SCOTLAND’S WORLD CUP STORY SO FAR…
MALTA 1 SCOTLAND 5 (Sept 4, 2016)
ROBERT SNODGRASS fired in a hat-trick to ease Gordon Strachan’s team onto the World Cup trail. Chris Martin and Steven Fletcher chipped in while Alfred Effiong got the consolation effort for his nation who had Luke Gambin and Jonathan Caruana sent off late on.
Marshall; Paterson, R Martin, Hanley, Robertson; D Fletcher, Bannan; Snodgrass, Burke (sub: Forrest 66), Ritchie (sub: Anya 86); C Martin (sub: S Fletcher 68).
SCOTLAND 1 LITHUANIA 1 (Oct 8)
JAMES McARTHUR salvaged a point for the Scots in a scrappy encounter against the visitors who had gone ahead through Fedor Cernych on the hour mark. It looked as though Strachan’s men were heading for an embarrassing defeat until substitute McArthur headed in the equaliser in the 89th minute.
Marshall; Paterson, R Martin, Hanley, Robertson; D Fletcher (sub: McArthur 46), Bannan; Burke (sub: Forrest 57), Snodgrass, Ritchie (sub: Griffiths 71); C Martin.
SLOVAKIA 3 SCOTLAND 0 (Oct 11)
SCOTLAND’S qualifying campaign looked to be in tatters after this nosedive in Trnava. Robert Mak had his nation two goals ahead before Adam Nemec added a third in a night to forget for the Scots. Kieran Tierney made his international debut – and hoped things might get better.
Marshall; Paterson, R Martin, Hanley, Tierney; D Fletcher (sub: Anya 64), Bannan; Snodgrass, McArthur, Ritchie (sub: Griffiths 64); S Fletcher (sub: McGinn 76).
ENGLAND 3 SCOTLAND 0 (Nov 11)
ANOTHER landslide defeat that resulted in the anticipated calls for Strachan’s head. His team, wearing pink at Wembley, were left red-faced when three simple headed goals from Daniel Sturridge, Adam Lallana and Gary Cahill ripped past the helpless Craig Gordon.
Gordon; Anya (sub: Paterson 79), Berra, Hanley, Wallace; Brown, Morrison (sub: McArthur 66), D Fletcher; Snodgrass (sub: Ritchie 82), Forrest; Griffiths.
SCOTLAND 1 SLOVENIA 0 (Mar 26, 2017)
SCOTLAND were teetering on the verge of dropping two more points when Strachan took a gamble to send on Chris Martin for James Morrison with eight minutes to go. His introduction wasn’t universally welcomed by the Tartan Army, but the big striker went off to cheers when he scored the last-gasp winner.
Gordon; Tierney, R Martin, Mulgrew, Robertson; Brown, Morrison (sub: C Martin 82); Forrest, Armstrong, Snodgrass (sub: Anya 75); Griffiths (sub: Naismith 50).
SCOTLAND 2 ENGLAND 2 (Jun 10)
TWO sensational late free-kicks from Leigh Griffiths had the Scots heading for a famous triumph. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlian had put the visitors ahead, but two devastating deadball efforts in the space of three minutes from the Celtic striker looked to have won it. Alas, Harry Kane levelled in stoppage time.
Gordon; Anya (sub: C Martin 81), Berra, Mulgrew, Tierney; Brown, Morrison (sub: McArthur 46); Snodgrass (sub: Fraser 67), Armstrong, Robertson; Griffiths.
LITHUANIA 0 SCOTLAND 3 (Sept 1)
STUART ARMSTRONG claimed his first international strike as victory in Vilnius saw the Scots go ahead of Slovenia in Group F on goal difference. Andrew Robertson curled in an amazing second goal and James McArthur capped a wonderful performance with the third.
Gordon; Tierney, Berra, Mulgrew, Robertson; Brown, McArthur; Forrest (sub: Ritchie 66), Armstrong (sub: McGinn), Phillips; Griffiths (sub: C Martin 79).
SCOTLAND 2 MALTA 0 (Sept 4)
SCOTLAND moved to within a point of second-placed Slovakia with a home win. It was a workmanlike display from Strachan’s outfit with Leigh Griffiths setting up the opener with a right-wing corner-kick for Christophe Berra’s first-half header. The Hoops hitman tucked in the second after latching onto a rebound.
Gordon; Tierney, Berra, Mulgrew (sub: Hanley 56), Robertson; Brown, Armstrong; Forrest, McArthur (sub: Morrison 46), Phillips; Griffiths (sub: C Martin 70).
SCOTLAND 1 SLOVAKIA 0 (Oct 5)
NERVE-ENDS were jangling when, in the 89th minute, Leigh Griffiths sent a pass into the tracks of Ikechi Anya. His right-wing cross was deflected in by Slovakian skipper Martin Skrtel. Earlier, Griffiths and Chris Martin had struck the bar and keeper Martin Debrovka had been in defiant mood. Robert Mak saw red after two first-half bookings.
Gordon; Tierney (sub: Anya 82), Berra, Mulgrew, Robertson; Fletcher (sub: McArthur 79), Bannan; Forrest (sub: C Martin 60), Morrison, Phillips; Griffiths.
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NEW CQN PODCAST – A CELTIC STATE OF MIND OUT NOW!
A NEW CQN Podcast is posted tonight featuring interviews with Celtic legends Bobby Lennox, John Fallon, Tommy Callaghan and Kenny Dalglish.
A Celtic State of Mind offers an insight into the culture of Celtic Football Club, the city of Glasgow, and fans of the reigning invincible Scottish champions.
Each episode includes interviews with ‘Celtic-minded’ figures from the world of sport, music, film, art, broadcasting, literature or politics.
This week, ‘A Celtic State of Mind’ pays tribute to The Quality Street Gang.
In the second of a two-part series, Paul John Dykes interviews:
Bobby Lennox
John Fallon
Tommy Callaghan
Kenny Dalglish
The discussion is all about one of the finest crops of youngsters ever to emerge from Celtic Park…
And we finally reveal just where that nickname came from.
The response to the new CQN podcast has been magnificent and we have been blown away by the audience figures.
100,000 Celtic fans can’t be wrong…
Connect with A Celtic State of Mind @PaulDykes and @CQNMagazine.
Enjoy the new podcast…
The new Invincibles treble disc DVD is now available from CQN Bookstore HERE. It is quite simply unmissable. What a season that was!
All CQN t-shirts are now reduced to £10, choose from our Invincibles shirt, the Jock Stein one or the Gotcha classic! We’ve added some new books too and there’s some crackers on the way! More on that over the next few weeks or so.
