MAX JOHNSTON walked out of the Parken Stadium clutching Mika Biereth’s No 20 Denmark jersey…
And looking for the nearest rubbish BIN!
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The Scotland substitute thought he was good pals with his former Sturm Graz team-mate.
But after the way Biereth tried to get him sent off in Friday night’s World Cup qualifier, now he isn’t so sure.
Johnston had his heart in his mouth just moments after replacing Aaron Hickey in the second half when a VAR check looked set to see him red-carded.
The former Motherwell right-back stood accused of deliberately handling the ball to prevent Biereth from running through on goal.
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German referee Daniel Siebert went across to the monitor to have a look, with the Danish frontman nipping his ear.
Thankfully, the official stuck by his original decision to show a yellow card and Johnston heaved a massive sigh of relief.
He said: “When it went to VAR my legs turned to jelly.
“I didn’t think it was a red card myself but I’m just so happy VAR saw it that way too.
“When I jumped for the ball he pushed me while I was in the air.
“The ball hit me on my sleeve, around my shoulder.
“I had just come on, so it was difficult but you have to put it behind you and I thought I managed to do that.
“But at the time I just thought, ‘You’ve got to be joking!’.
“I played alongside him at Sturm Graz too.
“I’m actually quite pally with him, but not any more!
“If he texts me after this I will not be replying to him!
“We swapped shirts after the game but I’m going to put it in the bin after that.
“He knew what he was doing, but, well, it’s part of the game.
“There are no friends on the pitch but it’s all gone now.
“It’s difficult but it is part and parcel of being a footballer.
“You need to deal with challenges and I managed to put it behind me and just get on with my job.”
Johnston, who joined Derby County last week, looked shaky after that incident but came through it to help Scotland get a good point on the road.
There were some nervy moments for the team late on.
Scott McTominay’s career
Born in Lancaster on December 8, 1996
Joined the Manchester United youth system aged five and signed his first professional contract in 2013
Made his Premier League debut against Arsenal in May 2017
McTominay went on to win Carabao Cup and FA Cup with Man Utd
Made 255 appearances and scored 29 goals for the Red Devils
McTominay joined Napoli in August for £25.7million
Born in England, he qualified for Scotland through his dad who’s from Helensburgh
McTominay was called-up by Scotland in March 2018 and has gone on to become a huge Hampden favourite
He was part of the squad at Euro 2020 and Euro 2024
He won his 50th cap while playing against Germany at Euro 2024
McTominay has scored some huge goals for Scotland, including an injury-time winner against Israel and his famous double in the 2-0 win over Spain in Glasgow
But no one can deny that Clarke’s side deserved to take something from the game.
It could have been better, it could have been worse.
But overall it was a night when the Tartan Army left feeling satisfied enough.
The result puts the Danes under real pressure now to get something from their next game away to Greece tomorrow.
Should they lose that — and Scotland beat Belarus — then Brian Riemer and his squad will be right up against it.
Maybe a draw in that game would help us more, but only time will tell.
But the point in Copenhagen was definitely a better one for Scotland than it was for the top seeds.
Johnston added: “It is obviously a really good point for us and a good start to the World Cup qualifiers.
“It’s a strong point and one to build on.
“There are definitely positives to take but also things to improve upon and we will make sure we work on that.
“They put a lot of crosses into the box.
“We defend as a team and we stood up to it really well and got the rewards for our hard work.
“When you come up against a team like that, keeping a clean sheet is going to give you a big chance of winning games.
“I have no doubt we will score goals, so if we can also focus on our defending we will have a chance.
“It was difficult but we stuck together and defended well.
“The clean sheet and the point at the end was our reward.
“We could have scored but the main thing is that we created opportunities.
“If we keep doing that then I have no doubt the goals will come.”
Greece are definitely the team to beat.
They made light work of Belarus at home on Friday night — thrashing them 5-1 — and they look like being favourites to top the group.
Scotland must look to be as clinical as they can against Belarus tomorrow night.
Anything other than a victory against the bottom seeds in Hungary would be disastrous, but it’s rarely straightforward for our national team, is it?
How many of the Tartan Army would take a 1-0 win right now? Probably quite a lot.
But Clarke and his men can’t think that way.
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Johnston added: “Yeah, goals are huge.
“You need to score them to win games and they could be decisive in the group.
“With the attacking players we have in our squad, I have no doubt we will score goals.”
The game is being played behind closed doors, remember — and that could work either way.
It would be a much tougher test for Scotland if the game was being played in Belarus in front of a sell-out crowd.
But then again, the players won’t be able to draw on the vocal support of the Tartan Army, who were absolutely superb in Copenhagen.
It seems hugely unfair on them that they’re not allowed to attend this clash in Zalaegerszeg.
Then again, the trek to this outpost in western Hungary was far from easy.
SunSport left Denmark yesterday morning for a flight to Germany.
It was then a connection to Austria for a two-hour car journey to Hungary.
That was four different countries in one afternoon.
The team arrives here tonight — flying into the local Heviz- Balaton airport — but there is a planes, trains and automobiles feeling about this trip.
Johnston, whose former Scotland star dad Allan was in the crowd in the Parken Stadium on Friday, added: “It will be a bit different.
“It is disappointing not to have any Scotland fans there because you want to play in front of them as often as possible.
“They were amazing in Denmark.
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“It is going to be a change, right enough, but I’m sure we will manage it as a team.
“It is a challenge, but I am sure we will just focus on the game and on what we can control as players.”
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