Scott Bain says he’s ready for Scotland start and to do Falkirk proud after deserved recall
Scott Bain believes he can be Scotland No 1 for crucial World Cup qualifiers as stopper hopes to do Falkirk proud.
Scott Bain believes he is in the perfect frame of mind to represent his country after a stunning start to life as Falkirk’s No 1 in the Scottish Premiership.
And the 33-year-old goalkeeper, who joined John McGlynn’s newly-promoted side in the summer after seven years with Celtic, says that he “wouldn’t be phased at all” to start Scotland’s crunch match against Greece after finding his feet again in a brilliant Bairns’ dressing room.
Having been a distant back-up for the Hoops in his final seasons at the champions, Bain decided that it was time to move on with the goal of being a first-choice goalkeeper again. He joined McGlynn’s back-to-back SPFL title winners in June and swiftly secured the No 1 spot from Nicky Hogarth after the Premier Sports Cup group stages. So far, Bain has been crucial to Falkirk’s excellent start to life back in the top flight - impressing in all 11 of the Bairns’ fixtures so far.
Falkirk has revived Bain’s career
Proud Bain told the Falkirk Herald that he is loving being a footballer again in a vibrant dressing room: “These boys have been together for a long time and they are able to have a laugh together, everyone is so comfortable together. They have a laugh everyday and take the mickey out of each other. It is keeping me young! As much as I am pushing 34 this month, I am the type of person who wants to right in the middle of the action and be involved in the chaos. At Falkirk, the boys have really struck a perfect balance between being serious on the pitch and learning and focusing on the games off it but also being to decompress during the downtime and enjoy the fun side of being a footballer.
"It's been great to be part of Falkirk's modern history. So many things have happened already: our first win in the Premiership in so many years, back-to-back wins in the Premiership in so many years, and now to be the club's first Scotland call-up in so long is great. It is credit to the club and the manager John McGlynn really. They saw something in me despite the fact that I hadn't played in such a long period of time. They took a bit of a chance on me and while I am away it's all about representing Falkirk the best that I can do.”
Bain only managed eight appearances in his final four seasons with Celtic but he’s already surpassed that in four months of competitive fixtures at Falkirk. And with that in mind, the former Dundee goalkeeper says that his confidence is sky high and that he is ready to start in Piraeus next Saturday against Greece if selected by national team boss Steve Clarke. He’ll be going up against Heart veteran Craig Gordon and Rangers stopper Liam Kelly - who both aren’t playing first-team football - for the No 1 spot.
"No I wouldn't be phased at all,” he revealed. “I'm in a really good place. I think after the first couple of league games I got really comfortable with my set-up in terms of what I like to do before games and in the warm-up. I am going into matches feeling really comfortable and feeling so positive.""And being confident is the key for footballers I think.”
Looking back his previous three Scotland caps, which came over five years ago with his last coming in a 2-0 away win against San Marino in March 2019, Bain says that he is “so proud” to have represented his country - even if he doesn’t get to again this month with the national team also facing Denmark at Hampden with hopes of automatic qualification to next summer’s World Cup still very much on.
His three Scotland showings couldn’t have been more different. Bain’s debut came as a second-half substitute in a 1-0 defeat away to Mexico in a altitude friendly during Alex McLeish’s reign. He then started both of the Scots’ opening Euro 2020 qualifiers - which were a harrowing 4-0 defeat in Kazakhstan followed by a routine 2-0 win in San Marino. Unsurprisingly, Bain didn’t mention much about that night in Astana but looking back on his previous caps he recalled the madness of Mexico and the fear of losing a goal to minnows San Marino and a nightmare competitive first start in Astana three days earlier.
Bain recalls crazy Scotland debut
"I always remember the Mexico game,” he said. “It was the match just before they were heading off to the World Cup. I was coming on at half time and they had a full on carnival on the pitch! Trying to warm up in the altitude was really difficult. The ball floated around - I can remember taking a goal kick and the ball had flown almost out for another goal kick. Honestly, I can remeber thinking just how insane it was playing football at that altitude. "It was a crazy camp. I've not actually sat down previously and really reminisced about it before. It is something I am immensely proud of my caps though.
"San Marino was the most nervous I’d honestly ever been, being worried thatthey were going to score against me! That would have been a nervous one. I'm so proud that I have caps - even if I don't get another cap again. It's still something that not many people on this planet can say, that they played for their country and it is something that I'll continue to be immensely proud of and show my kids in the future.”
Bain did make the following squad under then-new boss Clarke for matches against Cyprus and Belgium - but he was benched for David Marshall, who went on to eventually become a national team hero for his role in getting Scotland to Euro 2020 via the play-offs. The Falkirk stopper will now be linking up again with Clarke and a number of former team-mates including the likes of Kieran Tierney and Anthony Ralston.
He added: "I was then out of the squad after that for the next games against Russia and Belgium again. I've worked with the manager (Steve Clarke) before and I know how he works. It's been a while but you don't forgot when you are getting national team call-ups what it was like at the time. I'm looking forward to getting back in there."