Billy Gilmour figured out that he would be thrust into Scotland’s starting XI for last night’s game against England 24 hours beforehand when Steve Clarke’s team were working on set pieces in training, but the Chelsea midfielder had to wait until the squad were about to depart their hotel for Wembley before confirmation arrived. Gilmour won the player of the match award for his immense efforts.
Billy Gilmour said: “It was a great performance by the full team. We dug in really deep. We came here with a game plan, stuck to it, and did it really well. I was ready, I trained with the squad, all the boys have helped me settle in really well. To play against England in my first game, I’m so proud and to come here and do really well was even better. It gives us massive confidence against Croatia. We go back to the hotel to recover and then focus on them.”
Asked about how he learned of his starting role,
Billy Gilmour said: “I found out in training before we travelled down – we had a slight idea, we were doing shape and set pieces. But it wasn’t until the last meeting before the game we found out the team. “My mum and dad only knew I was starting, I text them on the bus to the game and that was it.”
By the end Gilmour had several thousand Scotland fans singing his name having come out on top in an enthralling battle with his clubmate Mason Mount.
Billy Gilmour added: “It was amazing. The fans were incredible, singing from the first minute to the last. They gave us a massive boost. We knew we had to go on the pitch and give the fans what they wanted. This one is definitely up there. Playing for my country I’m so proud, against England as well at Wembley. It’s massive. I had my mum, dad and little brother, uncle and my dad’s mates. My mate as well, he came down. I got them tickets. It was a good moment.”
Yet there was little time for celebrating an entirely deserved point that few neutrals will have predicted beforehand.
Billy Gilmour said: “We go back, recover and fully focus on Croatia now. We know what we need to do to qualify from this group. That’s it. Back to the hotel to start again. All the fans will be at Hampden. It was a great atmosphere the last game at Hampden, so it was. That one is going to be massive. We need to be prepared for Croatia.”
