IN normal times, Scottish pubs may have been abuzz with anticipation this week ahead of the nation’s Euro 2020 play-off tie against Israel, but there is at least one corner of Glasgow which has been at fever pitch ahead of this potentially momentous week.

Excitement has been building in the Celtic dressing room ever since the play-off fixtures were decided, with internationals from three of the four nations involved in Scotland’s qualification conundrum plying their trade at the club.

Greg Taylor, Callum McGregor and Ryan Christie have been included in Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the match against Israel on Thursday night, while James Forrest only misses out through injury. Lining up against them will be Hatem Elhamed, with fellow Israeli Nir Bitton also an injury casualty.

Waiting in the final for the winner of that fixture is the Norway side of Kristoffer Ajer and Moi Elyounoussi, and the latter of those says that friendships will be placed on hold until national hostilities are over and done with.

Sadly, he fears though that all of Celtic’s players may be left at home next summer when the Euros finally gets under way, with Serbia his favourites to claim a place at the party.

“We have been talking about the possibilities ever since we knew the draw and how it could work out,” Elyounoussi said.

“Of course, the club games have been keeping our focus but now it’s about concentrating on our national teams. It will be interesting to see who goes through to the final.

“It would be a strange feeling [to play against my Celtic teammates]. But this is football. You play with teammates, you play against friends all over. That’s why we enjoy it.

“Of course, when we play against each other we are not friends any more. It is about making sure you win. As soon as the game starts we’re not friends, it’s like I don’t know them anymore.

“The priority for me is Norway and after that I’m happy to play Scotland or Israel.

“Whatever happens, I hope we can all have a good experience and then return to Celtic without injury. We have a big game against Rangers after the internationals.

“Serbia, I believe, is the favourite of all of us – so that’s going to be a big challenge for us.

“After that, if we get through then it doesn’t really matter to me who we play against.

“Just beating Serbia is the most important thing right now.”

If Norway do overcome Serbia, and Scotland do make it past Israel, the job is of course only half done for either nation. And Elyounoussi probably doesn’t need to remind Scotland that if such a scenario unfolds, there is a pretty formidable obstacle standing between them and the promised land of the Euros in the shape of Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haland.

“I think he is definitely one of the best in the world,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any question about it.

“What he showed last season was incredible while he has already started this season well.

“He is a really exciting player and it is fantastic for Norway to have him.”

What they won’t have in any potential final is their supporters in the stadium, at least not the full complement, negating any home advantage.

“The excitement back home is big,” said Elyounoussi. “Like Scotland, it’s been a long time since we played in the Euros. So, there are big expectations. Hopefully, we can achieve it.

“It is unfortunate we are playing without a stadium full of fans, although it would be nice to still have a small number of them at the game. We will see what is possible.”