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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1-1 goal from soft free kick
No more than scotland deserve
Just googled him, WBA and he’s a winger, aye right!
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Coldplay’s vocalist taken off.
Oops. 1-1. Anja is the wrong choice.
Martin is off-key.
Anya on.
Great save Gordon.
now get the winner slovenia
We need any two from Forrest, McGinn, McGregor on to change ”tis game and give Slovenia something to worry about.
and just in case its the sevco football country
Scotland struggling. This is what happens when you sit back and invite a team to attack you.
Wrong tactics by WGS.
Provan couldn’t bring himself to blame Darren Fletcher who lost his man. Trying to deflect the discussion onto the goalkeeper. The same Fletcher he was bigging up during the first half. If it was Broonie he would have chucked him under the bus. Tosser.
No shape in this half.
They have sussed we are stronger defensively on flanks and everything is coming straight down middle.
Wee fearty does not seemed to have noticed.
Oh, and Matt Phillips has been worse than dreadful.
You don’t know what you are doing
I hope he doesn’t bring on Calmac or McGinn, they would get the blame if we didn’t get a result.
Keep it as it is, then resign
Brilliant defending KT.
Brilliant defending KT
what is Phillips still on the park for?
Echo.
McArthur booked and misses nexr match.
He’s missed most of this one too.
How much longer will Strachan sit and watch McArthur?
KT hit yet again.
Scotland getting a chasing now.
Philips playing like a guy ye drag oot the pub cause yer a man short ffs.
And dinny get mae started oan mcarthur.
Brilliant saving header by KT.
McArthur then gives us hope of better team in play off game if we reach by receiving a yellow and one game ban.
He then makes a decent run and shoots ten feet wide.
Slovenia are dirty bassas. No matter Scotland are tossing this one away.
What game is wee fearty watching?
Strachan hasn’t a clue. Goodnight Vienna.
Since Martin went off Griffiths is isolated and chasing shadows . We need a midfielder who can support and run beyond Griffiths. We know who that is but the stubborn wee diddy on the bench won’t make change
feck it.
FTSFA anyway. Squirm in your seat Regan.
at last the sfa get what they deserve yes
HaHaHa
Pack your bags Gordon. Your time’s up.
2-1 Slovenia.
Deserved to be honest.
Their coach made half time changes that changed the game.
Wee Fearty has stood and watched.
We have a proven goal-scorer on the pitch and no one is passing to him.
I feel sorry for Broonie, Griff, KT and Gordon. But, the thought of the likes of Regan and the blazers dining out at the World Cup doesn’t bare. FTSFA.