BRAZILIANT

Greg shows Samba stars how it should be done with his historic wonder strike

GREG TAYLOR watched two of the world’s best full-backs battle it out in Saturday’s Champions League Final in Cardiff.

And the fact Real Madrid’s Marcelo and Dani Alves of Juventus are both Brazilian was a reminder of the enormity of what he had achieved a few hours earlier.

Taylor made history as the first Scot to score a winning goal against the South Americans in the Under-20s’ stunning Toulon Tournament victory.

Brazil have a history of producing great full-backs, from 1970 World Cup hero Carlos Alberto through to Cafu and Roberto Carlos.

Taylor may be too young to remember them but is a huge admirer of Marcelo and Alves who were on opposite sides on Saturday night in the Welsh capital.

And the Killie kid’s first-half strike for Scot Gemmill’s men in Stade Parsemain wouldn’t have looked out of place if he’d been wearing the famous yellow shirt when, after good play from Oliver Burke the 19-year-old thundered a shot into the net.

The win in Fos-sur-Mer keeps the Scots in with a chance of reaching the last four in Toulon as they bounced back from their 3-2 defeat by Czech Republic in their opening game.

Scotland face Indonesia in their final Group C game tomorrow night and Taylor reflected on the Brazil win at the squad base in Aix-en-Provence yesterday.

He said: “Scot said in his team talk, ‘It’s Brazil, what else do I need to say?’ If we can’t get up for that game then what game can we get up for?’

“We watched the Champions League Final in the hotel on Saturday night after our game. I admire so many Brazilian full-backs and Marcelo and Dani Alves are two of the best ever.

“I study the best full-backs in the world because it can only improve me. It was a bit surreal to score because I don’t get many but what a great feeling to hit the winner against Brazil.

“We were aware of their qualities and knew what we were facing, we just had to be organised. For my goal I took a touch and went for the top corner. I was just hoping to hit the target so I was happy to see it go in.

“You could see Brazil’s quality. They had some great individual skills and close dribbling, even on a sticky pitch. But they struggled to break us down. We also had big Ollie up front so we were always a threat with his pace.”

Alves was a Toulon Tournament winner in 2002 while Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane and two-goal hero Cristiano Ronaldo also starred in it.

Taylor said: “Malky Mackay read out a list of the 100 best players who have played in the Toulon Tournament and said we can add our names to the list. I switched my phone on when I got out of the dressing room and it was red-hot with messages.

“A few of my pals tried to stream the game and couldn’t get it but they will be sick of me talking about it. It was a much better performance than our opening game against the Czechs.

“That wasn’t good enough and we had to put it right – no matter who it was against.”

Taylor admitted he would like to add more goals to his game with the Brazil strike his first for 18 months.

He said: “The last time I scored was for Kilmarnock Under-20s about a year and a half ago but I had a striker’s instinct against Brazil when the ball came to me.

“As a full-back I’ve been told to attack more and I’ve had a few assists in the Premiership but I know I need to add more goals.”