Pride of the Highlands midfielder Ryan Christie shows his emotions as Scotland beat Serbia to qualify for European Championship
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Ryan Christie couldn't hold back tears of joy as his goal helped Scotland beat Serbia to qualify for the European Championship.
The ex-Caley Thistle midfielder, who now plays for Celtic, put Scotland 1–0 ahead in the second half in Belgrade tonight.
Despite Luka Jovic scoring an equaliser in the 89th minute, Scotland won the penalty shoot-out 5–4 to qualify for their first major tournament since the 1998 World Cup.
"I hope everyone is having a party, we deserve it, because we've been through so many years. We know it, you know it, everybody knows it, its a monkey off the back."
Christie says they always believed they could win and qualify for the Euros next Summer.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: "Its an amazing night, we believed in the last couple of camps as we picked up so much belief in each other.
"I am getting emotional because it was amazing.
"For the whole nation, its been a horrible year for everyone, we knew that coming into the game, we wanted to give something to this country.
"I hope everyone is having a party, we deserve it, because we've been through so many years. We know it, you know it, everybody knows it, its a monkey off the back."
Christie was substituted late in the game and could not be selected for the penalty shoot-out.
He said watching the penalty shoot-out was the worst experience he has been through.
"It wasn't nice, when you're on the pitch you always feel you can make an impact but the moment you're off you can't watch it.
"It is horrible, the penalty shoot-out was the worst thing I've been through."
It means Scotland will face Croatia, Czech Republic and England at the European Championship which will take place in June.
Scotland will face Czech Republic at Hampden on June 14.
Four days later they will face England at Wembley on June 18.
Their final group game will be against Croatia at Hampden on June 21.
Christie (25) came through the Caley Thistle youth set up and broke into the first team in 2013 before signing for Celtic in 2015.
It was Christie's 14th cap and fourth goal for his country.
