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Patrick Vieira was full of praise for Billy Gilmour’s ‘personality’ and ‘technical ability’ after Scotland held England to a goalless draw at Euro 2020 and backed the youngster to go on and have a huge future in the game.
Gilmour was handed his first senior international start in Friday’s Group D encounter and the 20-year-old shone at the heart of Scotland’s midfield to come away from Wembley with the man-of-the-match award.
The result ensured Scotland’s chances of reaching the knockout stage remained intact and the Chelsea man will hope to continue his run in the side on Tuesday when Steve Clarke’s men return to the stadium to face Croatia.
Gilmour struggled for regular playing time at Chelsea last season and was heavily linked with a loan move away from Stamford Bridge in January but former Arsenal and France star Vieira is confident the diminutive midfielder is the real deal.
‘I think he had a terrific game,’ Vieira – who won the Euros back in 2000 – told ITV Sport following the stalemate.
‘I really love his technical ability. He loves to get on the ball.
‘He’s not quite physical or really strong. But his personality allowed him to get on the ball and make the game from the back.
‘His team-mates aren’t scared to give him the ball because they know how good he is on the ball.
‘I think he has a really good future ahead of him.’
Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes Gareth Southgate is lacking a player with Gilmour’s attributes in midfield and feels Friday’s match would have been a ‘sobering experience’ for the likes of Kalvin Phillips and Declan Rice.
‘His temperament is fantastic, he accepts the ball, watching those clips, it’s a sobering experience for England,’ the former England and Manchester United right-back said.
‘Gilmour, [John] McGinn and [Callum] McGregor were better on the ball than England midfield players but not just that, [Kieran] Tierney, [Grant] Hanley and [Scott] McTominay at the back were better on the ball passing it into midfield, [John] Stones, [Tyrone] Mings, Rice and Phillips struggled to get that build-up play right last night.
‘Gilmour was always available, England don’t have that player.
‘People might point at Kalvin Phillips but he is not as good on the ball, at accepting the ball, as Gilmour. Technically, he’s a little bit better.’
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