Erling Haaland is running riot but we can’t stand back and just admire him
In just a few weeks time, Eoin Jess will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his Scotland debut.
That night at Ibrox, the opposition was Italy, who boasted Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi and Roberto Baggio in their ranks.
Jess would go on to win another 17 caps, and had the opportunity to swap shirts with the likes of Paul Gascoigne, Tony Adams or Steve McManaman at Euro 96, and Germany’s Lothar Matthaus, Michael Ballack or Oliver Neuville in one of his last international appearances in 1999.
So he knows what it’s like to rub shoulders with some of the world’s top players.
As Jess reflected on last Sunday’s draw for Euro 2024 qualification which saw Steve Clarke’s side pitted against Spain, Norway, Georgia and Cyprus, he’s in no doubt who the current men in Dark Blue will have to keep an eye on.
Jess is a huge admirer of Erling Haaland, the Norway striker. It could be quite daunting if you allow it to be, but he prefers to remain positive.
The former Aberdeen striker told The Sunday Post: “Erling Haaland is quite exceptional. He is running riot in England and his numbers are
He is incredible to watch and handles the pressure so well. He seems a very balanced young man
frightening.
“Since he moved to Manchester City, he appears to be operating at a totally different level. He produces the goods week after week.
“He is a total machine. But we need to find a way to stop him.
“I know that will be easier said than done because he is so sharp, so powerful and so quick. He almost always hits the target with any efforts on goal.
“He is incredible to watch and handles the pressure so well.
“He is also very relaxed doing any media interviews. Haaland seems like a very balanced young man.
“But we can’t stand back and admire him. We need to make life as difficult as possible for the 90 minutes.”
Now living in Spain, Jess also knows the quality of their national team.
“Spain will also be ferocious opponents,” he said. “But they will not like playing against us. We will make it hard for Spain, for sure.
“They know how to qualify for major tournaments. They do it time after time.
“I like to watch them and have so much admiration for them.
“The squad is superb, and they have top players such as Ferran Torres, Alvaro Morata, Rodri, Koke and Sergio Busquets.
“But we must not fear any side. We can do it. Let’s be positive and upbeat as we go into 2023.”
When talking about the national team, Jess thinks back to his own time in the dark blue jersey and is so proud.
But he can’t believe it was almost 30 years ago when he made his debut, and said: “Where does the time go?
“Yet I can remember so much about it. The game was at Ibrox and we drew 0-0 in a World Cup qualifier. I came on for the last 20 minutes, replacing Gordon Durie.
“At one point I was clean through on goal, and was ready to get my shot away.
“Then, out of nowhere, this long leg appeared and tackled me to clear the ball. I’m sure it was Paolo Maldini. It was an incredible tackle.
“My big moment was gone. I was so close!
“I got Roberto Donadoni’s top at the end, and that is a nice keepsake to have. It was my dream to play for my country and I achieved it.
“I have many fond memories of my time with our national team and I want the current squad to have that in the next few years as they move forward”
Jess was part of a Scotland squad that had players with very good ability, and an excellent team spirit.
In the 1990s, our national team regularly qualified for tournaments.
Jess now hopes Steve Clarke’s men can take the opportunity to reach Germany on the back of the Euro 2020 qualification.
Thanks to topping their Nations League section, they have secured
a play-off spot. But they can gain automatic entry by finishing in the top two of the other route on offer.
Jess, now 51, believes they have an excellent chance and said: “Every qualification programme is exciting.
“I look at our results last month in our three final Nations League games, and it left me full of optimism.
“We have a great manager in Steve Clarke and some very talented footballers.
“We have a few young players, such as Aaron Hickey, Nathan Patterson and Billy Gilmour, and they will only get better and better.
“There is then a group between the ages of 25 and 30 such as Kieran Tierney, Callum McGregor, John McGinn, Andy Robertson, Ryan Christie and Scott McTominay.
“They are all performing at the highest level, and they are doing very well.
They can be a part of the set-up for another six, seven or eight years.
“It also looks as though there is a wonderful team spirit in the squad.
“That is so important to a country such as ours because we do have talent, but we don’t have an abundance of world-class performers.
“So you need to find other ways to make it up, and being willing to go out there and run through brick walls for one another.
“It’s the way it was when I was part of the Scotland set-up. We had some great characters, and they kept everyone going.
“But we could also play and give a really good account of ourselves. It’s very similar to what is going on now.
“The times have changed but, ultimately, the goals remain the same. You need to qualify for major tournaments.
“I was very fortunate and privileged to be a part of Euro 96 and I played in the England game at Wembley. We lost 2-0 but what an experience it was.
“We came so close to getting through the next stage, and we acquitted ourselves well against Holland and Switzerland.
“I was at Coventry City at the time, and I just loved being with the national team.
“To play for my country 18 times was a great honour. It maybe could and should have been more caps, but you can never look back and have regrets.
“I now want to see the current team doing well. I believe they are good enough to qualify, and I’ll be willing them to make it to Germany.
“Many of the guys will have experienced it in the summer of last year and want more of it. They’ll be hungry to be successful, that’s for sure.”