RYAN CHRISTIE has experienced the pride and joy of club success many times.
He savoured the Hampden Highland gathering when Inverness Caley Thistle won the Scottish Cup in 2015.
He was the matchwinner as Celtic secured the Betfred Cup as part of the treble Treble last year.
But, as far as Christie’s concerned, getting Scotland to the Euro 2020 finals would be 100 times better.
The Celtic star is a proud patriot and, after watching a World Cup 98 documentary, he’s more determined than ever to end his nation’s barren run.
He said: “When you win big tournaments at club level, you get that feeling of pride.
“But that’ll be times 100 if we can do it with our country.
“I have seen all the footage from France 98 with the game against Brazil and all the players wearing kilts. I actually watched a YouTube documentary about it recently and it was really interesting.
“It was good to see that and there is a lot of footage and stories out there that make you want to be part of a finals. To be there next summer would be an incredible experience.
“To qualify and then play a match on home soil at Hampden would be unbelievable.
“We’re all desperate to be the team that makes history and makes it to a major tournament.
“I’m not dreaming of the Euros yet. But when the play-offs come round, that’ll be a major driving force. Getting to the finals would also be huge psychologically for the country. It would give our group a big boost.
“Playing in a tournament for Scotland is something the boys are all desperate to do in their careers. Moving on from that, it would give us a great base to build from.
“But that all starts with us getting momentum in these two games and then being ready for the play-offs.”
Christie hails from a Tartan Army stronghold in Inverness and still remembers the family parties when Scotland played.
The memory of James McFadden’s Paris goal will never leave him — but the cruel World Cup loss to Italy in 2007 is also ingrained in his mind. He said: “I am too young to remember the really good parties for Scotland games.
“But I remember the night when McFadden scored in France.
“I also remember the Italy game, which wasn’t quite as good.
“I was really young at the time and I didn’t quite understand it fully. But you could feel the air of sadness in the room.
“I have been around it long enough to know how the Scotland fans have felt.
“I know what it would mean to them to qualify.
“I have noticed before that there are a lot of people from up north following Scotland.
“It became a talking point at Celtic last year when we were arguing about wearing kilts to weddings.
“I was saying 100 per cent and some of the other boys were disagreeing.
“I couldn’t believe it but I don’t think they’d be happy if I said I was more Scottish than them!
“I can’t speak for the lowland boys but there are a lot of patriotic people in the Highlands. I have a few friends who are in the Tartan Army, although I don’t think they’ve made it to Cyprus.
“There are always a few coming to the Hampden games and they love it.
“That’s just another boost for you as you want to make them proud. With people close to home you see it more, how proud they would be if you are successful.”
Scotland boss Steve Clarke has been hit with a raft of high-profile call-offs for the final two Euro 2020 qualifiers. Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, Kieran Tierney and Ryan Fraser were missing from the Cyprus trip.
The likes of Robert Snodgrass, Matt Phillips, Matt Ritchie and Steven Fletcher all opted out of selection.
But Christie insists the players who do face Cyprus and Kazakhstan have a golden chance to nail down a place in the play-off team in March.
He said: “If we do well in these games and managed to win both of them, we’ll be in pole position to keep the shirts for the play-offs. Everyone who plays against Cyprus and Kazakhstan will be desperate to impress the manager and keep their place going into two massive games in March.
“A lot of people are saying these games are meaningless but for us as players, it’s the polar opposite.
“We’re fighting for our place to play in these big games coming up. The gaffer has been saying that we want to finish third in the group and it would bring us to a good place come March.
“There is a pressure on us to play well and get results, but we are used to that.
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“I’m excited about the play-offs. They’ll come around very quickly and people will recognise what a massive opportunity it is. The players know that already, that’s why we want to do well in these games to prepare for it.”
Christie has been in top form for Celtic as a free-scoring No 10. He is likely to start against Cyprus and is eager to make the same impact for Scotland.
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He said: “I have loved the pressure at club level — it pushes you on as a player when you are expected to perform.
“It won’t be any different with Scotland. I know I have to make an impact. I don’t have any stage fright playing for Scotland. I want to grab this chance.”
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