Ryan Christie has spoken of his burning desire to help Scotland return to the biggest stage after the heartbreak of an early World Cup exit, insisting the squad is already looking ahead to the next opportunity to make history.
The Bournemouth midfielder featured in all three group-stage matches as Scotland’s 28-year wait for a World Cup appearance ended, but the team fell short of a first-ever knockout berth following defeats to Morocco and Brazil, despite a victory over Haiti.
“It was an amazing experience. Seeing all the Scotland fans over there was incredible. The atmosphere was electric.”
Christie, 31, described the immediate aftermath as “gutted” but quickly shifted his focus to the future, driven by the special bond within the squad that has developed under former boss Steve Clarke.
“The first 72 hours afterwards, you feel a bit gutted because we were desperate to get out of the group and it wasn’t to be. But I had such a good time with that bunch of boys that have been together for so many years now. When you finish, you’re just hungry for more. I’m desperate now to go to more tournaments, just thinking when’s the next one?”
Eyes on Euro 2028 and the Next Step
Despite the co-hosting arrangement for Euro 2028, where Scotland will share hosting duties with England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, the home nations must still navigate a qualifying campaign. However, with two automatic spots reserved for any co-hosts failing to progress through normal qualification, the Scots are strongly positioned to feature in that tournament.
Christie sees the World Cup experience as a platform to build upon and insists the national team’s story is far from finished.
“We were determined to qualify for a World Cup and we ticked that box. Now we really want to go to a tournament and make an impression. It’s the next step for our nation.”
The midfielder, who recently penned a new three-year deal with his Premier League club, stressed that the core group now understands what it takes to reach a finals and is motivated to replicate that success and go deeper.
An Emotional Farewell to Clarke
Part of the post-tournament emotion stemmed from Steve Clarke’s resignation, announced to the players immediately after Scotland’s exit was confirmed. Clarke had signed a four-year extension just before the World Cup but stepped down, describing the moment as “very emotional” according to Christie.
“He called a meeting, which we thought was to draw a line under the tournament. Naturally, everyone was shell-shocked and gutted. He’s done so much for us and obviously goes down as a Scotland legend. He’ll be missed. I’m looking forward to seeing who comes in and hopefully we can go on a good run again.”
Christie has been a mainstay under Clarke, earning 71 caps and featuring at Euro 2024 and the delayed Euro 2020. The search for a new manager will now commence with the squad eager to build on the foundations laid during Clarke’s tenure.
Key Takeaways
- Ryan Christie is hungry to use the World Cup experience as a springboard for more major tournaments with Scotland.
- Scotland’s co-hosting role for Euro 2028 offers a strong chance to return to a finals, even if qualifying is required, thanks to two reserved spots.
- The players were shocked by Steve Clarke’s resignation, made just after the group-stage exit, but remain determined to continue progressing.
- Christie’s new Bournemouth contract and his international commitment underline his dedication to both club and country.
Quick Facts
Player: Ryan Christie
Age: 31
Caps: 71
World Cup 2026 Appearances: 3 (1 start, 2 subs)
Club: Bournemouth (contract extended until 2029)
Next Major Tournament: Euro 2028 (co-host, qualifying required)
Source: BBC Sport