Lyndon Dykes backs Scotland for historic Euro 2024 success as injured forward points to Tartan Army wow factor
Dykes will be watching on back in Scotland after a cruel injury ruled him out of the finals in Germany.
Lyndon Dykes insists Steve Clarke’s boys are capable of making history in Germany – with the bonds that bind them their biggest strength.
The gutted striker will watch these Euros unfold from the sidelines after being cruelly injured in camp 13 days ago. But the 28-year-old has full faith those on the pitch are up to the job of becoming the first Scotland team to reach the knockout stages at a major finals. Dykes, speaking in a new book “We Can Boogie – Steve Clarke’s Scotland Football Revival” by Record Sport’s Scott Burns, said: “It is not going to be easy but we have to be confident in what we have.
“The team will be looking to qualify for the knockout stages. The players and staff all want to make history. The squad is our big strength and we have to make sure we turn up at Euro 2024. Going into tournament football, you can’t slip up at any point.
“We need to be solid throughout. We’ve learned that from our experience at Euro 2020. The most important thing is the team.
“As long as we progress, that is the most important thing for me. I know what it would mean to everyone connected with the Scotland national team.”
The Scots begin against Germany in Munich tomorrow before the Swiss and Hungary beckon. The QPR frontman added: “There are some good teams and a few wildcards in there.
“We have the opening game which will be very hostile and tough. Germany have been a solid team for a number of years and we know how hard that will be.
Switzerland and Hungary we know have good creative players. They will both be dangerous.”
Tartan Army foot soldiers have descended on Munich after a Covid-impacted last Euros and Dykes believes a full-blown support can prove a major driver. He said: “It was amazing to see the whole of Scotland buzzing for Euro 2020. We saw it on the bus on the way to Hampden, the flags from all the houses and the backing we got from the entire country.
“That is what football is all about and that is what the team want to do again. You look at all of the team’s experience. We need to take that experience and use it to our advantage.”
While a return of just one point last time may have been tough going, many in this squad have experience they can now rely on. Playmaker Ryan Christie said: “We did well against England but the other two, especially at Hampden, we let ourselves down a bit. It was strange with the circumstances and the restrictions with Covid.
“Everybody was keen to have another crack at it. Listen, the Euros gave us a load of experience. None of us had experienced any time at a major tournament, so it was a first. Everybody said on the back of that, we didn’t want it to be a one-off – we wanted to get there again.”
Eight months have passed since this squad watched as Spain beat Norway to confirm our spot. Bournemouth star Christie added: “The manager gave a wee speech. He congratulated us on qualifying and to look forward to it because our performances had earned it.
“It was a nice touch but it was also great for the manager to see his team get over the line. We all absolutely love playing under him. It was the best way for us to repay him for the work he’s put in for the players, the team and the country.”
● “We Can Boogie – Steve Clarke’s Scotland Football Revival” by Scott Burns, published by Arena Sport books, is out now priced at £14.99.