John McGinn admits Scotland must improve if they want to reach the Euros – and reckons the dodgy Hampden pitch needs to be much better too.
The Tartan Army hero volleyed home his 16th goal for the national team in the 3-0 win over Cyprus to move outright seventh in the all-time scoring records. His 21st-minute strike eased the nerves as Scotland won an opening Euro qualifying match for the first time since 2006.
But McGinn took aim at the National Stadium playing surface after a low-key second half combined with a number of players slipping led to frustration spreading through the capacity 50,000 crowd before two late Scott McTominay goals secured the points. McGinn reckons the pitch was as much to blame as the players for the under-par showing. The Hampden surface was slated by Celtic boss Ange Postecoglou and his Rangers counterpart Michael Beale after January’s Viaplay Cup semis – leading to work to improve the surface for the final.
McGinn was among a number of Scots to lose their footing with debut goalkeeper Angus Gunn’s first-half slip giving the Tartan Army kittens. Spain are up next on Tuesday evening as Steve Clarke’s side look to turn a good start into a sensational one.
McGinn said: “We have to improve and I don’t think we can use the gap between now and the last game as an excuse. We have a settled squad now, we know what everybody is capable of.
“If we have any excuse it was the pitch – it was really tough to play on. I remember watching Celtic v Rangers a few weeks ago and it looked the same. It was tough to play on for both teams and it might not suit Spain!
“Hopefully they water it before Tuesday. It was just tough underfoot and slippy. A lot of the players were falling about, even big Angus. It was difficult to play our stuff but thankfully we clicked late on and got another two goals.”
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