Stephen O’Donnell joins Scotland’s Euro Stories with Superscoreboard

KEEP calm and carry on — straight into the history books.

Stephen O’Donnell reckons Steve Clarke has the perfect temperament to lead his Scotland stars beyond their Euro 2024 group.

5

5

O’Donnell was in the Euro 2020 squad which drew with England at Wembley but fell just short of a unique achievement.

Three years on, he believes Clarke, his boss at Kilmarnock and with the national team, has the words to inspire his stars to new heights.

O’Donnell said: “Steve keeps his cards close to his chest.

“He will occasionally show signs of love or signs of passion or care. But the majority of times he’s just calm.

“In the Czech Republic game at the last Euros, I took a touch out of the park. Obviously, I didn’t mean it.

“A lot of managers would say, ‘That’s hopeless’ or, ‘You’re brutal’. There was a little heckle from the crowd.

“It was 0-0, quite early on. I was a bit more nervous than normal. I ran back past him and wondered what he’d say. He just said, ‘Try and not do that again!’ and then smiled.

“Instantly it changed me. It just settled me.

“He knows when to come for you and when to put an arm around you. He is a great manager.”

Motherwell wing-back O’Donnell started all three group games in the delayed finals in 2021.

He starred against Jack Grealish and Co in the scoreless stalemate at Wembley.

Ultimately, home Hampden defeats to the Czechs and Croatia cost Scotland dear.

But he feels the experience will stand the Scots in good stead for a Euros return this month.

And he reckons the level-headed gaffer is the ideal man to lead them again.

SCOTLAND’S EURO STORIES

New podcast with Superscoreboard

SCOTLAND’S Euro Stories begin today in The Scottish Sun with Euro 2020 hero Stephen O’Donnell.

Over the next two weeks, SunSport will look back at Scotland’s adventures at Euro 92, Euro 96 and Euro 2020.

In conjunction with Clyde One Superscoreboard, we’ll speak to six heroes who starred for the national team at those finals.

You can see the full video interviews online at www.thescottishsun.co.uk and www.youtube.com/@TheScottishSunSPORT

Episode #1 with Stephen O’Donnell is live NOW – click HERE to watch the FULL episode

O’Donnell added: “He is pretty calm and sees the full picture. He’ll see if you’re doing the right thing for the team versus the right thing for yourself.

“He sees the picture and knows how he wants to play.

“I think the boys will be able to handle things better if it goes a wee bit wrong.

“Losing the first goal against the Czechs the last time did rattle us a wee bit.

“The whole occasion — that first game at a major finals in 20-odd years and being at Hampden — didn’t help.

“I’m fully expecting the squad to be in a far better place with that experience.

“You learn from those experiences and the squad is looking brilliant.

“You are not playing against mugs at a Euros. These are good sides.

“Look at Switzerland and Hungary this time. Don’t just have it that Germany are a good team and the rest are rubbish.”

O’Donnell, who won 26 caps under Alex McLeish and Clarke, will always remember the Wembley shut-out.

And he also recalls the chance which might have won the game against the Auld Enemy when he was denied by England keeper Jordan Pickford as history beckoned.

He said: “We knew we needed to get something from the England game and there was pressure on us.

5

“I’d been on the Wembley tour when I was playing down at Luton. It’s iconic and a spectacular stadium.

“I can remember Raheem Sterling started the game, Marcus Rashford came on and then Grealish. I was bamboozled.

“We had a few chances as well. It was some game.

“Considering they got to the final, we competed with them.

“We played a fair bit of football. We were able for 90 minutes to knock them off their perch.

“My chance? When I caught it, I saw the headlines.

“It was an iconic moment for myself. If it had gone in, I might have walked off!”

Even though he didn’t find the net, the last Euros represent a career high for O’Donnell. And he has retained some valued mementos from those games three years ago.

He revealed: “My wee boy isn’t allowed to forget about it!

“I have a Grealish top and an Ivan Perisic top from the Croatia game.

“The Euros will be kept in his head when his pals tell him his dad was rubbish!

“I also got Eden Hazard’s top when we played over in Belgium with Scotland.”

This Euro qualification was fairly stress-free for the Scots after the drama of reaching Euro 2020.

O’Donnell played his part in the 1-1 play-off final draw with Serbia in Belgrade.

Clarke hooked him moments before the penalty shootout success during the Covid-19 lockdown.

5

But he recalls being front and centre in the never-to-be-forgotten celebrations as Clarke’s men bridged a 22-year gap at major tournaments.

He said: “The manager trusts me until penalties. He knows I fall apart.

I came off before the penalties in the Israel game too!

“I think he realised that was a good omen so he took me off again.

“I was raging during the shootout though as the Serbian FA guys were all booing our penalties.

“It was great to win in Belgrade — and the party afterwards was brilliant.

“Kieran Tierney was on the music, picking banger after banger in the hotel after the game. Kieran always did the music. I encouraged David Marshall up to do the conga and I don’t think I get enough credit for that.

“It was an amazing night. When we reached the finals, there were 12,500 inside Hampden when we arrived and that was pretty cool too.

“Driving on the bus to the stadium and seeing the fans was great.

“It was great to see the influx of Scotland tops. I like to think I played a little part in that.

“It’s great to see and it’s part of the legacy of Euro 2020.”

Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page