WOE, WOE and thrice woe. Every now and again in this daft game we call Football, you simply have to put your hand up and admit, you had your erse skelped by a superior opponent.
This was the fate of Scotland, last night at Hampden; finishing second to a very-good England tream in a two-horse race. If losing has proved a bitter pill to swallow for us Scots, just think how much worse it is for the actual players – who will not know the beauty of having dressing room bragging rights over club team mates, who were opponents last night.
Even Harry Maguire, that much-maligned defender, can tell Scott McTominay: “You might be the top scorer in the European qualifiers, but, you couldn't do what I did on Tuesday night, and score against England.” Woe, woe, woe and woe again for poor Scott.
The defeat was perhaps a timely one for us, preventing us from falling for that auld failing of Scottish fans and getting ahead of ourselves – we have not yet qualified for the European finals. Stevie Clarke for one will be reminding his players, the job still has to be completed and it will not be easy.
Looking at our past track record, I can see us perhaps HAVING TO BEAT a fired-up Norway, Erland Haaland and all, on 19 November, to qualify.Just look at our fixture card for the remainder of 2023:
12 October – Spain (away) in a European qualifier
17 October – France (away) in a friendly
16 November – Georgia (away) in a European qualifier
19 November – Norway (home) in a European qualifier
I don't see any “Gimees” in that list. Spain are thirsting for revenge after losing at Hampden, France is currently the top-ranked European nation, we have fallen on our faces in Georgia before now, while Norway does have the best striker in the world at the moment. Let's just KEEP THE HEID, we are not in Germany yet.
On Tuesday, we failed to do the basics against England – a basic we have asked of our team for 150 years: just turn up and give us your best, otherwise, they will win. 'Twas ever thus, if we turn up and get 11 good performances, we can beat them; but, if two or three (or more) of our guys under-perform – we lose.
Our midfield was over-run, we made a few individual errors at crucial times and we had no attacking threat, It was a thoroughly bad night at the office. OK, nobody, least of all we members of ABE, like to think of their horribly insufferable right-wing followers bellowing out their triumphant songs as they strutted homeward, but, the reality is – better to lose to England and still qualify for the Euro finals, than to beat them, get above ourselves and implode over the final three qualifiers.
Of course, on the back of thumping us so comprehensively, England's 'red-top tabloids' will have them on the verge of ruling Europe come next summer. I am sure they will be at the sharp end of the tournament, and yes, they could win it – this is a very-good England squad, led by a manager in Gareth Southgate, who, for all the abuse he gets at home, is making a very-good fist of the impossible mission job – matching English expectations.
We can only lick our wounds, regroup and get better. I am sure, under Sir Stevie, we can.
As ever, following a meeting with the Auld Enemy the mainstream media is getting a bit heated about the “English” anthem being booed. I have never booed GSTK as it now is, but, I do refuse to stand for it, particularly when it is being used by England and I can understand why many members of the Tartan Army do boo it.
I know some Scots, particularly those “Proud Scots But” members of the BPHB; (that stands for Bonnie Purple Heather Brigade by the way), like to pour scorn on Flower of Scotland as being “Anti English.”
This stems from the line about “sending them homeward to think again.” Well, for me Roy Williamson's words celebrate true patriots, fighting for national freedom. Compare that with that verse about rebellious Scots to crush.” OK, they never go that far into GSTK these days, but, the verse is still there and it shows, to some English, we are a lesser nation to be crushed.
I don't like the song, or the sentiments behind it, but, GSTK is recognised as The National Anthem of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Used as such, at the Olympic Games, or in World Championships where there is a combined United Kingdom team involved, I will respect it. England claiming it as their own – count me out, and while we're at it, get your own anthem.
If the same proportion of the Tartan Army as booed GSTK last night was to vote for Scottish Independence and we again became an independent nation, I am sure whatever anthem England then came up with would be treated with respect by the Scots.
However, if the English continue to treat us like second-class citizens and deny us the chance to choose the form of government we want, then GSTK, when played in Scotland, is going to be booed.
FINALLY, finally, thanks to Channel 4, we discovered a new talking heads dream team – I thought Ally McCoist and Dion Dublin were quite brilliant together – while Graeme Souness played another blinder.
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