As I was growing up, Scotland's glorious exists from tournaments were at the competition stage proper rather than qualification level. Our participation at a major finals again cannot be far off now though.
I was obviously willing the team on yesterday along with the rest of the country. We were playing the world champions Italy and it's fair to say we battered them for most of the game. The mouth was watering at the propsect of a summer abroad again. I was at the last one in France 98 and had the time of my life. Maybe it's about getting lost youth back, but I hope it's more than that.
We're very well placed for South Africa 2010. The draw is next week, and rather than being fourth seeds as we were for this campaign, we'll be in Pot 2. There will be 13 European teams to go to the World Cup from eight groups as opposed to the 14 that qualified from 7 for Euro 2008. This means a play-off between teams finishing in second place, which we should be able to handle on current form no problem.
More than this is the personnel situation. We've got genuine talent all over the park now from Craig Gordon at the back to Faddy up front. Alan Hutton showed once again against Italy that he is the 'White Cafu', while Scott Brown, Darren Fletcher and the experienced Barry Ferguson form a formidable midfield triumvirate. Around the SPL clubs there is more waiting to burst through the ranks in the coming period.
These guys will be getting offers from big clubs outside of Scotland soon no doubt. Already Fletcher, Craig Gordon and James McFadden ply their trade elsewhere, and this may become a big trend. The same is true of Alex McLeish but I earnestly hope he will stay at the helm. We owe a big debt of gratitude to him and Walter before him for the memories over the last couple of years.
One gripe before I sign off just now. Scotland's games should be on terrestrial TV, not Sky. Marco Biagi (who was supporting Scotland on Saturday before anyone asks - honest) helpfully provides explanation for why this is currently not the case, part of which is that qualifiers are not regarded as 'Crown Jewels' the way that the competition proper is. He makes the point hat given the length of time that has elapsed since Scotland participated at that end of the big competitions, there is a real argument to revise this criteria (broadcasting powers at the Scottish Parliament would help to make them more relevant).
I would also make the argument on quality terms. Sky's coverage was pants. Their commentator wasn't Scottish and it was painfully obvious he couldn't care less about the game. I don't subscribe to Sky Sports, and don't normally find I'm missing out on anything apart from being mildly ticked off about Champions League coverage from time to time. On Saturday I had to go to a friend's house to watch it though. Was nice to see Jim White anchoring after a long time. Was not nice to see Charlie Nicholas. I thought he'd been banished from the telly after the Scotsport related abuse he received a few years ago.
My main point is that I hadn't managed to get my act together to get any tickets for any of the Scotland home matches this campaign, so haven't seen the team play live from Hampden this campaign with them not being on the telly. Practically, you can only get 50,000 into the ground anyway, and many times that number want to see their country play. Apart from pub landlords who do a booming trade, I'm sure everyone can accept this is a ludicrous state of affairs. The national team should be on screens across the nation.
"Sky's coverage was pants. "
Have you been drinking lead recently, Osama, or has someone hijacked your account?
I think your main point here is that you couldn't be bothered paying for the match on television so the State should provide it gratis. Very libertarian (!) Is watching football matches now some inalienable right enshrined in the Human Rights Act?
BTW for people looking disinterested, look no further than Alex Salmond. He looked as though he'd rather be ploughing through a 10,000 page missive from the EU than at Hampden. Very odd.
Posted by: Ted | 19 November 2007 at 09:45 AM
I think your main point here is that you couldn't be bothered paying for the match on television so the State should provide it gratis.
Which State is this you're talking about Ted, the person who thinks violent male rape funny?
Maybe you are refering to the BBC, which is funded via people like me paying for a yearly licence fee, and isn't directly run by the British government.
Obviously you can't be refering to commercial independent TV channels either, because they aren't owned by the state.
So which free state service are you wittering on about Ted, you half-witted advocate of male prison-rape?
Maybe you live in China, who knows, who cares.
Posted by: joe90 | 19 November 2007 at 10:14 PM