CALLUM McGregor has revealed the Celtic players not involved in the Scotland match against England earlier this month set up a Whats App group – and were convinced Leigh Griffiths was going to score before he took both of his late free-kicks.
McGregor had been expected to be selected for the Group F match at Hampden on June 10 along with his Parkhead club mates Stuart Armstrong, Scott Brown, Craig Gordon, Griffiths and Kieran Tierney.
But the 24-year-old midfielder watched the action unfold in what turned out to be a nailbiting Russia 2018 qualifier with his pals while keeping in touch with his fellow Celtic players via his smart phone.
Griffiths, who had never netted in 12 international appearances, was the hero for his country when he whipped in two stunning dead ball deliveries during the final minutes of the encounter with Gareth Southgate’s side.
McGregor, along with every other member of Brendan Rodgers’s squad, was in no doubt the striker would beat Joe Hart with his set pieces.
“The boys were really unlucky,” he said. “Griff produced two unbelievable bits of skill and you think they are going to win the game. Unfortunately we didn’t. But it is what it is.
“I was just in Glasgow watching the game. Taking it in with the fans. When Leigh scores those two goals it’s just incredible – you know he has got it in him. You are not surprised.
“The Celtic boys were part of a Whats App group chat when he put the second one down in the last minute we were saying, ‘this is going in as well’.
“We were all texting during the game. When the first free-kick went in it was all, ‘Goal! Goal! Goal!’ Even Sinky (Scott Sinclair) was saying, ‘this is going in.’ He took a few pelters – then silenced us right at the end when Harry Kane equalised.”
Celtic’s pre-season matches with BW Linz on Wedensday, Raid Vienna on Saturday, Slavia Prague a week today and Shamrock Rovers a week today are being shown live on Celtic TV. For details about how to subscribe visit www.celticfc.tv.
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