Ryan Christie admits he was left gutted by Scotland's group-stage exit at the World Cup, but the Bournemouth midfielder insists the experience has only sharpened his appetite for more international football at the highest level.

The 31-year-old played in all three of Scotland's group matches as the nation ended a 28-year absence from football's biggest stage. Results, however, did not go their way. A 1-0 victory over Haiti was sandwiched between a 1-0 defeat to Morocco and a 3-0 reverse against Brazil, and Scotland were eliminated without reaching the knockout rounds for the umpteenth time in their tournament history.

Speaking to BBC Scotland, Christie was candid about the immediate aftermath. "The first 72 hours afterwards, you feel a bit gutted because we were desperate to get out of the group and it wasn't to be," he said. "But I had such a good time with that bunch of boys that have been together for so many years now. When you finish, you're just hungry for more."

A hunger that will not fade

That hunger, Christie insists, is now the driving force as Scotland look ahead. "I'm desperate now to go to more tournaments, just thinking when's the next one?" he said — a sentiment that will resonate with a generation of Scotland supporters who have watched their side finally step back onto the global stage.

Christie made his World Cup debut in the loss to Morocco, having come off the bench in the Haiti win and eventually starting against a Brazil side that showed Scotland exactly what the very top of the game looks like. It was, he stressed, an invaluable education. "It was an amazing experience," he said. "Seeing all the Scotland fans over there was incredible. The atmosphere was electric."

With 71 caps to his name and appearances at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024, Christie is one of the senior figures in a squad that will need to rebuild quickly under new management. Steve Clarke resigned immediately after Scotland's elimination was confirmed, despite having signed a four-year contract extension before the tournament. Christie described the moment Clarke addressed the players as "very emotional" and called the departing head coach a "Scotland legend".

"He called a meeting, which we thought was to draw a line under the tournament," Christie recalled. "Naturally, everyone was shell-shocked and gutted. He's done so much for us. He'll be missed."

Euro 2028 the next target

Scotland's eyes will now turn to Euro 2028, which is co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland. Crucially, all four home nations must still qualify through the conventional group stage, though two automatic berths are reserved for host nations that fail to qualify outright — meaning Scotland will have a reasonable degree of insurance.

Christie, who signed a new three-year contract with Bournemouth last month, is clear about what the squad now wants to achieve. "We were determined to qualify for a World Cup and we ticked that box," he said. "Now we really want to go to a tournament and make an impression. It's the next step for our nation."

Whoever comes in as Clarke's successor will inherit a squad that knows what a major finals feels like. Whether they can translate that experience into a genuine knockout run is the challenge Scotland have never yet managed to meet — but Christie, for one, has no intention of letting the opportunity pass him by.

Frequently asked

Why did Steve Clarke leave as Scotland manager?
Steve Clarke resigned as Scotland head coach immediately after Scotland were eliminated from the World Cup at the group stage. He had signed a four-year contract extension before the tournament but chose to step down once the side could no longer progress.
Do Scotland have to qualify for Euro 2028 even though they are co-hosts?
Yes. Despite Euro 2028 being co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, all four home nations must go through the standard qualifying process. However, two automatic spots are reserved for host nations that do not qualify through the group stage.
How many caps does Ryan Christie have for Scotland?
Ryan Christie has earned 71 caps for Scotland. He played at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024 under Steve Clarke, and featured in all three of Scotland's group games at the 2026 World Cup.