’m 30, I might feel like a 26-year-old. I could retire at 38 or 40!” While waiting to see if he can claim such longevity, Scott McTominay, recently targeted by West Ham and Newcastle, will necessarily be keen to confirm his very good dynamic against the 2018 world champions, Tuesday evening, on the Lille pitch. The French team has been notified. Mike Maignan, Alphonse Areola and Brice Samba also…