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SCOTLAND SQUAD FOR EURO 96

Wednesday 29 May 1996 23:02 BST
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GOALKEEPERS

Andy Goram (Rangers)

Age 32. Caps 35.

Lancashire-born of a Scots father. Would have played for England U-21 but for Howard Wilkinson "benching" him to accommodate Portsmouth's Alan Knight. Cricketer capped by Scotland against Australia (and fined by Hibs, his then-employers, for doing so). Nicknamed "Barney", as in Rubble, but excellent technique belies unathletic appearance.

Jim Leighton (Hibernian)

Age 37. Caps 74.

Bow-legged, bespectacled veteran best remembered for calamitous display for Manchester United in 1990 FA Cup final. Career resurrected with Hibs after slumming at Reading (loan) and Dundee (reserves). Likely to be second choice.

Nicky Walker (Partick Thistle)

Age 33. Caps 2.

Adonis-like heir to family shortbread and biscuit-making millions, he reputedly plays football for fun.

DEFENDERS

Tom Boyd (Celtic)

Age 30. Caps 34.

Versatile player who can operate as marker in a back three, full-back or wide midfielder. Claim to fame is that when with humble Motherwell he dispossessed the great Hagi to set up winner against Romania.

Colin Calderwood (Tottenham Hotspur)

Age 31. Caps 10. Goals 1.

Left native Stranraer for Mansfield's school of hard knocks at 17. Briefly incarcerated and then exonerated in Swindon financial scandal. Never played senior game in Scotland until first cap. Composed foil to Hendry's robust style.

Colin Hendry (Blackburn Rovers)

Age 30. Caps 17. Goals 1.

Vice-captain. Bizarre now, given his reincarnation as the human claymore, to think Dundee once regarded him as a malingerer. Tendency to charge upfield made him too indisciplined for previous manager. Craig Brown has concentrated on positive attributes, strength in tackle and in the air.

Stewart McKimmie (Aberdeen)

Age 33. Caps 37. Goals 1.

Can play sweeper, orthodox centre-half, full-back or wing-back. His goal for Scotland was winner against Argentina, then world champions. Missed plane during Euro 92 because unable to provide Uefa with urine sample.

Tosh McKinlay (Celtic)

Age 31. Caps 3.

Latecomer to international scene who paid his dues with Hearts and Dundee. May figure as left wing-back if Boyd switches to centre as Alan McLaren's replacement. Real name (unused): Thomas.

Derek Whyte (Middlesbrough)

Age 27. Caps 9.

Late replacement for injured McLaren. Pacy but not best passer out of defence. Has a daughter called Chelsea.

MIDFIELD

Craig Burley (Chelsea).

Age 24. Caps 8.

Nephew of George Burley, the Ipswich manager and ex-Scotland full-back. Passing ability and power could earn this former schoolboy basketball star a starting role on wide right. Chance to purge bad memory at Villa Park: backpass that gifted Manchester United FA Cup semi-final winner.

John Collins (Celtic)

Age 28. Caps 32. Goals 8.

Signs for Monaco after finals in three-year, pounds 20,000-a-week tax-free deal. Dubbed "Jean-Claude" and "the man who won the bank at Monte Carlo". Clever presence on McAllister's left if seldom the provider of a killer ball.

Scot Gemmill (Nottingham Forest)

Age 25. Caps 6.

Son of Archie, though has more hair and English accent. Industrious, positive fringe player and aficionado of "indie" gigs at Nottingham's Rock City (Favourite album: A Northern Soul by The Verve).

Eoin Jess (Coventry City)

Age 25. Caps 11. Goals 1.

Bright, converted striker from scenic fishing village of Portsoy. His Christian name (pronounced Ian) has been known to make Clive Tyldesley wake in a sweat. In for injured Paul McStay.

Stuart McCall (Rangers)

Age 31. Caps 33. Goals 1.

Yorkshire-born and even closer than Goram to England U-21 cap. Told to warm up but feigned deafness when ordered on (it was the last minute). Then switched allegiance to father's country. Combative if prone to follow the ball rather than holding position. Ambition: to manage Bradford City.

Gary McAllister (Leeds United)

Age 31. Caps 40. Goals 4.

Captain and class act. Ex-Scotland youth golfer who now brings similar range and precision to playmaking. Rod Stewart named his son Kyle McAllister in his honour. Relishing chance to redeem Wembley disaster with Leeds and place on centre stage after sitting out Italia 90 and playing wide in Euro 92.

Billy McKinlay (Blackburn Rovers)

Age 27. Caps 17. Goals 4.

In his Dundee United days, "Badger" used to help out on parents' jewellery stall in Glasgow street market. Seeking to show club and country there is more to his game than long-range shooting.

FORWARDS

Scott Booth (Aberdeen)

Age 24. Caps 11. Goals 5.

Quick, strong player who was Brown's declared first-choice striker until injury-hit season. Manager describes his international scoring record as "in the Lineker class". Good finals could earn move to Premiership or Rangers.

Gordon Durie (Rangers)

Age 30. Caps 28. Goals 5.

After two cap-free years "Juke Box" suddenly finds himself Scotland's best hope of goals. Finished another injury-affected season with dazzling hat-trick in Cup final and scored again in US on Sunday. Came off after aggravating neck injury...sustained in his sleep.

Kevin Gallacher (Blackburn Rovers)

Age 29. Caps 21. Goals 2.

Glasses give him a studious look, though as likely to have his head in Celtic View newspaper as a book. Pacy attacker who is closest Scotland have to a winger. Fought back from two broken legs in 18 months.

Darren Jackson (Hibernian)

Age 29. Caps 12.

Once sold by Meadowbank Thistle to Newcastle. Hung out with Paul Gascoigne and now has dog called Gazza. Can slot in up front or in midfield but short of the highest class.

Ally McCoist (Rangers)

Age 33. Caps 51. Goals 18.

Dubbed "The Judge" during Souness era at Ibrox because he was on bench so often. Now "Golden Bollocks", though Midas touch failed to bring a goal at Italia 90, Euro 92 or in the Champions' League. Goaded by Goram into having locks cropped in US, to a transatlantic ticking off from wife.

John Spencer (Chelsea)

Age 25. Caps 8.

Became a father on eve of American trip but no truth in the rumour that child is to be christened Boro (see Derek Whyte). Bubbly, Subbuteo-sized striker used to playing off the front for club, and confident of playing with Vialli rather than making way for him. Seeking first international goal.

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