As Euro 2024 approached, there were several Rangers stars in the run-in for call-ups to their national sides.
In the end, it was only Romania international Ianis Hagi who wound up flying the Ibrox flag in Germany.
And he wasn’t ‘technically’ a Rangers player last season.
Whilst the debate over the future of the Alavés loanee continues, there were a few others in the Rangers complement who might’ve earned a ticket to the continent.
John Souttar was however unceremoniously dropped by Steve Clarke as Scotland put in the worst performance of the entire tournament.
And Jack Butland – Rangers’ Player of the Year – was sent a message about his status at Ibrox by England manager Gareth Southgate amid a spate of goalkeeping call-offs.
But the decision to leave Super Jack at home, as frustrating as it might’ve been, appears to have been justified.
Butland in England snub
First off let’s preface this by saying we think Jack Butland is a tremendous goalkeeper.
The Rangers number one has been a revelation between the sticks at Ibrox and was more than worthy of the heavy plaudits afforded him last season.
But England boast plenty of talent in the position.
Gareth Southgate did come to cast a glance at the Rangers star in that retrospectively devastating 3-3 draw with Celtic at Ibrox.
It’s a match and result which subsequently altered the course of our season.
But Butland’s performance in the game wasn’t enough to convince the England manager who snubbed the Rangers keeper for Euro 2024.
Now, bonafide England number one Jordan Pickford has proven his value to an under-pressure Southgate after playing the penalty kicks hero in Düsseldorf.
Rangers star alternative makes Euro 2024 headlines
England haven’t so much romped as they have stumbled to the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
In an uninspiring tournament in general, the English have needed a last minute equaliser v Slovakia and a late Bukayo Saka response v Switzerland to give them a chance of qualification.
With the prize of a semi-final place up for grabs v the Swiss, the match eventually ambled to penalty kicks with nerves frayed south of the border.
Everton’s £30m goalkeeper Jordan Pickford – who would’ve been the number one even if Butland got the call – then stepped in to be the difference maker.
The goalkeeper saved Manuel Akanji’s decisive spot kick to send the Three Lions to a semi-final against the Netherlands.
It’s a moment which not only justifies Southgate’s squad selection – the last four is about as far as many would’ve expected England to go – but also his defiant support of Pickford between the sticks.
By proxy, it also justifies the manager’s decision to leave Jack Butland behind with the goalkeeping dynamic in the Three Lions camp clearly working in the nation’s favour.
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