These pages have seen Gordon Strachan written off many times since those four days in August 2005 when Celtic conceded nine goals to Artmedia and Motherwell. Last night, as Scotland manager, he got the breaks. First, at the most ridiculous dive for a penalty ever perpetrated by a player on a yellow card (and I have seen Steven Naismith), then, when tired defensive limbs contrived to concede a late winner for Scotland.
If he gets a result away to Slovenia on Sunday, he will have earned whatever grudging appreciation goes his way. A generation of adults have never seen Scotland at an international tournament. They don’t know the joys of losing 3-0 to Morocco, watching a defensive wall shirk at a free kick, or celebrating as an Iranian scored an own goal to deliver a point. It’s time they learned.
Little about Scotland’s success is good news for Celtic. Should we win the league, our first qualification round will start two weeks after the tournament kicks off. Although that round is unlikely to provide a particularly stiff challenge, consider what happened to Newco when they arrived unprepared against Luxembourg semi-professionals.
Even if Scotland don’t reach the finals in Russia, a second place finish in the group for Scotland would see the players face two play-off games in the middle of our Champions League group games, and the possibility of a League Cup final.
Brendan Rodgers will wish his players every success, but he would surely not be too distressed to share hard luck stories with them when they return to training next week. The club-v-country debate has kicked around for decades, but I doubt if any club/country combo has seen it as acute as it is for Celtic and Scotland right now.
Catch up with this CQN Podcast from last month when we interviewed Celtic star from the Centenary season, full back Chris Morris. It’s a great listen…
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Hunderbirds 4.23pm
Long may their ignorance continue :-)
I know you are all getting excited about the Scotland match but here is a little test for you.
New Senior’s Exam, you only need 4 correct out of 10 questions to pass.
1) How long did the Hundred Years’ War last?
2) Which country makes Panama hats?
3) From which animal do we get cat gut?
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
5) What is a camel’s hair brush made of?
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal?
7) What was King George VI’s first name?
8) What color is a purple finch?
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from?
10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?
Remember, you need only 4 correct answers to pass.
GFTB –
Me? Nervous? Ha, ha – anyway, shortly heading over to my Bhoy’s to watch the game. Big saltire flag looked out!
6 – Canaries are in the Atlantic – named after a dog
Almore,The answer is a
116 years for question 1
GERRYFAETHEBRIG wheres ma pies and bridies fae christies 1-0 scotland.
4) November
10) Red
ALMORE
I think I got one right.
Not sure.
2) Ecuador
7) Albert
1. 126 years
2. Ecuador
Connaire 12,
Bayern match is on the 18th, not the 19th. Hope you are able to catch it somewhere suitable then.
HH
Big Packy
Next time you are in ML5 the pies & cream rings are on me :-)
Griff hat trick would do the trick
Ok, here are the answers:
ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ
1) How long did the Hundred Years War last? 116 years
2) Which country makes Panama
hats? Ecuador
3) From which animal do we get cat gut? Sheep and Horses
4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution? November
5) What is a camel’s hair brush made of? Squirrel fur
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal? Dogs
7) What was King George VI’s first name? Albert
8 ) What color is a purple finch? Crimson
9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from? New Zealand
10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane?
Orange (of course) .
What do you mean, you failed?
Me, too!
Enjoy the footie.
Black box is orange, with light reflective stripes.
Come On You Bhoys in ……PINK ??
Why ?
The only one I am 100% sure of is 10, which is orange
Costa Rica is Panama hat
Black box is red or orange
Russia Rev is November
The war lasted too long
George’s name was Albert or Ludwig or some other german name ,coming over here taking our thrones
When I went to the Canary islands I never saw a Canary .
I once went to the Virgin islands . Never met a virgin .
Jaysus I did brutal there now I know how Mayo feel
Who would win a fight between an exocet missile and a Kieran Tierney thrown in?
Are Scoddland winnin’?
(Am watchin’ the golf)
COYBIP
Is wee Jamsie playing weel?
Scotland are not going to win this
Surprisingly open game so far . The team most comfortable in possession ain’t Scotland .
Is Matt Elliot a little tired and emotional?
I can’t say where Panama hats are made but I can tell you that the Atlantic/ Caribbean entrance to the Canal is further west than the Pacific entrance.
ANGELGABRIEL on 8TH OCTOBER 2017 4:59 PM
When I went to the Canary islands I never saw a Canary .
I once went to the Virgin islands . Never met a virgin .
I went to Penistone once, and I’m saying nothing.
McArthur, Phillips, Bannan….WTF
6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal? Dogs
is it in the atlantic part of the pacific ?
Wee fearty picks a typical team.
English b players living up to their reputations.
Blinkered coach canna see it.
SILVER CITY 1888 on 8TH OCTOBER 2017 5:16 PM
I can’t say where Panama hats are made but I can tell you that the Atlantic/ Caribbean entrance to the Canal is further west than the Pacific entrance.
————–
every day is a school day right enough, i went and looked that up there.
Slovenia are mince.
Matt Phillips dear oh dear.
The football on show would send you to sleep, brutal stuff
Griffo
Griff 1-0
Goal Griff!