Luis Binks had goosebumps as he experienced Flower of Scotland at Hampden for the first time as a player.
Within 12 minutes, though, the chill of nervous anticipation had shifted to a shiver down the spine, courtesy of a Switzerland sucker-punch. Angus Gunn picked the ball out of the net; Jack Hendry was back in the dressing room after a red card; Binks knew it would be an uphill task. The Brondby captain admits it was a "very bittersweet" experience on his debut for the national team.
"It gives you goosebumps," said Binks of his first Hampden outing. "I think everyone heard how loud the fans were.
"It had been a long time since I sang that, since the Victory Shield, so maybe I was a bit rusty!
"But no, it was everything I imagined and more. It will stick with me forever."
Despite defeat, in Sebastien Pocognoli's first match in charge at Hampden, Binks won't allow the disappointment of the result to take the shine off a special night for his family. Binks qualified to play for Scotland through his grandad, making it an emotional moment for his mum Jo, who will proudly display the match-worn shirt in the house.
"Personally, it's a very proud moment. Obviously something I've worked towards forever," he said.
"So for me and my family it was a good night in some ways, but obviously the result is disappointing.
"My family travelled up for it. I know my mum will be very emotional because obviously it's my grandad.
"Sadly, he's not here anymore, so that was another special moment for me and for her.
"I know they'll be over the moon when I go and see them now. My mum will have it [my first shirt]. It'll be on the wall in the house, I think. Hopefully she keeps it safe."
After the match, Hendry did try to apologise to his team-mates for his sending-off after a clumsy decision to haul down Dan Ndoye.
But, especially being a defender, Binks did not require an apolgy as he offered his backing to his new team-mate.
"He was obviously disappointed. It's not nice. We've all been there and he's not going to be the last one to get sent off.
"But we know he's a good player and everyone is around him. So it is what it is."
"We don't need an apology. Like I say, it could have been any of us and especially me as a defender, I can sort of sympathise with him."
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Discussing the brutal start, he added: "We know they're a good side and when you go down to ten men so early, it's always going to be difficult.
"It was a bit of a sucker punch [the red card and goal]. I feel they had a lot of the ball but we started the game quite well.
"They weren't really hurting us, but they're a good side and it can change in one moment like we saw.
"And then for them to score from the free kick, it's another bit of a dig. But it is what it is.
"I think we stuck together quite well. They had a lot of the ball obviously, but they didn't really hurt us with big big chances. Obviously, the three goals come from set pieces, so that's something to look at."
Pocognoli's squad now head to North Macedonia looking to pick up their first points in the Nations League, as well as score a first goal in a new era for the national team.
Binks remains confident that there are positives and there will be plenty of growth under the Belgian manager even after a slow start.
"I can only speak for me at the minute. But I'm still positive," he said. "A game like against Switzerland, going down to 10 men, it's hard to assess. I think there are some positives.
"We know where we can go with this group of players. It's very young, very hungry.
"There are a lot of players waiting to come in and play. The boys that played today, I think you just want to play more.
"Once you get a taste for it, you want to keep playing, keep playing.
"The manager's come in and it's been brilliant, so everyone's on board with that. It's early days, so we'll see in a few weeks.
"Yeah, it's my first taste of international football, but everything happens so quick. You don't really get a lot of time with a team. I think it's hard to judge this early on, because it's different to club football where you're every day on the pitch. You know everyone.
"There's a lot of new boys, me included, coming in. So it takes time. This is another thing that will take time, but I'm sure we'll get to where we want to get to."
While admitting it will be a process to see Scotland get up to speed fully under Pocognoli, Binks accepts Scotland supporters will demand victory against North Macedonia on Saturday night.
He responded: "Yeah, rightly so. I think they deserve a win. We deserve a win, but it's up to us to go out there and get the win.
"We know it won't be easy, especially going there. It will probably be a bit hostile, but we know there will be a lot of Scots there as well. So like I say, everyone's looking really forward to it."
