There have been calls throughout Euro 2020 to see Rangers talent Nathan Patterson take to the field for a Scotland side lacking direction.
Steve Clarke’s side bowed out courtesy of a 3-1 defeat to Croatia at Hampden but in the final six minutes of the country’s final Group D game, Patterson finally got the call.
The 19-year-old replaced direct rival Stephen O’Donnell and immediately looked comfortable and composed at this very high level.
Considered one of the country’s brightest young talents, many are arguing that if the nation is to progress then more faith must be placed in the likes of the young Rangers full-back.
Billy Gilmour – another who came through the Ibrox Academy – is perhaps the brightest light from an underwhelming campaign and it might’ve been different if Scotland set up their stall with more impetus.
The nation missed a host of chances across all three games but there can be little doubt the route one football employed by Clarke at times hasn’t been received well over the piece.
The old adage of having a go and losing being better than sitting back and still getting beat is particularly pertinent and Clarke’s reluctance to involve Patterson perhaps sums this up.
Scotland and Rangers legend Graeme Souness certainly agrees.
The former Ibrox manager and midfielder let rip at Clarke come the final whistle as he slammed the ex-Killie boss’ negative tactics.
“We had to have more of the ball,” said Souness on ITV4’s live coverage of Scotland v Croatia [23/06/21].
“We played second fiddle for a long time and it was more of the same but you can’t wait until the last ten minutes to make changes, it’s too late by then.
“When we scored it could have been the turning point and that was the time to change it.
“I’d like to have changed things in the second half. The plan in the first half clearly wasn’t working – they had 68 per cent possession.
“I’d have taken a striker off and tried to get a bit more possession in midfield and build from there.
“We went too long at times, we tried to hit Lyndon Dykes too often. It was tactics from the past, it made us look like a team from the past.
“I might be criticized for saying that but it’s true.
“The manager has a group of players and it’s up to the manager to come up with the ideas and a way of playing which he thinks will get the best out of that group of players but I would have liked him to change certain things in the second half.
“I would have had Nathan Patterson on earlier as Stephen O’Donnell had problems down his flank all night. The direction of his finish was superb but it was an avoidable goal.
“So I’m disappointed, but it’s not totally unexpected, because this Croatia team are a really good side when they get on the front foot.
“I don’t want to be down on my nation but I am disappointed after the England game.
“It was football from another age. You need to play football. Our defence was launching it, bypassing the midfield.
“We have to play more football if we’re going to progress. We were like a team from another era. Sorry if that hurts.
“We have to up our game. We have a country mile to catch up.”
There will be plenty of Rangers fans who agree with the Ibrox legend’s interpretation of the situation with the Scotland national team.
Nathan Patterson wasn’t the only Rangers player to make his first appearance at the tournament at Hampden as another high-profile Ger took the field in the game.
