‘My best feeling’ – Sheffield United’s Oli McBurnie opens up on ‘unbelievable’ Scotland heroics

Oli McBurnie says Scotland’s penalty shoot-out victory over Serbia in midweek was his ‘best feeling in football’.

The Sheffield United striker took the fourth spot-kick in Belgrade to help his side book their place in the finals of a major tournament for the first time in 22 years, after the match finished all square after extra-time.

It was a huge moment for the 24-year-old, who has not found life easy with the national side.

He received huge criticism from the fanbase after he withdrew from selection in the summer to focus on getting fit for United after a injury-hit pre-season.

However, he will now be lining up at the delayed Euro2020 next summer after David Marshall’s final penalty save secured their place at the tournament.

McBurnie, who was in the starting line-up for this afternoon’s UEFA Nations League match in Slovakia, says it’s a moment he will never forget.

“I was ******** myself!” he told the Scottish media.

“We had practised penalties in the build-up and the gaffer made us take a penalty every day after training.

“I knew where I was going to go if it went to penalties and it was just about keeping your head. We knew that if we scored all our five we Marshall would save one.

“Everyone says it’s about picking your spot and going with it and thankfully enough the keeper’s gone the wrong way and it was a nice feeling after that.

“It’s more nerve-wracking in penalties but it’s a special feeling afterwards to win it in such a way like that. We showed great resilience to come back from the setback of conceding late on to bounce back and win on penalties.

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“We all enjoyed ourselves. All the staff as well as the players. It was more of a relief if anything, it has been such a long time coming.

“We always had the belief we had the quality in this team to take us to a major tournament but to actually do it is my best feeling that I have ever experienced in football.

“The celebrations went late into the night and everyone deserved that.

“It was an unbelievable night for us all.”

McBurnie, known for his beard, has been sporting a new look in recent weeks.

He has shaved his trademark facial hair off and swapped in for a moustache.

He says he felt it was about time he went for something different and after scoring the penalty, it is staying on for now.

“It’s a day-to-day thing.

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“It could come off at any time.

“I wanted to get rid of the beard, I was getting a bit bored of it and I thought why not go for the tash.

“I think I would look about 11 years old if I didn’t have any facial hair, but we will see how long it lasts. If I’d have missed that penalty it would have definitely been off, but it’s staying around a bit longer.”