Scott McTominay like Queen Elizabeth – and the comparison, in Scotland, might even hold up. The Bank of Scotland (one of the oldest credit institutions in the United Kingdom) has in fact printed a 20-pound banknote with the bicycle kick of the Napoli midfielder. Not just any one, but rather the one performed against Denmark in the decisive match for qualification to the World Cup in America, the one that in effect handed first place in the group to the Scots and sent the Danes to the playoff. A playoff then lost, while Scotland returned to the World Cup.
To be precise, it is a limited-edition piece that celebrates Scotland’s return to the World Cup 28 years after the last time. The Bank of Scotland has decided to print only 100 examples of it: fifty of these will be purchasable through auctions for collectors, a prize draw and in two “pop-areas” in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Where the fans will be able to try to guess a combination of numbers to open a safe and get their hands on one of the banknotes. The proceeds of this operation will be donated to Crisis Scotland, a charitable organisation that looks after homeless people. For Scott McTominay, seeing his own technical gesture depicted on a banknote of his own country is a reason for great pride: «Moments like this belong to everyone who follows the team», said the Napoli midfielder. «Seeing it on a Scottish banknote is incredibly special».
Qualification for the next World Cup is a very great result for the country. Words of pride also came from Emma Noble, chair of the Scottish executive committee of the Bank of Scotland, who wanted to seal the moment forever: «Achieving qualification in such a spectacular way is a moment that the fans will never forget», she declared, «and we wanted to celebrate it in a way that had its roots in Scottish identity». With McTominay’s bicycle kick imprinted on the banknotes, the Bank of Scotland almost seems to want to stop history at that day: «Scott’s bicycle kick is already considered one of the most beautiful goals ever in the history of national football», added Noble. «It was a privilege to work with him to bring this project to life in such a unique way, and we are grateful to him for his support in the fundraising in favour of Crisis, an organisation committed to ending the problem of homelessness throughout the country».
Scotland will inaugurate its World Cup by facing Haiti on 14 June, before then taking on Morocco and Brazil. A dream also for many Scottish youngsters, who have never seen their national team at the most important appointment at a footballing level. And for those who still did not believe it, the advice is to buy one of those banknotes. To touch with one’s own hand a moment destined to last forever.