Ryan Porteous believes the Tartan Military have each proper to be enthusiastic about Scotland’s Euro 2024 prospects however insists the squad should stay targeted.
The 24-year-old Watford centre-back scored his first worldwide objective within the assured 3-0 win over Cyprus in Larnaca on Friday evening as Steve Clarke’s facet made it 5 Group A qualifying wins from their first 5 fixtures.
The close-range strike was sandwiched in between Scott McTominay’s sixth objective in 5 video games and a pleasant end from midfielder John McGinn – his seventeenth for Scotland – with the a number of thousand travelling followers singing about reaching Germany subsequent summer season.
Catch-up on tonight’s motion with the entire targets from Cyprus v Scotland #CYPSCO pic.twitter.com/xr7AsZMOVL
— Scotland Nationwide Workforce (@ScotlandNT) September 8, 2023
Scotland tackle England in a particular one hundred and fiftieth anniversary heritage match at Hampden Park on Tuesday evening and if Norway and Georgia draw their qualifier in Oslo the identical night then the Scots can have reached their second successive European Championship – with video games towards Spain, Georgia and Norway nonetheless to come back to complete the job if required.
Porteous mentioned: “We’ve got at all times been dreaming about getting there, from earlier than the video games began.
“The followers have each proper to be excited. There’s most likely been quite a lot of occasions earlier than with Scotland groups after they’ve not been.
“They’ll look ahead and get carried away however we as a bunch have to remain level-headed as a result of now we have a giant sport on Tuesday and quite a lot of massive video games arising.”
Clarke insisted his favorite second of the evening on the AEK Area was when Porteous threw himself in stoppage time to dam a Cyprus shot and preserve a clear sheet.
The previous Hibernian defender was additionally happy with maintaining the house facet out however loved his first objective in darkish blue.
“The supervisor mentioned my sort out was higher than my objective,” he mentioned.
“It was a dream come true to get my objective.
“It fell to me properly and I’ve seen them missed quite a lot of time however fortunately sufficient it went in. I wasn’t going to overlook that chance for my first Scotland objective. It was an excellent feeling.
“I ought to most likely have gotten one towards Georgia with my header.
“Austin McPhee (coach) was at me to get one towards Cyprus and by chance sufficient I did.
“The supervisor was on at us at half-time to maintain a clear sheet.
“He mentioned that was most vital factor, that’s what he needed since you win the sport after that.
“It’s a nice group to be concerned in and lengthy might it proceed.”
McGinn believes the victory was “an enormous three factors” for Scotland however he additionally urged warning.
He mentioned: “It’s exhausting to maintain a lid on it however we’re going to need to. Mathematically we’re not there but.
“Clearly there’s a sport on Tuesday which might determine whether or not they qualify or not.
“After which if Norway or Georgia win then we go to Spain (within the subsequent qualifier) in order a lot as we’re extraordinarily excited, we’ve put ourselves in an ideal place, we’re not fairly there but.
“We’re so, so shut, however we’re not there but.”
