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Scotland 15 - 9
England: Saturday 8 March 2008, Edinburgh
Scots defy odds to
kick old foes into touch. Paterson and Parks bring their
boots to seal a famous Calcutta Cup victory
SCOTLAND got a monkey off
their back, put any number of demons to the sword and,
in doing so, they proved that history really does repeat
itself. Two years ago in the rain Chris Paterson kicked
five penalties and Dan Parks dropped a goal to ensure a
dramatic against-the-odds-win over England. Yesterday
the same two men combined to kick five penalties, four
to Paterson and one to Parks, which proved enough in the
wet and windy conditions for another famous victory over
the self same foe. Scotland have now won three of their
last five matches against the Auld Enemy at Murrayfield
and the sight of England's icon Jonny Wilkinson trudging
off the field with ten minutes of the match remaining
spoke volumes for the collective collapse of England's
resolve. There is something about the white shirts that
brings out the best in this squad of players. After
defending like traffic cops all season, the Scots
suddenly formed an impassible barrier and did to England
what Ashton's men had done to France a fortnight ago. It
was an immense effort and the rewards were equally
substantial: self-respect. ONCE AGAIN THE DENNY &
DUNIPACE PIPE BAND WERE THERE WITH PAUL playing for the
huge crowd and TV audience! Boy did we get wet!
Saturday 17 November
2007,
Hampden park, Glasgow
McLeish fury at decision that spelled
the end for Scots
WITH the emotion of the day clearly still coursing
through him, Alex McLeish (Scottish manager) got stuck
into Senor Manuel Gonzalez with all the alacrity his
players had shown against the Azzurri earlier in the
evening. McLeish wasted no time in jumping on Gonzalez,
the Spanish referee, for his decision to award Italy the
free-kick that led to Christian Panucci's winning goal.
OUTRAGEOUS! It was a terrible blunder by the official.
In fact, the decision was made by Gonzalez's linesman,
Juan Jimenez, but it was the organ grinder Gonzalez who
got it in the neck from McLeish AND THE HUGE CROWD.
"We're disappointed at the free-kick award," said a
deeply frustrated McLeish. "It was poor. I can't
understand why he gave the free-kick to Italy. I've seen
it on the video and it's unbelievable. When the flag
pointed in the direction of our goal I was baffled.
Gonzalez is a top referee. What can you do? He's a top
referee and UEFA chose him. He did all right but a lot
of his decisions were unjust." Another one of Gonzalez's
judgments was remarked upon, the one that saw Scottish
claims for a penalty when Lee McCulloch's shot hit the
upper arm of Gianluca Zambrotta. McLeish's sense of
injustice was tempered by the uncertainty at not having
seen a replay of the incident.
REF'S ERRORS
15 mins: Scotland denied penalty Scotland are
denied a penalty when Gianluca Zambrotta blocks Lee
McCulloch's goal-bound shot with his arm. The incident
comes during a period of sustained Scotland pressure and
the home side appeal strongly for a spot-kick, but
Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez waves away the
claims.
63 mins: Ferguson equalises Hampden erupts as
Scotland equalise but Barry Ferguson looks suspiciously
offside as he slides home the goal after McCulloch's
shot is parried by Buffon. The linesman keeps his flag
down and the Scotland captain is able to celebrate his
first ever home goal for his country.
90mins: Hutton penalised wrongly Spanish linesman Juan
Carlos Jimenez flags for a free-kick for the Italians
after Italy sub Giorgio Chiellini barges into Alan
Hutton. It's a perplexing decision and fatal for the
Scots as Italy net an injury-time winner when Christian
Panucci heads home the free-kick.
....................................................................
Tears and laughter as Tartan Army sings in the rain
WE'RE out, we're not going to Euro 2008, but here's what
we do now: we bury the DVD of last night's heartbreak
defeat by Italy in a time capsule; it will contain
everything about following the national football team,
indeed about being Scottish, that future generations
could possibly want to know. Horror - at losing a goal
before the Tartan Army at Hampden had even taken a bite
out of their pies. Delirium - at battling back to
equalise. A cheeky grin (our goal was offside). Agony -
at a near miss. Finally, at the death, weary resignation
at another glorious failure, maybe the most glorious of
them all.
What they said...
FIRST MINISTER ALEX SALMOND "Scotland's players have
performed heroics during this incredibly tough
qualifying campaign to finish on 24 points. They've
restored national pride and won international respect.
