The £75 million star is defeated by the Rangers target, who John McGinn calls “outstanding.”

Even Virgil van Dijk and Ronald Koeman were shocked that Scotland failed to score in a 4-0 loss that was not quite as lopsided as the final score indicates.

Indeed, in the last 20 minutes, the Netherlands really let loose, scoring goals two, three, and four in the closing moments.

However, up until that point, it was a very equal match between two countries getting ready for the approaching European Championships.

The coach of the Oranje, Koeman, acknowledges that the result in Amsterdam flattered the hosts.

Conversely, Steve Clarke, the former Kilmarnock manager, is still unable to find a solution to Scotland’s striker problems.

Does Clarke choose Che Adams’s gait and pace of work? The skills of Lyndon Dykes as a target man? Or Lawrence Shankland’s unadulterated talent to score goals?

In the capital of the Netherlands, the latter was chosen.

Although the reported Rangers target’s performance will be remembered for that miss—clipping the bar when the goal was right in front of him—his Scotland teammate John McGinn is adamant that the “outstanding” center-forward’s performance against the best defender on the planet should not be overshadowed by an incredibly unusual mistake.

Scotland’s Rangers target has a tough night.

Shanks was excellent, in McGinn’s opinion, the Daily Record is told.

“Playing against one of the best defenders in the world, Virgil Van Dijk of Liverpool, is not an easy task.”

However, he was incredibly strong; he held it up, laid it off, and effectively connected the play.

He was a useful outfield player for us, and I believe he’ll be content.

With his contract at Hearts ending and new terms unlikely to be agreed upon,

Shankland has been linked to Rangers, Celtic,

and several other clubs south of the border on a regular basis. He has scored 27 goals in another successful season at the club level.

For Scotland, though, that number is a pitiful two.

The star player for Aston Villa, McGinn, is adamant that Shankland is more than just a goal scorer,

citing his back-to-goal ability as equally valuable for a national squad that might give up possession to elite opponents.

For Euro 2024, who will be Steve Clarke’s strike partner?

“When you’re a player like Shanks, the goals will come,” McGinn continues. And we’re pleased with his performance.

The opportunities come and go, and the following one will be behind the scenes.

Hearts may lose Shankland this summer for as little as £3 million, as his contract expires in 2025, according to sources.

It would have been understandable for one of Rangers’ main players to feel under pressure when he made his first appearance for the national team in two years.

especially considering that his inclusion in the starting lineup was largely dependent on the absence of the £94 million Serie A champion of his nation,

who is undoubtedly the biggest star on the continent, due to an injury sustained prior to kickoff.

However, you never would have suspected that Belgian-born frontman Cyriel Dessers had butterflies in his stomach given that,

with 38 minutes remaining in Friday’s 2-1 friendly triumph over Ghana, he opened the score from the penalty spot.

Dessers scored just his second goal for his nation and first since 2022 after receiving an unexpected but well-earned call-up from interim coach and Nigerian icon Finidi George.

It’s easy to forget that, just a few months prior,

Dessers appeared destined to become one of the Rangers’ most notorious modern-day failures.

After a dismal start to life at Ibrox, a return to the national team setup could not have seemed further away.

For a striker who has even Celtic legend Chris Sutton admitting he was wrong,

his coolly taken spot-kick into the Ghanaian net must have been especially cathartic.

“It is a positive thing for me to return to the club,

perform well, and win a crucial match. I hope this serves as a starting point for the future.
back on track and in the objectives

Even if Osimhen will once again be available, Dessers’ overall performance will elevate his hopes of additional opportunities under George, even if his goal makes headlines.

All Nigeria Soccer gave Rangers’ £4.5 million summer acquisition from Cremonese a 7/10 grade, praising the Glasgow-based “menace” for “causing problems to the opposition and contributing significantly to Nigeria’s attacking threat.”

According to ANS, Dessers “was a constant thorn in the side of the Ghanaian defence.”

“Throughout the game, his movement and pace kept the Ghanaian backline on their toes in addition to his important goal.”

Since mid-December, Dessers has contributed to or scored 13 goals for his club and nation.

Rangers are undoubtedly improving under Clement, Sutton recently told the Daily Record.

“Clement has the senior players carrying out their duties and bringing out a quality in boys who were written off.”

An example of this is Cyriel Dessers. In the initial weeks of the season, the Nigerian was being consistently criticized as a complete failure. He is now consistently scoring goals.

“Important objectives, in addition.”

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