Steve Clarke’s Scotland are on the verge of history. They’re 90 minutes away from achieving the unprecedented - reaching the knockouts of a major championship.
At Euro 2020, the Scots were in the same position going into their final group game with a win all but confirming a spot in the last 16. However, the task was a greater challenge. That night, Scotland were well beaten by a superior Croatia, but this feels different.
The Tartan Army were diabolical in their tournament opener against Germany, and shipped five goals in what was an easy night's work for the hosts. However, Steve Clarke’s side drastically improved against Switzerland on Wednesday earning a point, but really and truly they could have claimed all three.
Tomorrow, Scotland face Hungary - who are yet to win at this year's Championships - with a win all but guaranteeing a spot in the knockouts.
Ahead of one of the biggest games in Scottish history, John McGinn admitted the camp are looking forward to what could be a monumental night. The Aston Villa midfielder shared that there are no nerves with the team focused on the job at hand as the doubt from the rest of the continent spurs the group on.
“For us, I don’t think we’re feeling the pressure, it’s more anticipating whether we can be the team that takes the next step because the best thing in football is proving people wrong.
“I don’t think a lot of people in Europe believe we can take that next step, but a lot of us in the dressing room feel we can. We’re more excited and keen to get going rather than feeling any pressure.”
After their tournament opener, it seemed as if Scotland had gone backwards. But in fact, the Scots are about where they expected to be with the most monumental achievement in Scottish football history just 90 minutes away. McGinn reflected upon the learning experience at Euro 2020 and how that’s helped Scotland prepare for the decider with Hungary.
“It’s just experience really. I don’t think we approached those games with the right mentality. It was a completely new thing preparing for the European Championships.
“The magnitude of it, being at home, for a number of reasons. Quite frankly, we got beat by a better team in that last game [vs Croatia at Euro 2020]. This one is slightly different, we had a poor start, a good second game which could have been better with three points. A massive cup final awaits both us and Hungary tomorrow.”
Should Scotland reach the knockouts a hero will have to rise. McGinn, however, shared that he doesn’t care who scores or how it comes, as long as Scotland get by with three points in Stuttgart.
“I would take big Gunny [Angus Gunn] being the hero tomorrow. I think it’s a team effort, recently big Scotty [Scott McTominay] has been the man for goals."
“He looks confident and firing in training, but all the boys are excited and hopefully one of us will be a hero tomorrow night. I don’t really care if it’s an own goal, a deflection or anything, we will take what comes.”
Scotland have not travelled with their suitcases, as their boss drills home that his side must win and make it back to their base camp to prepare for a historic round of 16 tie. McGinn echoed that mentality confessing the group is “really looking forward to going back” to camp.
“Great place. Amazing hotel. Brilliant pitch. Beautiful scenery. There’s no better place to prepare. You do feel it’s a different kind of part of Germany, nice and quiet. When we were leaving today we said let's come back and have another week or two here - or three.
“We’re really looking forward to going back there, they’ve been brilliant with us.”
