Ronaldo is the top scorer in Euro 2024 qualifying. McTominay’s transformation from a defensive midfielder to a lethal goal scorer has been impressive.
Back in 2018, McTominay’s decision to represent Scotland was met with excitement by then-manager Alex McLeish, who had braved harsh weather conditions to convince him. It also appealed to Scottish fans as now they had more reasons to look out for Euro 2024 tickets. Fast forward five years, and McTominay showcased his prowess in front of goal amidst the pouring rain at Hampden Park on Tuesday night.
While initially deployed as a ball-playing center-back by Steve Clarke, McTominay has thrived in a more advanced midfield role. His performance against Georgia exemplified his energy and ability to deliver dangerous crosses into the box. However, his clinical finishing sealed a crucial 2-0 victory, marking his fifth goal in four Euro 2024 qualifiers.
This impressive goal-scoring record puts McTominay ahead of notable names such as Kylian Mbappe and on par with Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo. The emergence of McTominay as a lethal goalscorer has added a new dimension to his game and undoubtedly boosted the Scottish national team.
Since McTominay’s addition, Scottish fans have found a new voice. McTominay is a modern-day representation of Gareth Bale, who was once the carrying force behind Wales. Scotland is confident about their Euro campaign, and Scottish fans are eagerly waiting to purchase Euro 2024 tickets for the next round.
In Euro 2024 qualifying, only Belgium’s Romelu Lukaku and Denmark’s Rasmus Hojlund scored more than Scott McTominay, with six goals each. This goal-scoring prowess is a far cry from McTominay’s breakthrough season at Manchester United in 2017-18, where he impressed but failed to find the back of the net under Jose Mourinho, known for his emphasis on defensive tactics.
It was under the guidance of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, the legendary former United star, that McTominay began adding goals to his game. Solskjaer, who himself was a clinical striker during his playing career, recognized McTominay’s experience as a striker for United’s Under-21s and encouraged him to showcase his goal-scoring abilities.
Solskjaer praised McTominay’s clinical finishing and authoritative strikes, highlighting his development in his game. The United manager acknowledged McTominay’s goal threat in the box and his powerful strike, emphasizing his potential as a goal-scoring midfielder.
Last year, former United manager Ralf Rangnick predicted a bright future for McTominay at Old Trafford, lauding his energy, goal-scoring ability, and leadership skills. Rangnick even suggested that McTominay could become the team’s captain in the coming years.
However, in the previous season, McTominay’s playing time under current coach Erik Ten Hag was reduced, leading to speculation of a potential move to clubs such as Newcastle, Everton, or West Ham during the summer transfer window. Meanwhile, Manchester United has been linked with pursuing Chelsea’s Mason Mount.
Issues for Hansi Flick and Germany
Germany coach Hansi Flick is under increasing pressure as the one-year countdown for Euro 2024 begins. Despite starting his tenure with an impressive eight-game winning streak, the recent 2-0 home defeat to Colombia in a friendly match has depleted much of Flick’s early credit. Luis Diaz’s header and Juan Cuadrado’s late penalty secured Colombia’s first-ever victory over the Germans, who faced criticism and booing from fans.
The fans who had already made their reservations for Euro 2024 tickets weren’t happy, considering that the Euro 2024 will kick off in Germany next year and the side is far from their competition.
Flick expressed his disappointment, acknowledging that their game plan did not materialize as intended. With less than a year to prepare for the continental tournament, the German team had to rely on late goals to salvage a 3-3 draw against Ukraine and suffered a 1-0 loss to Poland. The performance against Colombia was even worse, with the team lacking urgency and a cutting edge in attack.
As Germany’s recent form has faltered, questions have arisen about Flick’s suitability for the job. German media conducted online polls questioning whether he is the right man to lead the team. Kicker Football magazine suggested that both the coach and the team seemed to have lost their direction.
This loss of faith is a bad omen coming towards Germany with a short period for them to regroup and put up a stellar show next year on their home turf in front of the thousands that purchase Euro 2024 tickets.
Midfielder Leon Goretzka described the situation as dramatic, feeling that everything was against them. However, he emphasized the need to fight and find a way out of their struggles.
When Flick took over two years ago, Germany had just experienced a disappointing early exit from the 2021 Euro following their first group-stage World Cup elimination in over 80 years in 2018.
Flick’s successful track record, including a six-trophy run with Bayern Munich in 2020 and his previous work as an assistant coach under Joachim Low, made him an attractive choice. However, his current predicament puts his position at risk, despite his assurances of a different team in the upcoming internationals in September.
Germany’s upcoming fixtures include matches against Japan, France, and the United States. Flick remains optimistic, vowing to stabilize and fine-tune the team. He believes in the squad’s potential and is confident about their performance in the upcoming matches.
The pressure is on for Flick to deliver and restore Germany’s status as a competitive force in international football. Flick needs to act proactively and make his changes fast, or else the cries from everyone with Euro 2024 tickets will be adverse.
Klopp Says No to German Job
Jurgen Klopp is a dream candidate to lead the German national team, but he will likely stay in Liverpool at this stage. Despite calls for the German Football Association (DFB) to pursue Klopp, the 56-year-old manager has consistently rejected past approaches from the national team.
Klopp’s agent, Marc Kosicke, has recently reiterated that the German national team is not a topic of interest for Klopp and his team. In 2021, before Hansi Flick was appointed Germany’s coach, Klopp stated that he would not be available for the role at that time or in the near future.
He emphasized his commitment to his contract, citing his loyalty to previous clubs, Mainz and Dortmund.
Furthermore, Klopp has extended his contract with Liverpool, committing to the club until at least 2026. Despite a difficult period for Liverpool earlier this year, Klopp reaffirmed his dedication to the club and dismissed any speculation about his potential departure.
He has expressed his desire to continue managing Liverpool and has no intention of deserting the club as long as he feels welcome at Anfield.
While there may be a future desire for Klopp to manage the German national team, it is likely to happen after his commitment to Liverpool has been fulfilled. German fans who dream of seeing Klopp in the dugout with Euro 2024 tickets may have to pause their dreams and re-look at them in two years.
Germany will play Japan, France, and the USA in their next international break.
