Scotland coach John Carver has explained why Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney is on a different fitness schedule with the national team.
The left-back suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury with Arsenal in April but recovered in time to be named in Scotland’s Euro 2020 squad. Ahead of Monday’s opening match against Czech Republic at Hampden Park, coach Carver says everyone is fit and eager to try and get out of Group D. Scotland also play England and Croatia.
The Arsenal left-back is fit. (Photo by Aitor Alcalde – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)
Carver said: “I’m expecting us to get out of the group going into this tournament. The guys are confident enough do that. If we can achieve something never achieved by a Scotland men’s national team then that’s what we’re looking for. We don’t want to just arrive at the tournament and say ‘we’re happy to be here’.
“We know these guys have got ability and they have to believe in it. I keep telling them how good they are because I’ve worked at the top level of English Premier League football and these boys have got to start believing they are good enough to go to the next level.
“I’ve got no fears going into a tournament like this. I’ve never seen a crowd in Hampden either so it will be a huge boost. The fact there were 5000 in the stadium in Israel in March made a difference so I’m looking forward to the Tartan Army going crazy.
“Kieran’s on a different programme. A few players in the group are in different programmes and he’s one of them. A couple of guys didn’t train and did their own little bits and pieces. Everyone is up to speed. John (Fleck, who was restricted after a positive Covid test) has done some extra work.”
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