I've known Ross Toulon to fall out with him

Ralston says battle for right-back slot is old pals' axe after glory wins at French comp

- FRASER WILSON

THEY bumped Brazil, dumped the Dutch and then thumped France as they cut their teeth on the international stage.

Now Scotland's class of 2017-18 have their sights set on gubbing Germany on the biggest stage of all.

It may be a stretch to compare our young guns' exploits at the Toulon Tournament with what is staring them in the face when Steve Clarke's troops get Euro 2024 under way against the hosts in Munich a week tonight.

But for Anthony Ralston, Ross McCrorie, Greg Taylor, Ryan Porteous and Billy Gilmour, the experience of taking a scalp at tournament level is real.

It was just seven years ago this week a Taylor thunderbolt was enough for Scot Gemmill's side to beat the much-fancied Brazilians on their way to coming third in the competition.

Ralston and McCrorie also featured that evening in southern France.

A year later, on the same stage, Ralston and Taylor were joined by Porteous and a 16-year-old Gilmour as the hosts were cut down to size thanks to an Oli Burke goal.

In between times, a Dutch Under-21 side featuring Barcelona's Frenkie de Jong. Inter Milan danger man Denzel Dumfries, Steven Bergwijn of Ajax and Sam Lammers were beaten 2-0 in a Euro qualifier that also saw Scott McKenna and Lewis Morgan involved.

For Ralston, they're not just happy memories but proof even the younger elements of this current squad heading to Germany have been known to produce shocks on the big stage when they stick together.