Graeme Souness’ Needless Callum McGregor Jibe

The European Championships couldn’t have started more difficultly for Scotland last night.

A 5-1 thumping at the hands of the hosts was difficult to take for Steve Clarke’s men but their performance had no excuses.

Two Celts – Callum McGregor and Anthony Ralston – were in from the start for their country, with the former coming in for vast criticism.

Indeed, ex-Rangers midfielder Graeme Souness was incensed with McGregor’s antics in the lead-up to Germany’s second goal.

The 31-year-old, whose birthday was yesterday, looked to have lost Ilkay Gundogan in the engine room before committing too late on a pass made to the midfielder.

Gundogan resultantly opened up play, the ball eventually falling to Jamal Musiala in the box. He was the next player to dummy McGregor within a few seconds before rattling home.

Souness’ blood was boiling as he analysed the goal, the pundit getting what looked to be a dig in at McGregor, perhaps sarcastically questioning his status as the Celtic captain.

“Gundogan, again, great turn, he slips Havertz in, back to Musiala, wrong foots the Celtic captain, yet again, that’s two in the same move”, he said (live on ITV via RecordSport).

“He tries to nick it here, Callum McGregor, and he gets back in, he tries to nick it again – just stay goalside and stop the effort on your goal.”

It isn’t difficult to comprehend why Souness referred to McGregor as the Hoops’ skipper before his name when criticising him.

The 71-year-old was bitter and showed his natural Rangers bias and resultant disregard for Celtic last night. When doing international punditry, such behaviour is unsuitable.

McGregor cannot escape condemnation for his performance on Friday, but there was no need for Souness to sneeringly regard him as the Celtic captain.