Scottish midfielder John McGuin has asked teammate Stephen O’Donnell to aggressively praise Jack Grealish’s appearance in Friday’s decisive Euro 2020 game.
England were held to a 0–0 draw by the Scots, McGuin excelled in the middle of Wembley Park and the early visitors felt unlucky not to come up with three points.
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Stephen O’Donnell had the measurements of Jack Grealish, thanks to his compliments on his calves and his good looks
This leaves Steve Clark’s men with one point, to beat Croatia to secure qualifying, while the Three Lions have four points and can win the group with a win over Czech Republic.
Grealish started on the bench in Capital, before being replaced by Phil Foden in the second half, to the concern of many supporters.
The Aston Villa midfielder was turned down by O’Donnell after England looked for a winner despite their best efforts, and it seems McGuin played a key role.
O’Donnell, who has traded his way to Motherwell in the Scottish Premiership, revealed that the Aston Villa midfielder told him to say positive things rather than provoke the 25-year-old.
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The Motherwell defender has collided with Grealish on several occasions at Wembley
“I was a little fed up at this point in the game, he was just coming on, he was nice and calm,” O’Donnell told Scotland Headquarters Live.
“Usually when the new winger comes in, when you’re a little tired, I was like ‘I just need to hit him here’, because I was fed up with him and was trying to shoot me. That’s why I gave it a blow.
“Luckily John McGuin gave me some advice, he said you should nibble on his ear if he comes, but don’t be critical, be complimentary.
“So the whole time he was at it I used to tell him how nice and loving his calves are and ask him how he made his hair look like that.”
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Aston Villa captain never skips leg day
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McGinn knew exactly how to destroy Grealish and had to kill him mercifully
“He (McGuin) said that if you tell him he’s desperate or hit him really hard, he gets up and gives it back to you. Maybe that was the advantage over Jack Grealish the other night.
England will take on the Czechs at 8pm on talkSPORT on Tuesday, while Scotland together play former World Cup finalist Croatia at Hampden Park.