20th century football rivalries won’t survive

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I remember the days (as a kid) when I’d get excited about Scotland-England games. At the time the countries were neck-and-neck in the number of wins each had over the other, we knew we’d punched well above our weight for a century. Since then, the inevitable verdict of demographics has taken its toll.

Now we know we’re a small nation, inconsequential to the football world, and we’ve even starved of developmental resources compared to the riches that ploughs into the English FA from Premier League TV deals each season.

The historical rivalry remains but I don’t feel it anymore and surely English fans care even less. They will have to dig deep to muster anything more than an interest in the three points available tonight, having long since moved onto Argentina and Germany for their rivalry. And Iceland, of course (forgive me).

Great sporting rivalries can endure for generations but that doesn’t mean they’ll last forever. Circumstances can change causing both sides to lose interest and find others to do battle with. None of our 20th century rivalries will survive. If we could bloody the nose of Barcelona for a third time in the 21st century later this month, our hit rate would place the Catalans in the crosshairs.  Bring it on.

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1,358 Comments

  1. Gerryfaethebrig on

    WWW 8.20

     

     

    I don’t do stats, how many internationals matches did Jimmy McGrory get overlooked for ?

     

     

    Some very less than average players have stacks of caps mainly due to the amount of games (and average players) these days……

     

     

    You might highlight 7 caps as opposed to how many international games were played, is there matches available for to the 7 caps won…..

  2. What bright spark decided to put a photo of that wee merde

     

    in a chanty wrasslers scarf and strip on our blog ? my comp.

     

    nearly went oot the windae.

     

    The wee mhan just said ” keep oot the road of papa gran he’s

     

    in a mood.

     

    C,mon Scotland.

     

    H.H Mick

  3. Neganon

     

     

    Tomorrow will finally confirm your, my and the suspicions of one or two of the requisitioners or not.

     

     

    I’ll hold my judgement until after AGM and hold off signing any petition into corruption within the corridors of the SFA until Celtic PLC determine were my focus will be aimed.

     

     

    I too will be interested in Paul67’s public view on this if it falls as I expect it to.

     

     

    MWD

  4. Decent showing int he first half.

     

     

    Craig hasn’t had a save to make although admittedly neither has Hart. Best chance fell to Hanley, 2nd best chance should have seen Leigh play in Snodgrass.

     

     

    Moaned earlier about not buying the pink top for £55. But if we win I’ll be buying it ra morra!

     

     

    PC off and back to the telly……

  5. Our Hoops tonight are stand outs, James looking brave and Brown playing like he’s still captain. Leigh trying SOOO hard.

     

     

    Lost my national pride with the no vote but want wgs and our bhoys to do well.

     

     

     

    KLV

  6. Donald Trump has said that he might not repeal Obamacare, perhaps his biggest campaign promise.

     

     

    The President-elect performed the apparent U-turn after his meeting with Barack Obama at the White House this week, he has said.

     

     

    Mr Trump is going to look at “amending” the policy, rather than completely repealing it, he told the Wall Street Journal.

  7. vfr800@girfuy.co.uk on

    Scotland – 4 great chances and don’t trouble the keeper.

     

     

    England – 2 chances and2 goals.

     

     

    That’s the difference.

     

     

     

    KTF

  8. Wallace is very poor, Not very clever or a good footballer, SFA must make wee Gordon put one in.

     

     

     

    KLV

  9. blantyretim is praying for the Knox family on

    The PLC are like the right wing posters on CQN

     

    We, the poor st holders and small shareholders are not worthy of their presence and are only there to make them money and increase their wealth

     

     

    Without us they would not be rich but they really don’t like us but they need us

  10. Which agm am I waiting for?

     

     

    And what about Paul67 and his refusal to speak up against the board?

     

     

    Is he making too much money to tackle the real issues?

  11. NA2

     

    Paul refuted your claim last week that he has or does make any money from the media, he said he once got a £45 fee and he didn’t know anything about it till the check arrived in the mail.

     

    Nopw I don’t know Paul personally, but I know a fair few who do and if he says he doesn’t get paid, I believe him.

     

    Where are you getting your info from that contradicts this ?

     

    As for the board, I agree with you 100%, they never have had any notion to go against the sfa, never, I told this to Auldheid a few years ago.

     

    HH

  12. My only concern now is that the lhad gets back safely from Wembley.

     

    Pretty shambolic on the pitch now as the players know that it’s all over for WGS.

  13. vfr800@girfuy.co.uk on

    It just gets better! Matt Ritchie is coming on.

     

     

    Replacing Grant Hanley I hope (even though he’s not a centre half).

     

     

    KTF

  14. Watching France/Sweden as england/scotland is PPV and eff that. Good game with decent players out there.