Gilmour ready to put Euros heartache behind him and take Scots to the next level
BILLY GILMOUR lets out a laugh but it’s gallows humour when he talks about his baptism of fire as a senior Scotland player.
The Chelsea kid’s Euro 2020 Covid-19 nightmare forced him to self-isolate and miss the last group game against Croatia – when Hampden defeat delivered a tournament exit – and remains a sore point. Amid the drama of a positive test after starring on his debut against England at Wembley, Stamford Bridge teammates Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell were also banished to their bedrooms as close contacts. After another man-of-thematch display for his country in Saturday’s World Cup qualifying win against Moldova, the playmaker admits his Euros experience back in June was an emotional rollercoaster. He said: “I felt fine but when I got told, I was gutted. I was asking to do more tests but they all came back positive. “I got a phone call the next day from Mason and Ben and .... ” Cue the laughter. “They were negative but they had to stick to the rules so it is what it is. “I got a couple of messages from the boys in the team while I was isolating saying they were gutted I was missing out. “I just wished them all the best in the last game. “I just wanted them to do well against Croatia but sadly it wasn’t to be.
“I had to watch the Croatia game by myself. I was cheering them on and I was gutted for the lads.
“It just made me hungrier to come back and prove why we should be going to the World Cup.
“It was a long 10 days but there was football on the TV, so I got to watch that.
“That was the only positive. I wasn’t allowed to train, I couldn’t do anything. I just had to stay in my room and watch TV. That was it.
“From the high of Wembley to a low so quickly was hard.
“I was gutted but I was happy I got to go to the Euros, especially as it was the first time Scotland had qualified in so long. It was an amazing experience.”
Gilmour was supported by a busload of family and friends from Ayrshire for Saturday’s must-win clash and admits it was a far happier occasion.
He said: “It was a good game, a good win. We knew we had to get three points and we did that.
“To walk out at Hampden for the first time was a special night. It is one I will remember.
“My family were here watching, so overall it was a good night.
“I love coming away with Scotland. Home fans, everyone cheering, especially like Saturday when you win.
“There’s no better feeling than when you send fans home happy. They were loud and helped the team push through.
“I love to represent my country. They are a good group of boys, we have a good manager and are looking to go to the World Cup. We want to do something special.
“It is a bonus to get the man of the match. Overall I wanted to come here on Saturday and make sure we got the win to take on to the next game.”
The 20-year-old was just one of a host of misfiring players who passed up a glut of chances to add to the 1-0 tally on Saturday.
Gilmour, on loan at Norwich, admits he’s desperate to get off the mark for his country.
He said: “I’m still waiting for that first goal. I honestly thought I’d put it in the net... then I saw it go past the post.
“I’m gutted but hopefully it comes soon – hopefully this week and hopefully there is a lot more to come.
“I want to keep improving, building on myself and adding goals.
“We just need to be clinical. We had a chance in the first half with Andy Robertson and so did I, as well as the strikers.
“If we put them away, we are a good 4-0 up and comfortable. We can start passing the ball and creating more chances.
“But we need to be clinical in front of goal. It is something we have been lacking, especially in the Euros.”
A pivotal clash against Austria awaits in Vienna tomorrow night with Scotland sitting third in Group F.
Midfielder Gilmour knows it’s a game that could open the door to a play-off place.
He said: “We’re all looking forward to the Austria game. It is going to be a tough test but we’re ready and want to win.
“We don’t want to let anyone off easy. We want to go to every
team and beat them.”
We don’t want to let anyone off easy. We want to go to every team and beat them BILLY GILMOUR ISSUES RALLYING CRY AHEAD OF TEST IN VIENNA