The outstanding wins over France at Hampden and the Parc
des Princes have cemented the players' place in Scottish
footballing history. So much credit has to go to Walter
Smith, who began the renaissance in 2005, and Alex
McLeish, who took it even further. Scotland's future
looks assured - with such a young team, many of the
players could still be playing in a decade's time. They
have proved they can live with the best, and finishing
third in a group with the World Cup winners, finalists
and quarter-finalists is a terrific achievement."
ITALY BOSS ROBERTO DONADONI "It's a very good result
for us. I'm very happy for me, for everybody, for the
whole Italian people. I want to say congratulations to
the Scotland team. They are a very good team; 24 points
is not nothing."
PAUL MCLEAN - MCLEANSCOTLAND "I
was at the game, it rained. It rained from the moment
the 5 Tartan Army coaches left Perth at 10.30. I think
the Perth Regiment was the strongest there outside of
the Weegies, a great effort by all. As we got to Glasgow
it was raining, 12 noon and time to kill. Social club
for drinks and a band (not very good). Walkies to a pub
or two and eventually into the ground, it was still
raining. kick off, och 2 minutes in they scored.
The atmosphere didna change though, it was superb. All
the while roaring our team on, even in defeat we were
proud of the boys, they came back to the pitch because
we wanted them to, to say thank you. Off they went again
and off to the coaches we went, it was raining.
Back home in Perth, it was raining. Went to the
pub saw Liz and Grant, had a drink!"
.............................................................................
13 October 2007. Scotland 3, Ukraine
1...now for Georgia and Italy
THE Tartan Army arrived at their
spiritual home yesterday, swathed in tartan,
their faces painted, and full of hope and
expectation. A fantastic 3-1 win against a
Ukraine team which boasted two top English
Premiership strikers leaves Scotland poised
to reach a major championship for the first
time in 10 years. We now have Georgia on
their minds - a win in a tricky away clash
on Wednesday will leave them needing at
least a draw against Italy next month to
make it to Euro 2008 in Austria and
Switzerland. Yesterday's win was Scotland's
sixth in a row, the first time since 1949
they have achieved this feat. Two goals in
the opening 10 minutes from Kenny Miller and
Lee McCulloch got Scotland off to a flyer
and, although Andriy Shevchenko pulled one
back for Ukraine, James McFadden scored to
seal the win. |
All hands on deck: The Tartan Army,
complete with open top bus, make their way across Paris
towards the Parc des Princes for Wednesday’s match. To
see yourself as others see you, and all that. The Tartan
Army on a tour of duty abroad is a strange beast. To be
pitched in among them is to feel like you have fronted
up at the world’s largest stag week, or wandered into a
fancy dress party in which you happen to be the only
person who has come as themselves. Forever the saving,
nay amazing, grace is that there is always a complete
absence of any aggressive undercurrent whenever this
band gather overseas. That sets them apart from
practically every other travelling football support the
world over. If they know that and play up to it, so
what? So what if, at Sweden in 1992, some members of the
Tartan Army took to helping old ladies across the road.
Doing right can never be wrong. our Paul is a card
carrying tartan army member!
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Brilliant Scotland reach the pinnacle in Paris
12 September 2007.
France 0
Scotland 1
McFadden (64)
SCOTLAND'S astonishing adventure
reached new heights in Paris last
night, their victory over France
taking them back to the top of Group
B of the Euro 2008 qualifying and
transforming them from outsiders to
hot fancies for a trip to Austria
and Switzerland next summer. As he
had done against Lithuania four days
earlier, James McFadden produced an
extraordinary goal, this time to
dumbfound a team who were World Cup
runners-up last July, and who had
been long odds-on to head the
section. It was a heroic performance
from all of the 13 players used by
manager Alex McLeish, whose own
acumen and inspiration is deserving
of great credit. He had clearly
prepared and instructed a group of
players with an astuteness that left
the French, by the finish, beaten
and demoralised.
Thousands of Scots
fans took the French
capital by storm
winning Parisian
hearts and minds as
they walked the six
miles to the stadium
waving saltires and
escorted by pipe
bands and drummers.
SO - BRING EM ON! WE CAN FIGHT
WITH THE BEST OF THEM!!!
Ten
unforgettable Scotland triumphs that
put the Tartan Army in dreamland www.t-army.com
Scotland’s
victory in France has been hailed as
one of their greatest ever, but how
does it compare with these ten
tartan triumphs?
1 England 1, Scotland
5 Wembley,
1928 Arguably the greatest
ever performance by a Scotland team
and the match responsible for
establishing the cult of Wembley
among Scots fans. The crushing
victory was achieved by possibly the
most diminutive forward line
Scotland have ever fielded. Alex
Jackson, at 5ft 7in, was the tallest
front man, but on a rain-soaked
pitch the little big men tore
England apart. Jackson scored twice,
Alex James grabbed a hat-trick and
the legend of the Wembley Wizards
was born.
