McFadden says Scotland’s future bright

Coach says Scotland will gain from trip to Peru and Mexico

James McFadden is determined that Scotland will never again be reduced to the warm-up act for countries preparing for major tournaments.

The Scots face World Cup-bound Mexico at 1am BST tomorrow in the hope of picking themselves up after Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat by Peru, another country off to Russia.

They have added former Dundee United forward Johnny Russell to coach Alex McLeish’s options.

Scotland have not qualified for a major tournament since the 1998World Cup in France. McFadden, with the celebrations of the locals in Lima fresh in his mind, is keen to end that record.

“You can see what is possible and you want to be part of it,” the Scotland coach said.

“You don’t want to be, in two years’ time, going to someone else’s party.

“You want to have your own party, especially with some of the (Euro 2020) games being at Hampden, that gives you the extra motivation.

“Whatever motivates you to do well, you take that and go forward.”

The former Motherwell, Everton and Scotland attacker wishes he could pull on the boots again to play at the Azteca.

However, his focus is on the inaugural Nations League which begins later this year and in which the Scots have been put in the same group as Albania and Israel.

The 35-year-old said: “Tuesday night was a great experience, and I am sure it will be again in the Azteca. It is world famous.

“I wish I was playing, to be honest, but it’s great for us to sample these cultures and environments.

“There has been a lot of negativity about the trip but I think we will gain out of it, I really do.

“The Nations League, that’s what matters.

“We are trying to build a team. Obviously it is a new coaching staff, new manager and we are using new players.

“We are trying to find players who we feel are good enough to make sure we are equipped to go into the Nations League.”

McFadden is a vociferous champion of young Scottish talent and was encouraged to see the Scotland Under- 21s beat their French counterparts 1- 0 at the Toulon Tournament, with Oliver Burke scoring the only goal of the game.

The somewhat shock result boosted the chances of Scot Gemmil’s side reaching the semi-finals.

The young Scots started with a 1-1 draw against Togo, with their final group game coming against South Korea today.

“It shows we have players who are competitive at that level and it is great to see,” said McFadden.

“It is always good to see Scotland winning, and the squad were all watching the game on television as well. It can only be a positive.

“I know we have got good players. I know people are quick to talk our football down and our leagues down but I know we have good players. I have been watching it. I think we have a bright future.

“It is about getting the young players games in first teams, getting them into the national team and trying to build for the long term instead of just for now.”

Oli McBurnie’s two biggest fans are enjoying a parental payoff by following him to the Americas to see him live the dream of playing for Scotland.

The 21-year-old Swansea striker’s mother and father, Emma and Neil, were in the Estadio Nacional on Tuesday night to see their son come off the bench to win his third cap in the 2-0 defeat by Peru.

Both will be in the Azteca Stadium tonight for the clash against Mexico, another side on their way to the World Cup in Russia.

McBurnie, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Barnsley, is delighted to see his parents reap the benefit of years of transporting him and his younger brother Zander to training and games.

He said: “My old man came to every under-21s game I played in – Latvia, Ukraine, everywhere – and he loves it.

“He and my mum were at the Peru game and they will be in Mexico at the weekend. It is nice for them, they are proud and it is good that they have come to these two games. It is not the shortest trip, either.

“My dad gets a bit nervous at games. He is my harshest critic behind myself. No one is allowed to say anything bad about me, just him.

“But they have encouraged me from the start. I wouldn’t be where I was today if it wasn’t for what they did, taking me and my brother to training every night for years.

“Thankfully it has paid off. They are really proud and I will keep trying to make them as proud as I can.”

McBurnie was born in Leeds but qualifies for his country through his Scottish-born father, and there will not be a prouder Scot in Mexico City.

He said: “International football is the pinnacle. As a kid you dream of playing for Scotland and at 21 I have played three times now. I’ve had a taste and you just want to play as much as you can.

“These games in the summer are great to be involved in, and to stake a claim for the big games when they come up. It is a learning curve.”

Goalkeepers Scott Bain and Jon McLaughlin are the only uncapped players left in McLeish’s squad.