Scot Gemmill urges Scotland U21s to embrace tough Euro qualifying challenge
Scotland Under-21 coach Scot Gemmill called for his players to embrace the daunting prospect of starting the next European Under-21 qualifying campaign with games against Holland and England.
Scotland Under-21 coach Scot Gemmill called for his players to embrace the daunting prospect of starting the next European Under-21 qualifying campaign with games against Holland and England.
The young Scots missed out on this summer's finals in Poland and the draw for the 2019 qualifiers saw them placed in the same section as, traditionally, two of European football's top nations as well as Ukraine, Latvia and Andorra.
Part of the preparations for the qualifiers, which start in September with a home game against the Dutch followed by a trip down south, is a friendly against Estonia at the Paisley 2021 stadium on Tuesday.
Scotland Under-21s have not qualified for the finals of the European Championships since 1996, but as he looked ahead to a tough start to the next qualification campaign, Gemmill told us: "They are going to be fantastic games to be involved in.
"Of course they are very difficult games, of course the opposition are going to be a really high level. But we knew going into the draw that we are going to face teams from pots A, B and C.
"We've probably got some of the tougher teams out of those pots and we have to really embrace it, we have to embrace the challenge.
"It is an opportunity for the players to play against the very best and we will make sure we are ready for those challenges.
"Speak to any players, they will be really keen to be involved.
"They are the equivalent of being at the finals. You don't play against better teams than that if you do qualify for the finals.
"As young players, I don't think you can ask for more than to play against the very best, it really sets the bar really high."
An under-20 Scotland squad will travel to France in May to compete at the Toulon Tournament, where Gemmill will be able to do some fine tuning.
He said: "I am excited. I think it is a good time to be involved with the team and for me to be involved with the team.
"Obviously I am looking forward to Toulon. It is the first time in a long time Scotland have participated but the focus is on Tuesday night."
Motherwell defender Zak Jules has pulled out of the squad after sustaining concussion against St Johnstone last week.
Jules was replaced by Cameron Ballantyne, on loan from Dundee United to Montrose, but he picked up an ankle injury against Arbroath on Saturday and Gemmill "will see if it settles down".