BY ALAN TEMPLE – Capital City Press
Scotland international Charlie Adam admits he is preparing for an agonising summer when the Home Nations embark on their Euro 2016 adventure.
England cruised to France with a 100 per cent record, while a Gareth Bale-inspired Wales qualified for their first major tournament since 1958.
Republic of Ireland, who finished third in Scotland’s group, need to overcome Bosnia over two legs next month to book their place on the flight.
However, Adam believes the real success story was Northern Ireland topping Group F ahead of Romania and Hungary to qualify for next summer’s showpiece.
Nevertheless, with Scotland stuck at home for a ninth consecutive tournament, Adam fully expects envy to kick in.
“It’s going to be a very long summer!” rued the Stoke City midfielder, who boasts 26 caps, in an interview with talkSport.
“It’s a really major disappointment not to qualify but results are the only thing that matter in the end. We were not good enough.
“Fair play to the other home nations for getting there, especially Northern Ireland. They have one or two top individuals, but the rest of the lads are playing in the lower leagues and they have done a terrific job.
“They deserve a humungous amount of credit for that, as does Michael O’Neill. A team like Wales has Bale and Ramsey – whereas no-one expected Northern Ireland to qualify.
“We are obviously disappointed not to have qualified but we will dust ourselves off and go again.”
