Sir Kenny Dalglish: After our 22 years of hurt, this is the chance for Steve’s boys to be Tartan Army legends

Thursday night presents the current Scotland squad with the opportunity to enter the history books.

Over the past 22 years of trying to reach a major Finals, we’ve had a few near misses, such as losing play-off games to England in 1999 and Holland in 2003.

We also had really good campaigns for the 2008 Euros, and for the 2018 World Cup Finals.

And who could forget the highs of James McFadden’s screamer in the 1-0 win against France in Paris, or Gary Caldwell scoring a winner against the French at Hampden?

Or the afternoon when Leigh Griffiths had the whole country on its feet when he rattled in two exceptional free-kicks against England at Hampden?

But we’ve never been able to get over the line.

Now, though, we stand just 90 minutes away from ending that unwanted and distressing run in Serbia on Thursday.

It is in our own hands. We don’t need a favour from any other nation. Beat Serbia and we are at the Euros next summer.

What a great position to be in.

If we emerge successful, then the celebrations that followed those wonder goals in the past won’t come close to how it will be in midweek, despite social distancing and the pubs being closed.

Even if it’s a tap in from two yards out, or a deflection off a player’s backside, we will party like we’ve never partied before.

So the whole nation is behind Steve Clarke and his players for this game.

They go into it respectful of Serbia, but they will not step out on to the pitch with any fear or inferiority complex.

We have some fine players in the team, and we all hope that the likes of John McGinn, Andy Robertson, Callum McGregor, Kieran Tierney, Ryan Jack, Scott McTominay and Lyndon Dykes all come through their club fixtures this weekend unscathed.

We also hope that there are no Covid-19 incidents at the training camp in the build-up.

We have a good squad, but there is not enough depth to cope with a few key call-offs.

The 90 minutes will be tough, really tough. Of that there is no doubt.

But Serbia know they face an almighty challenge to defeat Steve and our players.

The recent run of results and form has been very encouraging for Scotland

The team is eight games unbeaten – the best run in 32 years – and they have been recording clean sheets.

There is cohesion in the way the team plays, and there is also a clear pattern and an understanding of what Steve and his coaching staff want.

It’s now a case of taking all of that out on to the pitch in Belgrade, and having the belief to win the game.

As Steve stated when he named his squad last Tuesday, this will be a real squad effort.

There will be more to this than the starting line-up.

Of course, it would be great to be in cruise control with 20 minutes to go.

But, if not, we have to keep ourselves in the game for as long as possible.

Then, it could be that Leigh Griffiths comes off the bench for the last 15 or 20 minutes to produce a special moment.

He is capable of smacking one home in the blink of an eye.

And we can’t rule out the possibility of it going all the way to a penalty shoot-out.

Having tasted victory under such tense circumstances against Israel last month, for me that wouldn’t be overly concerning.

The players are capable of handling that kind of pressure – and I’d fancy us if it comes to that.

Overall, if it doesn’t go our way in Belgrade, it will not be down to a lack of effort or preparation, certainly not on Steve’s part.

This is the biggest game of his managerial career, and I wish him the very best of luck.

He is a good man, and has achieved very good things in his time in charge.

Steve has most definitely restored belief in the squad, and made them hard to score against.

They also know what it’s like to go on an unbeaten run.

Let’s all hope we are unbeaten in nine games by the time the ref blows for full-time on Thursday.

If that turns out to be the case, Steve and his players will have achieved legendary status in the eyes of the Tartan Army.

Come on, Scotland!