John McGinn was a driving force as he helped Aston Villa bludgeon their way into the top four of English football and the riches of the Champions League. It was a monumental achievement by the Birmingham side to break the monopoly of the Premier League's 'big six' and yet the player himself admits Scotland reaching the knock-out phase would be even more satisfying
It's testament to a historical context that's never seen a Scottish national team reach the latter stages of a major tournament. And it's the unique nature of what beating Hungary would likely trigger that makes McGinn unhesitatingly pinpoint its meaning being more profound.
He said: "I think it would. Aston Villa have been at that stage of European football before. It's something as a country we've not seen so I think it would mean a lot more to me. I'm really proud of getting to the Champions League with Villa which was incredible but I think getting Scotland through the group stages would certainly eclipse that. Hopefully tomorrow night we can be talking about history being achieved.
"It would mean everything. The way the Tartan Army have conducted themselves, I don't know how they've done it with all the drink they have been consuming. You see the messages from the local mayors, the police, the residents, it makes you proud to be Scottish and have them supporting us. They've done their part and it's up to us to send them home with more unforgettable memories. We can feel that and we thank them for all the support, it's been incredible. That national anthem was the best I've ever heard."
McGinn's iconic stature with the fans is unquestioned but his own performances have been subject to criticism after an anonymous showing against Germany in the opening game. He only really started to look himself in the second half against Switzerland and nobody has to tell the midfielder he's due the nation a big performance.
"A lot of us have a still got a lot to give, especially me personally. I have a lot more to give in the final third. The opening game, collectively and personally was a write off. The second game was all about grit, determination, running - all that was missing in the first game. The front three that played up front left everything out on the pitch and hopefully we can replicate that. At the same time we have levels and gears to go up and hopefully, we can show that."
With 18 Scotland goals, McGinn has been prolific from midfield over the years but it's pointed out to him he's not hit the net since scoring the third against Cyprus in September last year.
"I'm aware of it," he grimaced. "I had been used to a nice run of form goals-wise. Big Scott is taking that mantle up and I'm delighted about that. I will need to get a shot on goal first. I will try and get involved in those areas, keep making the same runs and the same movements. It would mean the world to me to get a goal. We all know the magnitude of the game. It's a chance for us to write our names into the history books and become a unique Scotland team. For us, everyone wants to be the hero but for us it's important to play the game normally and we know we are capable of getting the three points. If it is me, I will take one off the right shin."
Operating at the very highest level for his club, McGinn is used to the toll pressure can take on a squad. And while the club game can be intense, carrying the hopes of a nation on your shoulders is something else entirely. And yet, McGinn doesn't carry the demeanour of a man carrying a difficult load. For him, it's about seizing the opportunity of a lifetime.
"I don't think you can compare club and international games of this magnitude. It's certainly different because in a European game you don't have Villa fans going to the squares of the local cities and filling the local waterfalls with Fairy Liquid and causing as much carnage. It's nice we have a lot of players who have experienced a lot of those games. For me, at the latter stages of my career, I've been involved in a lot of high-pressure matches. For us, I don't think we are feeling the pressure, we are feeling the anticipation of what can be. Can we be the team that changes things and makes the leap. The best thing in football is proving people wrong and I don't think a lot of people will think we can make that step and we have full belief in the dressing room that we can. We are more really excited and keen to get going rather than feeling pressure."
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It would be remiss not to note that the Scotland camp were making similar noises in the last European Championships. A draw with England left them in the same circumstance with a game against Croatia in the offing. They fell apart on the day as the rampant Croats, orchestrated by a brilliant Luka Modric showing, won 3-1 in Glasgow. So what's changed this time?
"Experience," he said. "I don't think we approached those games with the right mentality really. It was a complete new thing, preparing for a European Championships. The magnitude of it, being at home, a number of reasons. We were beaten by the better team, quite frankly in that last game. This one is slightly different, poor start, a good second game which could also have been better with three points. Now it's a massive cup final for us and Hungary. They will be hoping for a similar outcome to us. We've had a lot of injuries to deal with along the way but I think us Scots are best in adverstity and hopefully we can prove a lot of people wrong tomorrow night."
Should Scotland do so, they will be heading back to the small Alpine town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It was the scene of McGinn's already infamous traditional Bavarian jig, which quickly went viral on social media. You sense there's a real warmth at how the entire squad has been welcomed with open arms.
"It's a brilliant wee place. I was told we were going to a welcome party which I was told was going to be a lot quieter than it was. It was a bit mental I tried to impersonate the guy and be funny in front of the boys and I got what I deserved.
"He grabbed me by the arm, put me in front of the stage and I thought 'Oh no' but at that point, I had to embrace it and go with the flow. My dancing was horrendous as it always is but it was brilliant and the locals were amazing. It's a great place, an amazing hotel, brilliant pitch. There's no better place to prepare. You do feel like it's a different part of Germany, it's nice and quiet. When we were leaving today, they said to come back and have another week or two there so we are really looking forward to going back there."
