The "Battle of Britain" ended up being dubbed the "Battle of the former Newcastle United coaches" at Wembley on Friday evening with Graeme Jones and ex-Toon man John Carver prowling the technical areas.
England were looking to recreate memories of Euro 96 but could not find a way past the battling Scots and had to be content with a point as the competition suddenly felt a little bit flat
Much has been made of Graeme Jones' appointment as England coach at the word from St George's Park has been the Newcastle man has hit the ground running in his new role as assistant to Gareth Southgate.
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England stars are enjoying his sessions and players loved Jones' "hat-trick challenge" drill where players must attempt to net a volley, right-foot finish and left-foot finish.
Yet it was Carver, assistant to another former Newcastle back-room staff member Steve Clarke, who quietly went away having heavily influenced the Group D clash.
The 0-0 scoreline was only the second time England have been held to a goalless draw since Wembley reopened back in 2007.
Carver is understood to have played a big part in the tactical game plan that nullified England and is now plotting the downfall of World Cup finalists Croatia as the group looks set for a dramatic finale.
With the group wide open Clarke and Carver know that they have nothing to lose as Scotland bid to make it to the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time ever.
A defeat last Monday against the Czech Republic deflated some of the players but the former Newcastle duo were quick to remind the squad that they'd dominated possession and created 19 goal attempts.
After holding England the mood is very different and Carver, who was always told never to get too carried away with the lows by mentor Bobby Robson, is using his experience from working with the ex-Three Lions boss.
Sir Bobby would have loved seeing two of his former coaches involved in such a high octane game like England vs Scotland.
Carver, speaking before the tournament, said: "Sir Bobby always said to me if I got the chance to coach overseas to take it which I did at Toronto a few years back.
"And it was the same advice to grasp any opportunities of coaching at international level.
"I worked with Steve Clarke after Ruud Gullit left Newcastle but Sir Bobby kept us in his back room team before Steve moved to Chelsea."
Carver explained Sir Bobby's thinking back then and added: "When Bobby arrived just before he brought Mick Wadsworth in there was a bit of an issue.
"There was actually three coaches around him and Bobby didn't want that.
"So Steve in fairness come to me and said: 'You aren't going to get anywhere here if we are both at Newcastle'.
"So he went back to Chelsea to work with their youth team which opened up the door for me so I was brought into the inner circle.
"If Steve had have stayed who knows what would have happened."
Fast forward to 2021, and Clarke and Carver could be on the brink of Scottish football history of they can pull off that shock against Croatia.
