Conor Gallagher's Journey to Euro 2024

Conor Gallagher, a 24-year-old footballer with Scottish ancestry from his maternal grandfather, faced a rocky start to his youth career when he was initially rejected by both England and Scotland. Undeterred, Gallagher persisted and has since established himself in the English national team setup.

"My dad’s side is Irish and my mum’s dad is Scottish," Gallagher shared. "When I was 15 or 16, I wasn’t good enough to play for the England youth team, so I think I went to train with one of the Scotland teams to see what I was like, and I wasn’t good enough for them either. I managed to work my way back into the England youth setup and was lucky enough to stay in it."

Despite these setbacks, Gallagher is now preparing to participate in

2024 under Gareth Southgate's management. He expressed excitement about the tournament's opening game between hosts Germany and Scotland, where he will be supporting Scotland.

“It’s a great opening game for the tournament and I’m sure all the lads will be watching. It’s a massive game, two great teams. Germany are obviously a top team and I know Scotland will make it hard for them. It will be an interesting game,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher's journey to this point has been challenging. Although he was part of the Three Lions squad for the 2022 World Cup, he did not get a chance to play. However, following a successful season at Stamford Bridge, he aims to contribute more to England's quest for glory, potentially playing in a deeper midfield role.

“I’m always ready to play in whatever position. I don’t mind if it’s more attacking or defensive – I can do both, which is a good thing," he stated.

Southgate faces a decision on Gallagher's role in midfield alongside Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice against Serbia on June 16. Whether starting or coming on as a substitute, Gallagher is prepared to make an impact for the team.