John McGinn insists Scotland will need to find a swagger and their own brand of arrogance if they’re to book an historic last sixteen Euro Finals spot.
The Aston Villa midfielder, who along with the rest of the Scotland flew jetted out to Spain yesterday, believes a bit of bravado and self-belief has been the missing ingredient for a nation which will strut its stuff on the big stage for the first time next month since the World Cup at France 98.
As the countdown continues to the Euro 2020 opener against Czech Republic on June 14, the dark blue talisman is convinced it’s time to big ourselves up as the squad prepares to head to Portugal next week to step up preparations.
McGinn said: “We need to give ourselves more credit and big the Scottish league up more than we do because the talent is there, we just don’t have the arrogance to boost ourselves and it is about time we started showing that. This summer gives us the perfect platform to start doing that.
“I will enjoy going to Spain with the boys, preparing and making sure we are in the best shape we can be but once it gets closer to the game I will bank out the noise. If you can do that the experience will be mind-blowing and hopefully we can be the first squad to get through to the last 16.”
The 26-year-old played a key part in qualification for the finals with seven goals for Steve Clarke ’s side and he admits he’s the build-up to kick-off already has the butterflies kicking in.
He said: “You are absolutely off your heid if you think you don’t read a couple of things and listen to a couple of the previews and get excited about it because we should. It has been 23 years we have been waiting so we should enjoy it.
“But a few days before the game that’s when you should ignore all that.
"My old manager Neil Lennon used to say, ‘ignore the noise.
"It is all just noise, blank it out’. That is the advice I have taken from him so I will enjoy the build up.”
