Scotland fans are reeling from the news that key player Billy Gilmour has tested positive for Covid-19, meaning he will miss their final Euro 2020 group match.
After a strong performance against England on Friday, the Chelsea midfielder received the “Star of the Match” award in his debut for the national team.
The Scottish FA (SFA) confirmed on Monday that the 20-year-old had contracted coronavirus and must therefore self-isolate for 10 days.
“The Scottish FA can confirm that a member of the Scotland national team playing squad, Billy Gilmour, has tested positive for Covid-19,” the SFA said.
“Having liaised with Public Health England since the positive test was recorded, Billy will now self-isolate for 10 days and therefore miss tomorrow’s Uefa Euro 2020 Group D match against Croatia at Hampden.”
Match play is not considered close contact, and so the rest of the Scotland team are able to play with a negative result.
England’s players and support team all returned negative tests on Sunday.
We can confirm that Billy Gilmour has tested positive for COVID-19.
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 21, 2021
Having liaised with Public Health England, Billy will now self-isolate for 10 days and therefore miss tomorrow’s UEFA EURO 2020 Group D match against Croatia at Hampden.https://t.co/lRNWvckqCK
Scotland are set to meet Croatia on Tuesday in a crucial clash at Hampden Park.
As it stands, the Scots are currently at the bottom of Group D in fourth place with one point, and Croatia – who also have one point – are only ahead in third place due to goal difference.
So it’s set to be a tense spectacle – especially now one of the Scots best players is out of action.
Fans took to Twitter to share their despair at the news.
Billy Gilmour testing positive before Croatia on Tuesday pic.twitter.com/QrTjgZemn3
— Kieran Ashton 🏴 (@kieran_ashton1) June 21, 2021
Billy Gilmour. pic.twitter.com/UQ1VXVOkcV
— FitbaPatter (@FitbaPatter) June 21, 2021
I’m gutted for Billy Gilmour, what a debut he had on Friday and I hope he gets well soon 👏🏴
— Indy Bhoy (@BhoyIndy) June 21, 2021
— ismaliasorocsc (@ismaliasorocsc) June 21, 2021
Test him again, incase it was a false positive! pic.twitter.com/3bfl7ZAMxP
— Calum Dick (@CalumDick23) June 21, 2021
*Cries in Scots* pic.twitter.com/PB2gKEVorR
— Flash⚡Gordy (@FlashGordy) June 21, 2021
— Callum Wilson (@CallumWilsonSJ) June 21, 2021
— Ross McCafferty (@RossMcCaff) June 21, 2021
While others lamented what a cruel twist of fate it all was:
Billy Gilmour being man of the match on his first start and then being ruled out with covid is more Scottish than Deep Fried Tablet.
— Ray Bradshaw (@comedyray) June 21, 2021
Still cant get over that news about Billy Gilmour will we ever have any luck😞😂🏴
— Ryan Bryceland (@VanBryceland) June 21, 2021
Heart breaking for Billy Gilmour, typical Scottish luck
— Dario (@dariquo1) June 21, 2021
Meanwhile, others joked that England players didn’t have to worry about contracting Covid from Gilmour as they couldn’t get near him during Friday’s match.
Good news for the England team that none of them got near Billy Gilmour on Friday night.
— Mark Nelson (@marknelsoncomic) June 21, 2021
Billy gilmour testing positive won't effect any the English players as they couldn't get anywhere near him to catch it anyway 🤣#EURO2020
— Abie Mccracken (@abie_mccracken) June 21, 2021
At least England fans won’t have to worry about their players getting covid from Billy Gilmour, nobody on the England team could get close enough to him to be at risk
— Ryan (@ryan15269) June 21, 2021
Though, jokes aside, many have questioned how Gilmour caught the virus and how his teammates weren’t affected and can still play.
No other players are understood to have been identified as close contacts, so the rest of the squad can continue as normal, according to Sky Sports News.
Feel so bad for Billy Gilmour after a great performance on Friday. That said, I just don’t understand the track & trace process. How could he possibly not have been in close contact with team mates, back room staff, or even opponents?? This is an incredibly clever virus 🤷♂️ #sco
— Iain Pringle (@BigPringle) June 21, 2021
Just heard on the radio wee Billy Gilmour tested +ve for Covid, wouldn’t that mean the whole team has been compromised??
— 🏴🇪🇺 Rebel Scot (@Ind3pendent7) June 21, 2021
How does one man out of a massive group of people test positive for the most contagious viruses.. he’s surely been around everyone.. touched things others have touched.. I just don’t get this virus
— Mitchell (@SmiggoM) June 21, 2021
How will this now work with any players close contact/test and trace? Crikey. Get well soon @billygilmourrr x
— Michelle (@chel2809) June 21, 2021
Elsewhere, Scotland fans were working out when Gilmour would be able to play again if they were to qualify in their group.
Sadly for fans, even if the team does advance to the knock-out stages of the competition, Gilmour will still be ruled out of playing in the last-16 round.
If #Scotland qualify in 3rd, I reckon Switzerland, Spain, & Portugal will do the same, which means Scotland would probably face Sweden on 29 Jun & then France/England on 3rd July. Billy Gilmour would be back by then!😃 #notallatgettingaheadofmyself
— JamesAithie 🏴 (@JamesAithie) June 21, 2021
It seems that all other Scotland players have tested negative.
— Jim Gibson 🏴🇪🇺 (@jimgibs0n) June 21, 2021
Bloody shame for Billy Gilmour.
It just means we'll have to reach the quarter-final so that he can get another game in the tournament. No biggie. 😂
If his next test is negative, he'll be even more gutted.
Get well soon Billy, and good luck to Scotland in their match tomorrow!
