On the first day at Scotland’s base in Charlotte, east of the city center, a heated argument breaks out, or more accurately, angry Norwegians criticize manager Steve Clarke, who apparently doesn’t care what they think.
Ståle Solbakken, Norway’s coach, and Brede Hangeland, the team’s manager, vented to the media about a practice match between reserve players from the two countries that Clarke decided to cancel.
Who would have thought that the cancellation of an unimportant friendly match would generate so much outrage.
“Unprofessional,” Solbakken said of his Scottish colleague. “Embarrassing” and “weak,” Hangeland complained.
Just before Scotland’s press conference at their luxurious Charlotte base, three Norwegian reporters showed up looking for a tough response from the Scottish side.
What they found was a calm reaction from John McGinn, not only exceptional with the ball at his feet but also skilled with a microphone in front of him.
“I would say 75% of the Scotland squad didn’t see that,” he said of the Norwegian irritation, smiling as he spoke.
“I saw it. Our job is to look after Scotland. Norway’s job is to look after Norway. And if they had done their research, we lost a very important part of the squad with Billy Gilmour right around the corner from this camp. It’s had a huge impact on everyone. We didn’t want to lose anyone else. We’ve had a few minor injuries, not everyone is training normally. So I think it’s a professional way of dealing with the situation, to be quite honest, and prioritizing number one. I’m sure every country would do exactly the same. If Norway If they lost Erling Haaland or Martin Odegaard in one of the games before Saturday, they would also cancel the game.”
If Scotland hit the target in their upcoming engagements in the same way that McGinn did in front of the media, this could be a special World Cup.
He was funny, reflective and in-depth about his football background and the lessons he learned along the way. And, of course, about the 25-foot mural painted in his honor on the side of a house in his hometown of Clydebank.
This is the third mural to pay tribute to a Scottish men’s national team player – Scott McTominay’s volley against Denmark is on the side of a building near Hampden and the people of Liverpool paid their respects to their former player Andy Robertson at a house near Anfield.
“It’s a little strange, but it obviously made me proud to see it,” McGinn said. “All my little cousins, my nieces and nephews went to see it. I hope it can inspire children from Clydebank to know that one of their own is on the biggest stage in the world. In fact, the house where the mural is, I went to school with their son. He might think it’s a bit strange, but it’s in Jake Anderson’s house. A generation missed it, but thankfully this generation of children will see us on the sides of the buildings.”
Learning from Schuhplattler dance and decisive moments
McGinn is the darling of the Tartan Army, with the song “Super John McGinn” being as much a part of their universe as kilts and booze.
He is the one with whom fans identify most, a star with his feet on the ground, a player they feel they know even without personal contact.
Two years ago at the Euros, he arrived at Scotland’s training center in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and did a Bavarian dance called the schuhplattler at the welcome ceremony, with a Tyrolean hat on his head and oompah music playing. It was something fun.
It would have been great if Scotland had played well afterwards. Since he didn’t play, it all seemed a little ridiculous. Lesson learned. In fact, more than one.
“Do I regret this? Maybe,” he said.
“But at that point I didn’t think we wouldn’t be successful. I had confidence at the time. They were looking for a volunteer and obviously this sucker was number one.”
“I don’t think there will be much dancing before this tournament, but if we make it past the group stage, I might wear that again and do the dance again.”
“Personally, I’m going to do some things differently. I haven’t played at my best in the last two major tournaments, along with probably a few others in the group.”
“In these tournaments, you need your big players to come through with decisive moments. I’ll enjoy the excitement that builds, but as it gets closer, I’ll focus on the game and not the event. And that’s what I’ve learned, not just at the club level, but also at the international level.”
“The more great experiences and big games you have, the more you adapt. You learn what doesn’t work and what does. I feel like I’m more prepared.”
Advice for the next generation
With 20 goals for Scotland, McGinn sits fifth on the country’s all-time top scorers list, a select group of icons from generations past.
He is 10 behind Denis Law and Kenny Dalglish, the greatest players to ever wear a Scotland shirt, three behind 1928 Wembley Wizard Hughie Gallacher and two behind Lawrie Reilly, the Hibs immortal.
He arrives at this World Cup enjoying the best phase of his career, winner of the Europa League, with a place in the Champions League guaranteed for next season and his childhood dream of the World Cup realized. He was three years old the last time Scotland were on the biggest stage.
McGinn was reflective when asked about his early years. “I remember walking into the St Mirren dressing room before one of my first starts and Stevie Thompson said: ‘It’s your shirt now, hold on to it.’ And that stuck in my head my whole career.”
What Thompson told McGinn at the time, McGinn now relays to the younger members of Clarke’s cast — Tyler Fletcher and Findlay Curtis, 19 (he turns 20 on Tuesday), and Ben Gannon-Doak, 20.
“If these kids get the chance to get the jersey, whether it’s mine, Scott McTominay’s, Che Adams’, it’s theirs to hold.”
“That’s what you want in any club, in any nation. We all want the same thing, for the country to be successful.”
“So young players aren’t just here to fill out the squad. They’re here to make an impact and start their own careers with Scotland. And if that means taking someone out of the squad, that’s their job.”
In McGinn, they have the best possible mentor, a player with drive, class and confidence, a leader who has waited his whole life for weeks like these.