Stu’s close call

STUART McCALL says seeing Three Lions legends Bryan Robson and Peter Shilton celebrating an

England win convinced him he was a Scot.

The Auld Enemies will meet at next year’s rearranged European Championship if Scotland win their play-off final in Serbia on Thursday.

Bradford boss McCall played in two European Championships for Scotland – after being seconds away from playing for England.

“I was born and bred in Leeds, but I was brought up Scottish,” said McCall (right), who went on to win 40 caps for Scotland.

“I got chosen for England

Under-21s and Scotland Under-21s at the same time. My heart wanted Scotland and the club (Bradford) wanted England. I only had an hour and I chose England.

“I went to Turkey with the England Under-21s and if I had got on, I couldn’t have played for

Scotland. With five minutes s to go, boss Dave Sexton wanted to get me on and I snapped my tie-ups, lost my shin pads and went to warm up behind the goal.

“There were 30 seconds to go and I’m ready to go on and the referee blows his whistle. I thought I was coming on and in my heart it didn’t feel right.

“But it was the full-time whistle and I was the most relieved man in the world walking back down the tunnel.

“The night after England won I came home on the plane with Bryan Robson and Peter Shilton and they were celebrating with champagne. I thought to myself, ‘I want to be Scottish.’”