Anthony Ralston found himself in an unusual position as the sole Celtic representative during Scotland’s disappointing UEFA Nations League relegation.
The 3-0 home defeat to Greece at Hampden Park – following their 1-0 first leg victory in Athens – saw Steve Clarke’s side drop to League B, marking a significant setback for Scottish football.
While Ralston had impressed during the away fixture, his performance in the return leg reflected Scotland’s collective struggles.
The irony isn’t lost that the Celtic fullback is currently earning more minutes for his country than under Brendan Rodgers at club level.
This relegation means Scotland will now face opponents like Norway and Austria rather than European powerhouses such as France and Spain in future Nations League campaigns.
Chris Sutton slams Robbie Savage for Celtic Champions League claim as Scotland lose to Greece:
The post-match analysis took an unexpected turn when pundits debated the merits of Scotland’s relegation.
Sutton argued the drop to League B could prove beneficial by offering more winnable matches, but Robbie Savage’s attempted comparison to Celtic’s European ambitions sparked a heated exchange.
“Celtic, would you rather them with the Champions League or the Europa League?” asked Savage.
“Because they aren’t going to win the Champions League. Simple question.”
Sutton responded: “That’s a really stupid comparison.”
Savage added: “No, it’s not. Scotland can’t win League A of the UEFA Nations League, and Celtic can’t win the Champions League, but they could win the Europa League.”
Sutton then stated: “I don’t know if you realise that Celtic are a club team and Scotland are a national side.”
Savage added: “Chris, obviously, wants Scotland to lose to go into the B group. If Celtic are in the Champions League, they aren’t going to win it. Chris’s point is that they (Scotland) aren’t going to win it. They don’t want to play against the best teams. They would rather go into the B group to win some games.”
Sutton then told his fellow presenter, “That’s not the same structure. No, it’s not. Can we change presenters after the news and get some reason on? This is buffonary of the highest order.”
Champions League change benefits Celtic:
The debate about European competition formats carries particular relevance for Celtic, who have historically struggled on the continental stage.
For years, early Champions League exits before Christmas became an unfortunate tradition, regardless of whether Rodgers or Postecoglou occupied the technical area.
However, UEFA’s revamped Champions League structure has provided Celtic with fresh opportunities.
This season’s campaign – which included three victories and progression to the knockout stages – demonstrated how the new league phase better suits Scotland’s dominant force, offering more competitive matches and a clearer pathway to success against appropriately-matched opposition.