Scotland hero Hanley relives 'mental' World Cup glory night - and reveals details of short-notice SOS
Easter Road favourite on joking with Shankland and joy for ex-Norwich pal
Scotland World Cup hero Grant Hanley has revealed details of the late SOS that saw him thrust into the front line for one of the greatest games in Hampden history. And the Hibs ace admits the scale of Tuesday night’s achievement only really hit home when he started to talking to people outside of the national team bubble.
Hanley revealed that he’d been given almost ZERO preparation time for his promotion from bench to starting line-up as Steve Clarke’s men eventually – and after much drama – pulled out a stunning 4-2 win over Denmark. Victory guaranteed Scotland a place at the World Cup for the first time since 1998.
Explaining that he’d been completely blindsided when former Hearts gaffer Steven Naismith – a key member of Clarke’s backroom staff – called him over just minutes before the end of the pre-match warm-up, the veteran defender shared tales of joking with current Jambos skipper Lawrence Shankland as the game swung back and forth. He’s also said the fight to be on the plane to Canada, Mexico and the USA starts immediately – in his case, at home to Dundee this afternoon.
Veteran defender opens up on ‘unbelievable experience’
Describing the ‘surreal’ experience of stepping in so late after Rangers centre-half John Souttar pulled up injured, Hanley admitted: “It was just an unbelievable experience. And even still, after two or three days down the line, it probably still hasn't really sunk in.
“The call came late, aye, just about as late as you could get. And there had been nothing during the day to make me think it was going to happen.
“It was obviously big Soapy (Souttar) who felt his calf late on in the warm-up. Aye, it was literally the last bits of prep and it was: ‘Get yourself ready.’ That was a challenge.
“I think the subs, we were just doing some passing. It was actually Naisy who shouted me over. He does the back four work before the game and I thought he maybe wanted a wee bit of help with that.
“But he said: ‘John's struggling.’ I looked at John and I could tell from John's face that he really was struggling. So yeah, that’s when I got in the couple of headers, couple of sprints.
“Yeah, a couple of headers and a couple of sprints. But literally that's it. A couple of passes, a couple of headers, a couple of sprints and get ready.
“I didn’t have time to react. I literally had to just get myself going, so I had to be ready, going from the day before knowing that I wasn't going to start the game. Dealing with the disappointment of not playing in one of the biggest games I can remember, to having to get yourself ready pretty quickly.
“I think you learn over the years that it's probably a true reflection on what kind of teammate you are or how important the squad is to you when you're not playing. That's when really you need to remember the most important thing.
“Even though I was upset that I wasn't playing, I was more than aware of how important the game was. And I knew that, at some point, I could have a role to play in that. I just didn't think it would be that early in it. But mentally I was prepared.”
‘Mental’ game ‘a bit of a blur’ to man at heart of action
As ready as he might have been, the 33-year-old still couldn’t have anticipated the closing stages of a game that saw Scotland go 2-1 ahead though Shankland, lose an equaliser, snatch victory from the jaws of defeat via a Kieran Tierney screamer … and still have time for Kenny McLean’s wonder strike. On a night that had kicked off with Scott McTominay’s bicycle kick, there was barely time to draw breath.
“A wee bit of a blur to be honest,” said Hanley, when asked about the final exchanges of the contest. “It was obviously mental. I think when Shanks scored and then obviously they scored again quite quickly.
“I think it was actually Shanks and Fergie (Lewis Ferguson) who were next to me and sort of half-jokingly I said to them: ‘It's fine, we scored too early anyway, we've got plenty of time mate …’ But joking aside, that's sort of the belief that we have in the squad and that shows in the end, how well we come through and get results.
“You probably don't realise, or I certainly never realised how big it was or what quite we've achieved, until you step away from that and you spend time with your family. Or you're out in public and people come and speak to you and say well done and congratulate you and things like that.
“You speak to your friends and your family a day or two down the line and you think, then you really start to realise how important it was and what it means to the nation.
“I don't think we've played great in any of the games really - and we top the group. And for me that's probably more a measure of the character that's in the dressing room and the group of lads that's there because there's no denying the quality that's within the squad.
“You've got boys that are playing at the highest level possible. To go and get results when you're not really playing well, that shows the determination of the lads and the character that's in the dressing room.
“It's just, I can't explain. I've never been in a dressing room or a team where it's had as many humble, down to earth boys.
“And that starts with the manager, he's obviously put that in place but the lads as well. It's just, I don't know, really hard to put into words how special that dressing room is.”
Kenny McLean wonder goal a special moment
As close as he’s become to almost everyone in that group, a few more lasting friendships made the game’s final act all the more special. Hanley’s bond with McLean meant he took a unique thrill in seeing the oft-underestimated midfielder beat Kasper Schmeichel with one of the greatest goals in the history of Scottish football.
“I’m absolutely over the moon for Kenny, who had a situation similar to mine where he comes off the bench,” said the former Norwich star. “Even putting the goal aside, the performance he put in, I thought he was unbelievable.
“I think players say it quite regularly in podcasts and things like that where it's a bit more relaxed, how good a player Kenny is. Kenny's the best player in training every day. I've also spent a lot of time with Norwich so I know his quality, I know how good a player he is.
“And I'm not saying he's underappreciated or people don't realise that. But for Kenny to come of the bench and put in that performance and get that goal, that’s a memory and a goal that will be shown forever.”
Hanley’s Hibs team-mates had decorated the home dressing room at East Mains with Scotland flags for his return to club business this week. And, yes, there has already been some banter about the potential of Clarke’s men being drawn against Australia; Hanley delivers a mock-horrified “no comment” when asked if he fancies six months of Martin Boyle trying to noise him up about their showdown in some corner of North America.
Right now, he’s focused on keeping his place at Hibs. Because he knows how hard everyone – including a few of his club mates – will be working in pursuit of a World Cup spot.
“For probably everybody that's in that squad, that'll be on their mind all season,” he admitted, adding: “And don't get me wrong, the next camp's not until March, there's a lot of football to be played between now and then so, obviously club football will be the most important thing now - but everybody knows what's coming.
“As much as you try and not think about it and not put too much pressure on it, you know what the goal is next summer. I'm sure there'll be loads of players that will fancy their chances of being involved in that squad so, yeah, that'll be interesting.
“If you're not playing at club level and you're not performing well at club level, then you're not going to have a chance of getting into the international team. There's too many good players. The work to be in that World Cup squad starts now.”