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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Gabriel McKay

David Marshall explains his Scotland delayed reaction as he puts 'four or five seconds' into perspective

While all the Scotland players who ended the 23 year wait for a major tournament will be considered heroes, there's one who stands above the rest.

Goalkeeper David Marshall produced a stunning save in extra-time to keep his side in the tie against Serbia, before saving Aleksandar Mitrovic's penalty to send us to Euro 2020.

The latter will go down in Scottish football folklore and has already been given the meme treatment.

While it would have entered into legend in any case, the defining image is Marshall turning to the linesman before celebrating, almost as though he can't believe the wait is finally over.

And the goalkeeper admits he feared an awkward retake situation as VAR checked whether he'd come off his line as the rest of Steve Clarke 's squad ran to embrace him.

Marshall told Sky Sports: "Immediately after it was a delay because the ref had said 'don't celebrate if you save because there's a VAR check'.

"I got the decision before the lads jumped on me, thankfully. I just hoped and prayed that he wouldn't order a retake because the lads were on their way They didn't know it was being checked.

"I did feel it was good. I had a tiny bit of doubt but the referee let us know pretty quickly.

"But when you have waited 22 years, what's another four or five seconds?"

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