It's win or bust for Scotland against Croatia on Tuesday, and they now know that victory guarantees them a place in the knockouts for the first time. Considering that Euro 2020 is Scotland's first major tournament in 23 years and that they are 30 places below Croatia (14th) in the FIFA world rankings, it may seem – in recent international form – a daunting task... Notably now star midfielder Billy Gilmour has been ruled out of the match after testing positive for COVID-19.
But if you heard what the players were saying after Friday's 0-0 draw fight against England at Wembley, you understand that the '21 class is not for partying. They want to do something special.
As Scotland head coach Steve Clarke carries out his final postmatch media duties on the Wembley pitch, you can say "No Scotland, no party!" could hear the song. Hospitality is coming from the box. It was like birdsong as it revolved around Wembley, a pocket of Scottish supporters still soaking up their deserved point against the "auld enemy".
Clarke was his usual realistic nature, despite beating England in Tuesday's final group game in one such game. The goalposts were still being smashed behind him, but Clarke was already turning his attention to Tuesday. The former West Bromwich Albion manager has ensured that Scotland's product is greater than the sum of its parts, and will be required to use the collective work ethic and chemistry that disappoints England when Croatia rolls into Glasgow.
Still, Scotland never takes things the easy way, and will be without the excellent Gilmour - the star of the match against England - due to his positive test on Monday. His absence will be a real test of the collective spirit of Scotland.
Scotland have never qualified before the group stage of a World Cup or European Championship in their last 10 attempts. And this group of players can create history.
Before their Group D opener against the Czech Republic, there was a thin line between the joyous nostalgia around Hampden Park and the current pessimism. Newspapers date back to 1978, when Scotland went with every intention of bringing home the World Cup. They also had an open bus tour before the squad left for Argentina, only for them to come back too early, losing 3–1 to Peru and a 1–1 draw with Iran.
The 2021 team has distanced itself from any hope. They are based at Rockcliffe Hall in Darlington, northern England for the tournament – about 45 minutes south of Newcastle – as the Czech Republic had already broken their common base in Edinburgh. Scotland's bus was stopped on the M8 as it traveled into Glasgow the night before their game, honking the horns of cars and weaving through traffic to catch a glimpse of their heroes through tinted windows. On game day, they were hit by a double decker of goals from Patrick Schick and lost 2–0.
The second, a surprising long-distance effort that was the longest ever scored in a men's tournament final, popped the Scots' balloon and disturbed the atmosphere inside Hampden Park, but Clarke persevered afterwards. "We didn't come here for the learning experience, we came here to be competitive."
England's opening 1-0 win over Croatia meant Friday night's meeting became even more important for Scotland, who needed a positive result to keep qualification hopes in their hands. Kieran Tierney was fit, and the Arsenal defender was one of four changes: he started at centre-half, with Che Adams, Callum McGregor and Billy Gilmour also cleared. All four were brilliant as they reduced England to just one shot on goal, while creating chances to win it.
The 2,500 or so Scottish fans completely soaked it up inside Wembley, with an almighty party going on in Leicester Square. An estimated 40,000 Scottish supporters traveled south to go to London for the match; It was a tartan stay. Wherever you went in Central London on match day, even in the Underground, you sang "Super" John McGinn's name, or "Yesir, I can boogie!" (Scotland's adopted anthem for the euro). After the match, Gilmour was named Cascading Round Wembley.
Gilmour, 20, has made only five Premier League appearances for Chelsea, but he is clearly learning from teammate N'Golo Kante. While it was only his third cap and his first for Scotland; He was the quietest presence on the field. The football hype machine was overtaken by Gilmour's performance – 54-cap Scotland international Graeme Souness said on television that "little boy Gilmour was brilliant" – but within the camp, it was "no surprise," according to manager Clark. .
Defender Andy Robertson spoke with Gilmour on Friday afternoon to check how his nerves were, only to find out "nothing is up." The young midfielder sent messages to his parents en route to the game, telling him he was starting. He was in the stand there, his number 23 on the back of his shirt.
"It was his big moment and he didn't let us down," Clarke said. But now they will be without him in Tuesday's match. It is a huge blow to Scotland and their midfield balance.
In Gilmour's absence, Clarke could opt to move to Scott McTominay in midfield, or draft in Southampton's Stuart Armstrong. Either way, they need to move on from the shock and find a way to hit their punches on Croatia. While Scotland's defense is looking largely strong in its two games, scoring at the other end remains a problem. Clarke went only against the Czech Republic with Lyndon Dykes playing behind, with Ryan Christie playing behind, but he started two recognized strikers against England - 5-3-2 in defense, 3-5-2 in attack - against Adams. Dykes' partnership with.
Scotland's only shot on target against England was from right-back O'Donnell, while centre-back Jack Hendry came closest to the Czech Republic when he hit the bar with a speculative effort from afar. Former Scotland international Don Hutchison told ESPN that "the next step against Croatia is giving Adams more chances - more runners from midfield could be important." He hopes to see an unchanged team, but would like to see McGuin licensed more attackers.
Tuesday's crucial game will come down to whichever team can take their chances; Croatia has also struggled to make it through, making it anyone's game. As former Scotland midfielder James McFadden put it, "We are creating chances, we are not taking them. We need that composure in front of the goal."
Clarke said after England's game that his players "deserved a little more respect", calling the Croatia match a "cup final". Their captain, Liverpool defender Robertson, was already concentrating on the third match.
"The feeling that we have now, the feeling that the fans have, it's important that we keep that up and it's not in vain," Robertson said. "We take it to the last game and that's what we ask. We have to use it to get him out of the group."
Before the tournament, Robertson gave each player a gift box filled with home comforts: Iron-Bru (a bright orange soda), some Scottish shortbread, a bottle of whiskey and a few cans of beer. Now Scotland need to determine whether they will use it to vent their misery on Tuesday evening, or to capitalize on the knockout stages as the party begins.