TALKING SCOTLAND Get out there and party like it’s ... Cal sees same spirit in Strach’s side
IN terms of lucky charms, Gordon Strachan may have just pulled off a masterstroke in the form of Callum Davidson.
Drafted in last week as Tony Docherty’s replacement in his Scotland coaching staff, the former dark blue internationalist is a walking success story when it comes to representing his country.
During an international career spanning 11 years – bizarrely to the day – the former Leicester City and Preston left-back was capped 19 times. Astonishingly when you consider the current plight of the national team, he only lost three of them.
Twice against the Czech Republic and once away to France, to be precise.
Victories over the likes of Germany, Iceland and a wee country called England provided the highlights for the 40-year-old, none more so than the latter when Craig Brown’s men defeated the Auld Enemy at Wembley only to j ust narrowly miss out on Euro 2000 in a nail-biting 2-1 play-off aggregate defeat.
“It’s not a bad record,” he laughs. “You look back and I wish I had more caps.
“I had a lot of injuries towards the end of my career which didn’t really help me on the international scene.
“To be honest, I look back and don’t really remember league games. I remember playing for Scotland, playing in Europe and cup finals. You have to enjoy it.
“I didn’t enjoy the EnglandScotland game when I played in it because I was so hyped up for it. Looking back, it was one of the highlights.”
It is of course the last time Scotland managed to get a victory over their old rivals, Don Hutchison’s strike enough on the night but not over two legs to take Scotland to a major finals.
“It’s probably the best game I’ve played in, probably the most enjoyable.
“I had a slight hamstring strain and didn’t make the first game. I remember the crowd at Hampden when we were driving in on the bus. I just remember so many people there with flags waving.
“It was the first time we’d played England in a wee while, so it was pretty special. It’s a special game.
“It was a bitter-sweet moment at Wembley. We played really well against them and Christian [Dailly] had a header in the second half which went straight at [David] Seaman from 10 yards. If that had gone either way, it could’ve been glorious.
“It was more about dealing with the big game. The Scottish fans were singing throughout the whole game down there.”
DAVIDSON had the straightforward task of trying to deal with David Beckham that night, a task he admits he carried out with more than a little help from Neil McCann doubling up in front of him. Yet, he does himself a disservice.
There is a lesson in there to be taken from the performance put in by the man now coaching at St Johnstone. Against a global superstar, he was able to nullify the threat of Becks. It is an achievement he has urged the current crop to replicate when they try to stifle the likes of Harry Kane and Dele Alli at Hampden.
“I was up against Beckham and it was good fun. You just deal with him,” he said. “Neil McCann in front of me made my life a bit easier because he worked quite hard for me. There was no banter because you’re pretty focused.
“What I learned most was trying to deal with your nervous energy. Controlling that helps you perform at the top level.
“We are good when we’re underdogs. It’s England’s game to lose.
“They expect to win, everybody down there expects them to win. As a coach, seeing our boys’ commitment and attitude to training is spot-on.
“There are a lot of good football players in that group and a lot of them have been successful this year. There is a positive frame of mind and we go into the game needing a result.
It’s probably the best game I’ve played in, probably the most enjoyable
There’s only one way to look at it.”
DAVIDSON is only a few days in to his time with Strachan and his squad but is already embracing the experience. Having left his family holiday in Portugal early to join up with them at Mar Hall, it’s just as well.
“We’d planned it so I had to book an Easyjet flight back, stuck next to some stag dos,” he joked. “My wife was absolutely delighted. My two girls are 14 and 11. One of them was upset that I was away. The other one was delighted. It was: ‘See you later, dad.’
“Scotland has a club atmosphere and that’s what Gordon tries to create. Everyone gets on and they all know each other. The six Celtic