McGinn calls on Sturgeon to let fans in for Euros

JOHN MCGINN has called upon First Minister Nicola Sturgeon to allow fans into Hampden this summer as the country prepares to go Euro 2020 crazy.

Scotland rounded off their World Cup qualifying matches with a 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands last night, with McGinn bagging a double.

The Aston Villa midfielder says that the squad are now relieved to be able to concentrate on Scotland’s first major tournament in 23 years, and that they are desperate to have the backing of the Tartan Army as they try to qualify from the group stage for the first time.

“It’s been hard [not to think about the Euros],” McGinn said. “It’s been playing on our minds a wee bit. The manager told us to focus on these three games and forget about it.

“But when it’s been a long time coming for everyone in the country, it’s now time to get excited.

“We’ll do our best as players to stay fit and play well, then it’s the supporters job – and everyone in Scotland – to stay on their best behaviour.

“Then hopefully Ms Sturgeon can allow a few fans in here in the summer!”

The two goals for McGinn took his Scotland tally to 10 in 32 caps, and he admits he is a little taken aback by his ability to find the net with such regularity for his country.

“It’s a bit surreal, to be honest,” he said. “When you have the quality of KT [Kieran Tierney], the first one, I’ve watched him do that all season for Arsenal. I had a wee feeling he was going to cut it back.

“The second one it was right on the napper. We are lucky to have two world-class left backs and both of them got up the pitch tonight, causing them a lot of problems.

“To be fair, the manager put a lot of attacking players on the pitch. I maybe could have got another one if I’d opened my mouth to Lyndon [Dykes] in the first half.”