At the age of 68 there can’t be all that many firsts left for Graeme Souness.
But this summer the former Scotland skipper ticked off another box on the bucket list when he covered the national team performing at a major finals in his role as a TV pundit.
And, unlike Steve Clarke’s misfiring strikers, he didn’t miss and hit the wall when it all came crashing to a heartbreaking halt with a defeat at home to Croatia.
Souness was there at Hampden that night and he did not hold back afterwards, branding Scotland’s style of play as a throwback to a bygone age.
His pain was almost palpable. It’s still not quite gone away.
“The thing is,” he says after blowing out his cheeks, “I felt so elated and so proud at Wembley a few nights earlier, standing on the TV gantry.
“I made sure I emphasised the point that this was not about England failing to play well because that was the English take on it.
“I said, ‘No, this was about Scotland playing a style of football that was just so much better than England’s!’
“It had nothing to do with England’s players not turning up – they did turn up – they were just outplayed by a better team on the night.
“We were the team that played football, we were the team that looked like we were going to win the game and I was so proud.
“But then I turned up at Hampden a few days later for the game against Croatia and I left feeling completely deflated all over again.
“I couldn’t understand how a team that had played so well against England had reverted to playing a style of football which went out 30 years ago.
“People said it was all down to Billy Gilmour being ruled out with Covid but was it all down to missing one player? As good as Billy Gilmour is, I can’t believe that.
“I just felt, when the game was there to be won, we didn’t reach the heights.
“We resorted to going back to front and, when we needed players to stand up as they did at Wembley, instead they went missing all over the pitch when we needed them to be brave, to get on the ball and play.
“There’s no doubt, Gilmour made us play everything through him at Wembley because he was always demanding the ball, then looking to turn and make things happen. Absolutely, 100 per cent.
“But against Croatia we still had other good players on the pitch who just accepted the way the game was going. That was the disappointing thing. We couldn’t get hold of the ball.
“I’m sorry but Modric must be f****** 36 or 37 and he was running the show in there.
“And you saw how good Croatia were in the next game when Spain put five past them.
“But against Scotland? We made them look like Brazil from the 80s. We didn’t play – we didn’t even attempt to play – and that’s why I was critical of them.
“Anyone looking back at those two games would think they were watching two different teams. The question has to be, why should it be like that?
“How can the same team do so well at Wembley, in front of a hostile crowd with no one fancying them, only to come home – when the nation was in love with them with so much to be proud of – and forget how to play?
“They were an eight and half or nine out of 10 at Wembley and I’d give them three and half for the last game at Hampden. I can’t see why that should happen, other than Billy Gilmour not being there.”
Yet, in Gilmour, Souness believes the nation has unearthed a genuine star.
He goes on: “What is he, 19? He’s a proper football player and he’s fearless.
“I think back to myself at that age. Spurs sold me when I was 19 and it wasn’t until two years later that I became the size I am today. It was only when I got to the age of 21 that I had filled out and developed and that’s what will happen with Billy.
“I’m not saying his size is going to be an issue but, yeah, I would like him to become a bit bigger and a bit meatier.
“In terms of technique, you could put a man marker on him and it won’t make any difference. He’ll keep the ball and pass it where he wants to pass it.
“He’s got a great touch, he sees the picture, he’s mobile and he’s quick and sharp. He would be a pain in the arse to play against because he’d be ducking under your arms and playing around you.
“I can imagine you wouldn’t get near him at five-a-sides. You’d want to be on his side at the five-a-sides! The boy has the world at his feet.”
Souness isn’t convinced a season-long loan at Norwich was a smart move by Gilmour’s advisers.
He said: “I’d have kept him at Chelsea because I got better when I went to Liverpool and every single day I was training with great players who thought quicker and moved the ball quicker.
“With all due respect to Norwich, it’s going to be nip and tuck if they can survive. There’s going to be lots of weekends where the wee man is going to be fed up because he’s been beaten again. Over the course of 38 Premier League games he’s going to have some miserable weekends.
“I’m not sure he’s going to improve much playing every day with the Norwich players or, to put it another way, he won’t improve as much training every day with the Norwich players the way he would have done with the players they have at Chelsea.
“When I look back at my own career I know that’s when I got better. Every single day I was moving quicker, thinking quicker, playing the ball quicker and when I look back, that’s how I got better.”
Three pairs of tickets to An Exclusive Evening with Graeme Souness and Friends up for grabs.
If you are one of our lucky winners, you’ll have a night to remember, as Souness shares some of his favourite memories of his time as a footballer and manager. With special guest appearances from Ally McCoist, Ian Durrant, and Mark Walters you won’t want to miss this.
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