CALLED UP FOR EUROS QUALIFIER GOGICHAPPY TOPLAY Saintsstopper readytosilence TartanArmy toboost home country hopes VILLAIN
St Mirren enforcer Alex Gogic revealed the sense of pride he feels every time he pulls on his national jersey beats anything else he’s achieved in his career so far.
And the 28-year-old insists he won’t mind being portrayed as a villain if he can help Cyprus upset Scotland at Hampden Park this weekend.
Gogic is set to face his adopted homeland on Saturday, having moved to Scotland back in 2017 when he joined Hamilton Accies from Swansea City.
The two countries begin their Euro 2024 qualifying campaigns in Glasgow this weekend, with both looking to get off to the perfect start with a win.
And Gogic, who is likely to pick up his 14th cap as part of Cyprus’ back three, won’t be allowing his love of his adopted nation get in the way of trying to break Scottish hearts when they face off at Hampden.
Gogic told Express Sport: “I definitely appreciate every single call-up, whether it’s a friendly or a competitive game.
“It’s a big thing for me to go and play for my country. It’s the proudest thing I’ve ever done in my career.
“I’m looking forward to it for sure. The Scottish guys here have been giving me a bit of stick about it.
“It’s the beginning of a new qualifying group stage for us and it’s an important game for both teams.
“When we play as a back three, I’m normally in there but we’ll have to wait and see.
“Scotland have got some great players in some great leagues. I played against Lyndon Dykes when he was at Livingston. We both like to battle but you have to be careful with VAR these days, especially with the refs in Europe!
“We are the underdogs, but sometimes it’s good to be an underdog. We have guys playing in Belgium, Italy, Japan, the USA.
It’s a good squad. There’s a lot of leaders in the team and it’s a good, tight group.
“If the boss needs to ask
me anything about the players in Scotland, of course I’ll help him as much as I can.
“I don’t mind being the villain up here if we win. I’ll do anything for us to win that game.”
Gogic could find himself pitted against his former Hamilton team-mate Lewis Ferguson, who has shone in the Serie A this season for Bologna.
The versatile midfielder believes Ferguson is one of a number of promising young Scots who are beginning to attract attention from all over Europe.
Gogic said: “You could see when Lewis was at Hamilton that he had all the talent. He just needed to maybe move away and he went to Aberdeen and did well there.
“It’s not easy to get a move out of Scotland, especially when you’re a young boy, but it’s been amazing to see him doing so well over in Italy.
“Him and Josh Doig are both proving a point out there and I think now teams are looking at Scotland to find good young players.
“For him to try and go abroad and test himself out there was great and he can always come back. Loads of doors will open for him now and I’m happy for him. He deserves it.
“He always had that attacking talent and he’s doing great now in more of a 10 role in midfield.
“I’m proud of him.” Another Scottish link with Gogic’s Cyprus team is current boss Temur Ketsbaia, the former Newcastle star who had a spell at Dundee.
Gogic believes the Georgian can lead his country to the Euros, adding: “He’s got such a strong winning mentality and he always wants to get the best out of us.
“That’s just how he was as a player, making all those tackles. He just wants to win every game. He drills that into us.
“He’s still very passionate and he knows we can do well.”