McCann tips Scotland to experience what he never
Neil McCann believes the current Scotland squad have a real chance of achieving something he “would have killed for” to experience, but never did.
Two games stand between Steve Clarke’s side and a place at the Euro 2020 Finals.
And last night’s draw provided all the incentive they should need, with a possible showdown against England at Wembley confirmed for Friday, June 19, as well as games against the Czech Republic and Croatia.
First, Scotland have to take care of Israel, and either Norway or Serbia, in the play-offs in March.
It’s a tall order. But McCann, who helped Scotland to their lastever victory at the old Wembley, believes we can do it.
The 45-year-old, currently working as a pundit following his stint as manager of Dundee, is bullish about the chances of ending the 22-year exile from major Finals.
“It’s ironic that it is Israel we have at Hampden in the semi-final, because Alex McLeish’s victory against them helped give us this opportunity,” says McCann.
“My expectation is for us to beat them again because we always seem to get ourselves up for the big games.
“Unfortunately, the Final will be away from Hampden and that could be tough, especially if it is against Norway, who are very solid athome.
“Again, though, I would be backing us to win.
“Our fans will turn out in big numbers, regardless, whether it is Oslo or Belgrade, and we have some players who have been in great form this season.
“John McGinn is the obvious one with seven goals from his last six games for Scotland. But you also have the likes of Ryan Christie, James Forrest and Steven Naismith.
“Everyone will want to be involved in these occasions, as they should do for all Scotland matches.
“Personally, I’d have killed to have played in a major Finals.
“I came so close twice, but sadly it wasn’t to be.”
McCann experienced an especially bittersweet example of the country punching above its weight.
It was his cross to Don Hutchison that helped deliver the play-off win over England in 1999, but it was not enough to overturn the 2-0 deficit from the first leg.
“Walking out on the pitch that night is a really nice memory. It was the old Wembley, with the Twin Towers and all that history,” he recalled
“I had been told the night before that I was playing, so I was right up for it.
“I was actually suffering from a dead leg but kept it quiet because I was so desperate to play. Thankfully it calmed down.
“Craig Brown sent us out in a 3-4-3 formation, and my job was to supply ammunition for Billy Dodds and Don Hutchison, the other two men in our front three.
“I got to the by-line, and knew that if I could steer it away from their keeper, David Seaman, and stand it up for the back post area, Hutchie would be there, which of course he was.
“After that we had a few good chances to level on aggregate, with Christian Dailly’s header from point-blank range that Seaman saved probably the closest we got.
“It was cruel on us because we didn’t just beat them that night – we played them off the park.
“Had we pulled it back to 2-2 on aggregate, I have no doubt we would have gone on to win the play-off.
“It was supposed to be the last England-Scotland game at Wembley. But, of course, they couldn’t finish with a defeat by Scotland so they fixed up another.
“That gave us a smile, but ultimately it was another glorious failure.”