IT was not the kind of 50th bash Kenny McLean had in mind for Hampden.
The Scotland ace wanted a knees-up against Greece to celebrate the milestone but it turned into a boos-up.
In time McLean will be able to take a step back and see the bigger picture, and recognise the fact he's just joined a select band of players who have claimed spots on the Hampden Hall of Fame.
But right now? The shindig went a bit sour as the Greeks ran amok and the Tartan Army voiced their disapproval.
There were plenty of moments in the previous 49 caps for McLean to cling on to, even if it was difficult in the here and now.
He said: "It's a moment that I've been looking at for the last few games now.
"It's obviously a massive privilege.
"To reach 50 in this match is obviously bittersweet.
"Further down the line I look back and I really reflect on my international career but to get to 50 is a really proud moment for me and my family and stuff like that.
"It's bittersweet, obviously it's a massive achievement for myself and it's no fluke getting to 50. I've worked hard to get there.
"Thankfully the manager's put a lot of faith in me and given me a lot of caps and always relied on me.
"I've always tried to show up as much as I can and do as much as I can for the team and for the squad.
"As I say, it's a very proud moment. There's maybe 40 players or whatever that's reached that, so to be in that minority is pretty special."
The actual match was anything but special though. Scotland have hit some great heights under Steve Clarke but this one seemed like a serious low.
It was three but it really could have been even more as Greece soaked up an early storm and then sliced the Scots to ribbons.
The punters were not chuffed either. There were boos at half-time, jeers when Clarke hooked Billy Gilmour inside an hour and the folks left at the end vented as well.
McLean said: "If you put a performance in like that you need to take the criticism that comes with it.
"We're not going to shy away from the performance. We know it wasn't good enough, so fans are going to voice their opinions. That's how it is.
"We've done so much to get here. They'll be frustrated and disappointed the way we are. Obviously, it's not nice to hear but we get their frustration and we get their anger.
"It's one we need to take because it is a really disappointing night."
McLean refused to sugar coat it. He said: "Disappointment is the biggest word that we can use for this because we were in a decent enough position going in.
"We knew the qualities that they had, especially after the second half on Thursday. But we gave them a lot of what they got.
"They obviously scored three goals but a lot of it was down to us and the way we went about it.
"That was the most disappointing thing because, yes, they were good finishes and there was some good play.
"It's just we seem to feel that we gave them the goals."
Perhaps the rage...
The Scotland ace wanted a knees-up against Greece to celebrate the milestone but it turned into a boos-up.
In time McLean will be able to take a step back and see the bigger picture, and recognise the fact he's just joined a select band of players who have claimed spots on the Hampden Hall of Fame.
But right now? The shindig went a bit sour as the Greeks ran amok and the Tartan Army voiced their disapproval.
There were plenty of moments in the previous 49 caps for McLean to cling on to, even if it was difficult in the here and now.
He said: "It's a moment that I've been looking at for the last few games now.
"It's obviously a massive privilege.
"To reach 50 in this match is obviously bittersweet.
"Further down the line I look back and I really reflect on my international career but to get to 50 is a really proud moment for me and my family and stuff like that.
"It's bittersweet, obviously it's a massive achievement for myself and it's no fluke getting to 50. I've worked hard to get there.
"Thankfully the manager's put a lot of faith in me and given me a lot of caps and always relied on me.
"I've always tried to show up as much as I can and do as much as I can for the team and for the squad.
"As I say, it's a very proud moment. There's maybe 40 players or whatever that's reached that, so to be in that minority is pretty special."
The actual match was anything but special though. Scotland have hit some great heights under Steve Clarke but this one seemed like a serious low.
It was three but it really could have been even more as Greece soaked up an early storm and then sliced the Scots to ribbons.
The punters were not chuffed either. There were boos at half-time, jeers when Clarke hooked Billy Gilmour inside an hour and the folks left at the end vented as well.
McLean said: "If you put a performance in like that you need to take the criticism that comes with it.
"We're not going to shy away from the performance. We know it wasn't good enough, so fans are going to voice their opinions. That's how it is.
"We've done so much to get here. They'll be frustrated and disappointed the way we are. Obviously, it's not nice to hear but we get their frustration and we get their anger.
"It's one we need to take because it is a really disappointing night."
McLean refused to sugar coat it. He said: "Disappointment is the biggest word that we can use for this because we were in a decent enough position going in.
"We knew the qualities that they had, especially after the second half on Thursday. But we gave them a lot of what they got.
"They obviously scored three goals but a lot of it was down to us and the way we went about it.
"That was the most disappointing thing because, yes, they were good finishes and there was some good play.
"It's just we seem to feel that we gave them the goals."
Perhaps the rage...
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 24, 2025