PAUL SCHOLES

two-goal lead from Hampden, our preparation wasn’t great for the second leg.

“We still managed to go through. But let’s just say we were a little bit over-confident going into that one.

“We were so poor on the night and Scotland thoroughly merited their win.

“Thankfully we came through it – but only just.”

That result meant Scholes would be at Euro 2000, one of four major tournaments he featured in for England.

At his only club, Manchester United, he was one of boss Sir Alex Ferguson’s linchpins.

Part of the Class of ’92 with Beckham, Gary and Phil Neville, Nicky Butt and Ryan Giggs, he enjoyed unprecedented success with the club.

And legends of the game such as Xavi and Zinedine Zidane labelled Scholes one of the best they ever played against.

But in a 20-year career that yielded 20 trophies, he still says Glasgow was one of his favourite places to play football. Whether it be at Hampden in ’99 or at Ibrox or Celtic Park on Champions League duty, he loved the passion of the city’s supporters.

Scholes scored at Parkhead in a friendly against the Hoops back in 2006 when he captained United.

And Ferguson’s side had some terrific battles in Europe against both Old Firm clubs during his time in charge.

Ahead of England’s visit north, Scholes said: “Glasgow is up there with the best atmospheres I ever played, without a shadow of a doubt.

“So although I’ve got over it now as it’s four years since I played, I’d have been gutted not to be involved in the Scotland game next week.

“At United we had a couple of games against Rangers and two or three Celtic ones. I loved going up there.

“It was that old England v Scotland thing again and the Celtic supporters in particular were mental.

“They were right on top of you, it was very hostile. But as a player you love that – it’s something I always really looked forward to in my career.”