ALL that stands between Scotland and World Cup salvation is the best goalkeeper in the world. Just as a Polish goalkeeper called Jan Tomaszewski famously broke English hearts with the string of startling saves which prevented them reaching the 1974 World Cup finals, Jan could also be the man when it comes to a Slovenian side under Srecko Katanec who plan to leave Scotland on the outside looking in for Russia.
The man in question, of course, is Jan Oblak, a 24-year-old who plays his club football at Atletico Madrid, but spent one formative season in his development working at close quarters with Ian Cathro, back when he was a 20-year-old on-loan from Benfica and the Hearts head coach was assistant manager to Nuno Espirito Santo at Portugese outfit Rio Ave.
Plucked from Benfica to Madrid for a record 16m Euros for a goalkeeper after helping the Libson side to a treble, Oblak is the current holder of the Ricardo Zamora trophy, a keepsake awarded to the best goalkeeper in the Spanish game. For the record, his 0.47 goals conceded a game average - derived from the 18 goals he conceded in 38 league matches during the 2015-16 season - was the lowest in the 88 year history of the award.
He is none too shabby in Champions League play either, reeling off eight clean sheets in 12 attempts last year as Atletico went down to their Madrid rivals in last year's final, form which has continued this season with a quick fire hat-trick of world class saves in last 16 Champions League tie against Bayer Leverkusen which had the world's media taking notice.
"He is the world’s best," his team-mate Antoine Griezmann said afterwards. "He shows it time after time and he did so again in this game."
As for the international game, Oblak only inherited the role of Slovenia's No 1 after the international retirement of Samir Handanovi? at the end of 2015. But while Lithuania deserve a gold star for breaching his goal twice in a 2-2 draw in Vilnius, since then it has been a case of thou shalt not pass in back-to-back matches against England, Slovakia and Malta. Little wonder the 24-year-old is licking his lips at the prospect of clean sheet No 4 at Hampden.
“I think we can stop Scotland from scoring at Hampden Park," he was reported as saying this week. "We are convinced we can get the win. Of course it will be a difficult game because we know Scotland are strong at home. But the highlight of any footballer’s career would be to play in a World Cup and I think we have the players to get to Russia.
“I’m happy with my own form," he added. "I hate talking about myself, but it was nice that Antoine Griezmann said those words. All I know is that I train to be the best and if others want to say that, then great. But I’ll leave that for others to say.”
Nature and nurture appear to have combined to make Oblak the goalkeeping machine he is today. While he stands only 6ft 1in tall, what he lacks in height he makes up for in speed, bravery and agility. His father, Matjaz, was also a goalkeeper, while his sister Teja is a member of the Slovenian women's basketball team. As a teenager he would think nothing of riding 25km by bike each day to train at Ljubljana-based outfit Olimpija.
Those loan spells, including that one at Cathro's Rio Ave, were the making of him. "After his departure to Portugal, we were often on the phone," Andrej Kra?man, Olimpija's goalkeeping coach has said. "Jan had some very tough months as he was just sitting on the bench. Luckily, once Benfica sent him out on loan, he got a chance at some other Portuguese teams. Soon after he got the call-up to the senior national team. Jan is fearless, he puts his head where a lot of goalkeepers would not. He is really a diligent workaholic. He never talked back in training."
"Oblak is a keeper I appreciate, because of the technical ability he has, but also due to his character," Espirito Santo told the Uefa website last year. "He is a keeper that faces challenges in a very quiet way, without any stress or nerves, regardless of the opponent."
Even when he got to Atletico - where their list of former goalkeepers includes David de Gea and Thibaut Courtois - it wasn't all plain sailing. Oblak had to overcome injury and the form of the club's established No 1, Moya, to make the place his own. "I've always praised him for his commitment and hard work, especially the way he earned the place he has in the team," said Diego Simeone, the head coach. "He arrived, didn't play at first and got injured. Moyá did really well so he waited his turn and worked hard – normally when you work hard you get your reward. He won his place in the team and we're delighted with him. He has an enormous future."
Sadly for Scotland, he is also pretty good at present. "I think that if he's not the best goalkeeper in the world he's the second best," is the verdict of Enrique Cerezo, his club president at Atlético.
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