It is Almost Here!

It won't be many weeks from now that Scotland, at around midnight, will begin the first game in this year's World Cup.  As always with Scotland cynicism strikes first.  However, we are there, and we may as well make the most of the opportunity.  What will happen?  Will we get through the section?  Will we score a goal?  These questions are being answered by many around the country, usually with absolutely no idea what they are talking about.  But that is football!

I am finding it hard to work up enthusiasm, age, other things in life, and too tired to care too often are hindering my desire.  Of course, I will react to the result, happy to win, sad to lose, angry at referees, angry at the various SFA suits at all levels looking after themselves, not the country.  It was ever thus.

The media attention does not inspire me, the usual quotes, questions, baloney, all go nowhere.  Only major news grabs attention such as a serious injury, or one of Donald Trump's ICE agents attempting to deport one of our players.  Already one non-Scottish player has had his visa refused because of a court case somewhere in Europe, also a Somali referee has had his visa refused.  I suspect many fans paying stupid money to see a game will find themselves banned from entry by the border guards.  Anyone objecting to the child rapist will be banned, and most Scots will have made their position on that clear to all already!   

During the 1974 World Cup, (was it held in Germany?) I was desperate to watch every game, even though I was working during the Yugoslav match.  I spent that game at a patients bedside scrubbing his table while we watched the game on the Black & White TV at the far end of the ward.  The table was never so clean again.  Another game I saw in Deacon Brodie's bar in the High Street.  I based myself at the far end and ensured I ordered my second pint just before half-time.  When half-time came all the men ahead of me, and it was all men, turned as one and reached out with their empty glasses towards the barmen.  How many pints were sold at half-time, two at a time possibly to avoid looking away from the game.  However, I canny mind who were playing that day.  I forget the third game, it was a long time ago.

Whatever happens, I just wish to be in a position where I can laugh at all these Englishmen here. 

 

Scotland Will Be Coming

The explosive noise that was recorded very high on the Richter scale last night was nothing more than a nation qualifying for the World Cup in the USA during 2026.  I say USA, but it is also Canada and Mexico who share the expensive competition these days, no longer can one country afford this.

The rejoicing from 5 million Scots was heard around the world.  Here we see the nation that invented the game, developed it from the beginning into the supreme activity it has become, and yet have failed in every attempt to win this trophy, or indeed any other!

Irony!

With less than 3 minutes on the clock this magnificent overhead kick brought Scotland's first goal.  His time in Italy has not been wasted.  The next 90 minutes, plus add-ons, offered a game that went the way I expected.  Lots of good but wasted skill from Denmark, lots of effort and occasional brilliance from the Scots.  I expected a result along the lines of 3-2, though was unsure who would win.  In the end three outstanding goals, plus a well worked corner saw 4 goals hit the net and Scotland qualify for the first time in 28 years. 

All the players were outstanding, especially Craig Gordon, who remains on the bench for the Heart of Midlothian, yet produced excellent saves at the right time.  Not bad for a man who is 42 years old.

Mr Shankland scored the second goal not long after half time.  Some foolishly thought the game over then, and how can anyone think the Danes were finished?  Two sides who gave everything, two sides who desperately wanted to qualify, two sides with a lot of similarities in the national nature, two sides desperate to win, yet only one goes through.  It may be the Danes will have a play-off against another second placed side, I did not check this, but they do deserve to be in north America next year.  

Many of the players last night would not have been born when Scotland last failed at a world cup.  Even goalkeeper Craig Gordon would only have been 15 or so then.  Of course I myself am only 32...

My first world cup was in 1974, when I worked at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, now of course that is a block of flats.  I recall pretending to clean a table for 45 minutes while Scotland struggled against a country that no longer exists, Yugoslavia!  I stood by that bedside of a man with a broken leg while we watched the distant black and white TV at the far end of the ward.   All was still, bar the occasional groan and utterances, not from physical pain, from the football.  A draw was the result, and none we too happy about that.

Such things do not mean as much now as they did then, I am used to Scotland losing at the big games, but nonetheless when we scored I almost leapt out the window.  I was glad also for the manager Steve Clarke.  He has, in spite of opposition, criticism of tactics, players and his rare smile, taken Scotland to two Euro Tournaments, and now one world cup.  No Scots manager has done this before.  He deserves credit for his man management, his tactics, his team, and his success.  No matter the grumbles, he has been successful, and can now relax for three months.

There are many questions now being asked.  Who will we play?  Where will we play?  And, how many Scots fans will be turned back by the Border Police for slagging off Donald Trump?  Almost all who travel to the USA will have done so, he is not popular in Scotland, nor indeed in any off the other nations represented at this tournament, and I await news of how they will deal with this.

While these questions continue I have only one question, why am I so tired this morning...?

Beware USA, Canada and Mexico, we'll be coming!