SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 8 hrs 21 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
SN
Euro Champ Qualifying | Playoff Final Route C
Nov 12, 2020 at 7.45pm UK
Stadion Rajko Mitić
SN

Serbia
1 - 1
Scotland

Scotland win 5-4 on penalties
Jovic (90')
Milenkovic (11'), Gudelj (49')
FT
(aet)
Christie (52')
Gallagher (44')

Scotland's Kenny McLean relishing pressure of Euro 2020 playoff

:Headline: Scotland's Kenny McLean relishing pressure of Euro 2020 playoff: ID:421788: from db_amp
Steve Clarke's side take on Serbia in Belgrade on Thursday.

Kenny McLean vowed to savour the occasion as he looks to help Scotland end a 23-year wait for qualification for a major tournament.

The hopes of a nation rest on the shoulders of the players Steve Clarke entrusts in Thursday's Euro 2020 play-off final against Serbia in Belgrade.

But McLean showed he can handle the expectation when he fired the winning penalty against Israel in the semi-final last month in what was Scotland's first shoot-out.

After qualifying for four of the five major tournaments of the 1990s, Scotland have endured two decades of near misses and far less glorious failures.

And McLean wants to embrace what is at stake in the Rajko Mitic Stadium.

"You need to enjoy the moments," the Norwich midfielder said.

"Of course sometimes you find yourself caught up in it a wee bit, but you need to play with a bit of emotion. Obviously not over-doing it, but if you can get that balance right then it's perfect.

"We have plenty players throughout the squad that have played in big games, pressure games, and this is when it will show.

Kenny McLean celebrates a Hampden goal for Aberdeen (Jane Barlow/PA)

"We have got match-winners, players that can make the difference. If we can enjoy ourselves, express ourselves, and show the work we have put in in the last year or so with the run we have been on, then the best way to enjoy it is by winning."

Scotland are on an eight-match unbeaten run ahead of their crucial contest against a side featuring the likes of Lazio midfielder Sergej Milinkovic-Savic and Ajax skipper Dusan Tadic.

"You need to respect the quality they have got, but if you look at the way we have been performing as a unit, you need to be excited going into these games against these top players," McLean said.

"It's something that needs to excite you and if it doesn't then you are in the wrong place.

“Of course there's a lot of pressure, there's a lot riding on the game, but you need to enjoy these moments in your career. They don't come around very often”
- Kenny McLean

"Of course there's a lot of pressure, there's a lot riding on the game, but you need to enjoy these moments in your career. They don't come around very often.

"It will be at the top end of what everyone has done in their career if we can get a result in this game. That's the way we need to look at it. They don't come around very often so you need to enjoy them.

"It would be the highlight of most of the boys' careers if we can take us back to the good old days when we were qualifying for tournaments.

"We have got the squad, there is no doubt about that. We have shown that over the last while, it's just up to us to now go and put the performance in that is good enough to take us there, and give everybody something to look forward to."

Scotland built on their nervy win over Israel last month with Nations League triumphs against Slovakia and Czech Republic.

McLean said: "Things like that result and the way it went, going to penalties when there's a bit more pressure on it, to come through that felt better than a normal win. And I think the momentum has just been gathering for a long time now.

"We have a lot of players in very good form, in a good place right now, and things just seem to be coming together.

"And hopefully we can continue that momentum this week, have a good week's training and take it into the game and give ourselves as good a chance as we can to do something special."

amp_article__421788 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-11-10 12:07:34:
html db last update - 2021-03-11 08:52:42 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Kenny McLean

Click here for more stories about Norwich City

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .