Former Tartan Army hero Davide to pull on his boots once more
Davide Gualtieri will roll back the years today when he and his former San Marino teammates take on a Tartan Army fans side in a friendly ahead oftheEuro2020qualifier.
Back in 1993, the winger secured himself enduring renown in the football world when he scored after only eight seconds of his country’s World Cup tie against England.
They went on to lose 7-1, but the effort was to stand as the fastest-ever goal in a competitive international for nearly quarter-of-a-century until Christian Benteke bettered it with his instant success against Gibraltar in 2016.
“He managed 8.1 whereas I was 8.3. But Benteke scored against a little country, I scored against a big country,” said the 47-year-old Sammarinese.
“It was a great memory for me because they had stars like Stuart Pearce, David Platt, Les Ferdinand and David Seaman in their
team, and were shocked to go behind to us.
“Pearce put the ball back to Seaman for the goal, but I managed to run past him and get their first.
“Pearce is called Pyscho, but he didn’t scare me that day.
“After the match, I got his jersey. In fact, I still have it in my house.
“Because of the goal, the Scotland supporters named me their Player of the Year for 1993, which was an honour.
“In 2007, my older brother, Andrea, went on holiday to Scotland, and when he said he was from San Marino, they said: ‘Do you know Davide Gualtieri?’.
“When he replied: ‘Yes, I’m his brother’, they brought him free food and beer!
“So I know, even now, I could be greeted as a hero in Scotland. But I’m too shy for that.”
Just as well, then, that the role Gualtieri will have to play in today’s official match is very much in the background.
“I will be there for work because my computer company will set up the internet for the journalists. So if it doesn’t work, everybody will know who to look for!” he said.
“In terms of how the game itself will go, I am not too optimistic.
“I’m a Liverpool fan, so I know Andy Robertson, the captain, well and he is a tremendous player.
“Also, while I don’t think Scotland are the best from a technical point of view, they are strong physically.
“San Marino are bottom of the FIFA World Rankings and, of course, we would like to rise up through them. But it is difficult because this is a very small country with a population of just around 32,000.
“There is a passion for football here, but we don’t have professional players.
“So it is difficult for us to compete with the bigger nations.
“A couple of years ago, we did manage to beat Liechtenstein 1-0. But I think that is still the only match we have won.
“So, can San Marino spring a surprise against Scotland?
“You never know, anything can happen in the game of football.
“But it will be very difficult!”