Aston Villa captain John McGinn suffered a miserable opening Euro 2024 game when Scotland were thrashed by Germany last Friday.
This wasn’t a case of fans expecting Scotland to win, but not many thought they would get humiliated in such a fashion and lose 5-1.
That game and performance by Scotland against Germany resulted in the players, including Aston Villa’s very own star midfielder, receiving verbal pelters far and wide.
It put extra pressure on players like John McGinn for his side’s 1-1 draw against Switzerland at Euro 2024 on Wednesday.
After just five minutes, James McFadden highlighted how McGinn was looking like a ‘totally different player’, as he told Match of the Day on BBC One.
Villa fans will know about how their all-action midfielder plays with so much energy and aggression, so if he is off it slightly, then it’s very noticeable.
But McFadden was lauding McGinn throughout the game and how he was ‘at his best’ against a very difficult Swiss team.
Led by Granit Xhaka, they beat Hungary in their opening Euro 2024 match, so a win would have all but sealed their passage into the knockout stages.
But this point for the Scots has kept their hopes alive of reaching the knockout stages, with McGinn’s performance analysed and praised.
John McGinn helps Scotland to a point against Switzerland
“Already tonight, John McGinn looks like a totally different player to the one that played on Friday night,” said McFadden after just five minutes. “Doing what we are so used to seeing. Using that body well. He is desperate to atone for his performance on Friday night.
Later on in the game: “Excellent from Scotland. Just listen to the noise from the Scotland fans. Appreciating that. John McGinn at his best.
And then when McGinn was subbed in the 90th minute: “The boot up the backside certainly helped, John McGinn. Not that he would have needed it. I know the type of character that he is. He wouldn’t have needed it. He wouldn’t have needed anyone to tell him. But that was more like the John McGinn we all know and love.”
John McGinn in the Champions League with Aston Villa
It has been a tremendous 12 months for the man donning Villa’s armband and not many would have predicted this.
Under Steven Gerrard, like many of the players, McGinn looked like a lost soul and many were questioning if his time was up at the club.
READ MORE: How Aston Villa’s first five Premier League fixtures compare to their Champions League rivals
But in typical style, he clawed and fought his way back, including guiding the team to the Champions League next season.
And now, a player who was with Villa in the Championship, will lead them out for their first Champions League game and it’s going to be very much deserved.
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