ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN is poised to return to Hampden when Celtic face St Mirren in the Scottish Cup semi-final tomorrow afternoon.
The former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder will be making a comeback to the national stadium after an absence of almost NINE years.
The last time the 32-year-old midfielder appeared at the venue he managed to silence the majority of the 48,520 fans when he scored for England against Scotland in a crucial World Cup qualifier on June 10 2017.
THE WIZARD OF OX…midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain fires England into the lead with Stuart Armstrong too late to intervene.
HAMPDEN HOORAYS…Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain celebrates his goal.
The Scots team, managed by former Hoops gaffer Gordon Strachan, contained six Celtic players – Craig Gordon, Charlie Mulgrew, Kieran Tierney, Scott Brown, Stuart Armstrong and Leigh Griffiths – while James Forrest was an unused substitute.
Future Celt Joe Hart was in goal for Gareth Southgate’s team while Fraser Forster was in the stand-by squad.
The tie was goalless until the 70th minute when Oxlade-Chamberlain pounced to squeeze in the opener.
That set up the encounter for an unforgettably dramatic grand finale.
Griffiths stunned the visitors and keeper Hart with a magnificent free-kick in the 87th minute.
Remarkably, the Hoops hitman staged an action replay three minutes later with a deadball effort that swept high into the net.
ONE…Leigh Griffiths sweeps in a left-footed free-kick for Scotland’s equaliser.
TWO…Leigh Griffths strikes again with another deadly setplay to put the Scots ahead.
GLASGOW BELONGS TO ME…Leigh Griffiths celebrates his second goal – but the visiting fans don’t share the hitman’s delight.
Three points would have been most welcome for Strachan and Co in their efforts to reach the World Cup Finals in Russia the following year.
Alas, it was not to be.
In the third minute of stoppage-time, the home defence switched off when a left-wing cross from Raheem Sterling dropped into the box and Harry Kane sneaked in to divert the ball high past a stranded Gordon for the equaliser.
There was no way back for the hosts and, unfortunately, Oxlade-Chamberlain helped to condemn Scotland to yet another qualifying failure.
FOOTNOTE: France won the trophy, beating Croatia 4-2 in the Final in July 2018. England lost 2-0 to Belgium in the third place play-off and had to be content with fourth.
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