After being withdrawn from front-line duty on Thursday night Kieran Tierney was living the Tartan Army foot soldier’s dream as he celebrated Scotland’s last gasp win with one of the veterans of the battles of his own childhood.
The Celtic defender was among those who had to make way as manager Gordon Strachan successfully deployed his reinforcements, Tierney’s replacement Ikechi Anya firing over the cross ball that fellow substitute Chris Martin harried Martin Skrtel into putting past his own goal-keeper with a minute of normal time remaining.
“I was just like any other fan when I came off for the last five minutes and I celebrated like the supporters when we scored,” Tierney admitted.
“The manager brought on Kech to be the more attacking player wide on the right… and what a change it was. The manager has called it spot on.
““Kech put a great ball into a dangerous area and we got the winner.
“It was a brilliant feeling and the boys dug in deep.
“The game lasts over 90 minutes and you need to be prepared to go right to the end as you can score at any second.”
Tierney admitted to delighted at finding himself wrapped in the embrace of Darren Fletcher, Scotland’s captain on the night who made his international debut when the youngster was a six-year-old primary school pupil.
“Fletch was sitting in front of me. He was going mental on the bench and he turned round and cuddled me,” Tierney revealed.
What has clearly become a tight-knit squad is now looking ahead to the decisive final pool match with buurgeoning confidence.
“The momentum we have in the squad just now and the team spirit is great,” said Tierney.
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