John McGinn tells Homeless team to do ‘opposite of what we did this summer’

SCOTLAND hero John McGinn delivered a good luck message to our homeless World Cup players yesterday – then told them: “Just don’t do what we did.”

The midfield ace was at Hampden yesterday to meet the squad jetting off to the finals in South Korea later this month.

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But after Scotland’s disastrous campaign at the Euros in Germany this summer – where we picked up just one point from nine – the Aston Villa star is praying they do better than Steve Clarke’s men.

John, 29, said: “I said to them ‘just do the opposite’ of what we did this summer obviously.

“But I’ve been keeping an eye out on the Homeless World Cup since it was staged in Scotland (2016) as it gives the players an amazing platform and opportunity no matter what happens.

“Everyone is proud of them already and hopefully they will do the country proud over in South Korea.”

The eight-man homeless team will join 64 teams from 49 nations in Seoul – the first time the tourney has been staged in Asia in its 25 year history.

And former HWC player David Duke – the founder and chief executive of Street Soccer Scotland – insisted McGinn’s pep talk had given his boys a “massive boost”.

David, 44, from Govan, Glasgow, said: “You can see the way that John interacts with the guys is the same way he talks to his own teammates – just having a laugh and making them feel relaxed.

“But he was genuinely interested in asking what their involvement was and just chatting about the games ahead.

“He’s a great footballer first and foremost, but by coming to see the boys off it shows what a great person he is too.”

And Scotland’s delighted HWC goalkeeper Kieran Black, 24, from Maryhill, Glasgow added: “I had never met a real player before, but he was just one of the guys with us.

“It was great he gave us a send-off as it shows he supports Scotland no matter what level you’re playing at.”