Scotland, consolable in defeat

I want Scotland to win at pretty much anything.  For me (fourth generation), this is my home and my country.  I also want Celtic players to be successful.  But the engagement with tonight’s qualifier against Serbia is not there.  If I’m really honest, my biggest wish is for Callum McGregor to have a midweek off.

Memories of the 1998 World Cup do not help.  Celtic contributed more players to that tournament than any other club in world football.  We paid a price the following season as exhaustion took its toll.  Do I really want Celtic players on international duty in throughout the summer, before another tortuous European qualification campaign?  Do you?  No need to pull that plaster off yet.

My country’s position on the international stage has always been viewed through pragmatism.  Will it hurt the poor, or the soon-to-be-poor (hmmm)?  Will it hurt what I really care about, like Celtic?

So good luck to them tonight, but if we are beaten by the better team, I will be consolable.