IN years gone by, an end of season Scotland camp – particularly one that started on such a low point as this one and ended with a long trip to face Armenia – would have resulted in a curious spate of hamstring strains among the players called up for the squad.
But not anymore. Of those who started out on this long, energy-sapping tour of duty with their country, only Lyndon Dykes has fallen by the wayside through injury, and that was as he pushed himself during a training session at Oriam.
John McGinn puts that down to the atmosphere that manager Steve Clarke has fostered within the group, and the players having a genuine pride in representing their country. Besides, if anyone pulled out without a genuine reason, they would likely be hearing from McGinn, given how much the once routine raft of call-offs used to annoy him as a fan.
It has been a long season, he acknowledges, but he says this group of players desperately want to taste success with their nation, and if that means playing throughout the calendar year, then so be it.
“Has Scotland spent too many summers not playing? Yes, definitely and that’s what we want to change,” McGinn said.
“If we want to get to more play-offs and major tournaments we have to get used to the schedule and dealing with it. We are learning on that side of it, we are getting better at winning and losing as a team.
“There isn’t as much negativity and finger pointing, we certainly hurt together last week and enjoyed Wednesday together. It’s about evolving, we have come a long way but there’s still some way to go before we can compete at this level for a sustained period of time.
“In the past these would have been the games where players like myself years ago would have been hoping for a chance because of players pulling out. People would rather have gone on holiday at this time of year.
“That used to bug me because it shouldn’t have been the case. What’s more important than playing for your country? That’s the mindset we’ve got now.
“There is a core who have remained. It’s easy to say these are competitive games, but it doesn’t matter.
“The fans are spending fortunes to travel and wherever we go they expect a strong squad. In years to come that mindset will be put to bed, it’s in the past. Everyone is committed to play.
“With the exception of Lyndon Dykes being injured, everyone is keen to be involved. We will get holidays when these games are over and we will get enough time to go on holiday when we chuck it.
“The mentality has changed, we are all delighted and keen to be here.
“The staff deserve credit for that for making it a good, enjoyable place to be.
“I’m fine, I’m raring to go. Hopefully next season it’s a 50-60 game season for me and competing in finals.
“Gordon Strachan used to always say it – the more games you play the more successful you are.”
Scotland manager Clarke picked out McGinn, captain Andy Robertson and Callum McGregor for praise during the week for the role they played in lifting their teammates after the Ukraine defeat, and McGinn says they have to maintain the positivity they garnered from the win over Armenia tonight in Dublin.
“We obviously felt a bit flat before the game,” he said. “We touched on Robbo, Callum on myself speaking, although I didn’t have to say too much.
“It was important we did speak because the warm up wasn’t very good and it would have been easy to start a bit tippy-tappy.
“But it was a professional display in the first half. We wanted more goals in the second half but it was a strong start against a tricky team who will be a different animal next week.
“It was not to forget how well we have done as a team and how far we have come. We were all disappointed with what happened, that was only natural.
“But the message was simple – we need to put all our energies in to getting to Germany in 2024.
“We’ve been here before and know how important the Nations League can be. If you take your foot off the gas there will be more regrets down the line.
“We’ll have to dwell on what’s gone on during the summer but for now the full focus is on Ireland and if we get three points it set us up nicely for Armenia.”
