It was said, on the eve of Euro 2020, that Billy Gilmour could be Scotland’s very own Phil Foden at this tournament.
On the evidence of Friday night at Wembley, Gareth Southgate will be hoping Foden can be England’s answer to Gilmour.
If you had woken in a daze on Saturday morning — plenty did north of the border — and been told that a 5ft 7in, ball-playing midfielder in his early 20s had bossed the meeting between the Auld Enemy, you would be forgiven for assuming that it was Foden who had emerged as the star.
Billy Gilmour was superb in his first start for Scotland as they held England to a goalless draw
Gilmour was said to be Scotland's Phil Foden before Euro 2020 but outshone him at Wembley
Not so. Rather, it was Chelsea’s Gilmour, making his first international start, who won the acclaim of admirers from Jose Mourinho to Andy Murray, the latter labelling his compatriot his ‘idol’ following the 0-0 draw that means Scotland will almost certainly make the second round if they beat Croatia on Tuesday.
Murray’s feelings reflect the fondness of the nation for the unassuming 20-year-old from Ayrshire, whose first thought after full time was to video call his nan.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke gave the people what they wanted when, after their opening defeat by Czech Republic, he made the call to include Gilmour from the off at Wembley.
Ninety minutes later and Mourinho was leading the tributes.
‘The kid Gilmour in midfield, he made the difference,’ he said on talkSPORT. ‘He was fantastic. He was always moving, he was always showing himself. He wanted the ball. He was turning under pressure, he linked the game much, much better.’
Mourinho was right, Gilmour was much better than anyone in a white jersey, including Foden and his more experienced and celebrated club-mate, Mason Mount.
Scotland boss Steve Clarke was vindicated in his decision to start Gilmour against England
And there is an interesting parallel with England. For Clarke’s decision to start Gilmour was in keeping with the wishes and demands of critics and supporters alike, as was the recall