2 Scotland 2, France
0 Hampden,
1989 Alex McLeish was the
captain and Maurice Johnston the
match-winner on one of the great
Hampden nights of the post-war era.
The heavens opened and the rain
never let up, and when MoJo slid in
for his second goal there was no way
back for Papin, Sauzee, Blanc et al.
The win paved the way for Scotland
to qualify for the 1990 World Cup at
the expense of France,
semi-finalists in 1982 and ’86.
3 Scotland 2, England
1 Wembley, 1977
Ally MacLeod’s finest hour.
Scotland, playing with swagger and
verve, ripped England apart. Gordon
McQueen soared above everyone to
give the Scots the lead and Kenny
Dalglish added a second. Mick
Channon’s late penalty was of little
consequence, certainly not to the
thousands who poured on to the
Wembley pitch at full-time. Turf and
goalposts were taken as souvenirs in
an orgy of celebration. Alas for
Scotland, the team had peaked a year
too early.
4 Scotland 3, Spain
1 Hampden, 1985
Maurice (Mo) Johnston at the double
again as Scotland edged closer to
the World Cup finals in Spain. Kenny
Dalglish applied the coup de grace
with a sublime strike. The unsavoury
postscript was that Johnston fell
out with manager Alex Ferguson
before the finals and was left out
of the squad.
5 Scotland 2, Sweden
1 Genoa, 1990
Scotland have only won four matches
at World Cup finals and two of them
were against the minnows of Zaire
and New Zealand. This win at Italia
90 gave Scotland real hope of
reaching the second phase. Mo
Johnston and Stuart McCall scored
the goals but the good work was
undone by the loss of a sloppy late
goal against Brazil in the final
group match.
6 Scotland 3, Czechoslovakia
1 Hampden, 1977 The
Czechs were European champions but
were blown away by Scotland in front
of 85,000. Joe Jordan, right, Asa
Hartford and Kenny Dalglish scored
the goals in a World Cup qualifier
that set the Scots on course for
Argentina.
7 Scotland 4, Spain
2 Hampden, 1957
Scotland’s first World Cup qualifier
against continental opposition
pitched them against a Spain side
laced with Real Madrid superstars
such as Gento, Di Stefano and Kubala.
But it was Blackpool’s Jackie Mudie
who stole the show, netting a
hat-trick as Scotland began a
successful qualification campaign in
style.
8 Scotland 3, England
2 Wembley, 1967
England were the world champions;
Scotland were the chippy neighbours
with a point to prove. The 3-2
scoreline failed to reflect the
Scots’ superiority on an afternoon
when Jim Baxter tormented the
English with a belligerent display
of skill.
9 Scotland 2, Czechoslovakia
1 Hampden, 1973 A
victory that ended Scotland’s
16-year exile from the World Cup.
Headers from Jim Holton and Joe
Jordan sealed the win as 100,000
crammed into Hampden. Willie
Ormond’s side would perform with
great credit in the finals in West
Germany the following summer,
returning home unbeaten.
10 Scotland 3, Holland
2 Mendoza, 1978
Dignity was restored in Scotland’s
final group game at the 1978 World
Cup after the unedifying
performances against Peru and Iran.
Needing to win by three clear goals
to reach the last eight, Archie
Gemmill’s breathtaking second goal
had the Scots 3-1 up with 22 minutes
remaining. But Johnny Rep shattered
the dream three minutes later and
the Dutch squeezed through.
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SEPP Blatter, (his
name is as weird as his
decisions!) the president of
football's world governing body
FIFA, has urged the British four
national home associations to
bury their differences over
entering an all-British team for
the 2012 London Olympics, and is
ready to provide a written
guarantee that a united team
would not affect their future
status in world football. Ever
since London was awarded the
Games, the SFA, supported by
Wales, have fiercely resisted a
united under-23 football team
for fear of losing their own
individual national identity.
SFA chief executive David
Taylor, recently appointed as
UEFA's new secretary general,
has stated on numerous occasions
that joining forces with the
other home nations for 2012
would serve as a dangerous
precedent. MY VIEW - PAUL; don't
do it Scotland. Who would be
the manager of this team? and
why would he/she pick Scots?
Come on tell me honestly how
many Northern Irish, Welsh or
Scots players would feature?
Maybe one for luck? Keep out of
it Scotland. On a note with a
wry connection to this, why is
it then that the English
Premiership football league will
NOT allow Celtic to join them?
I'll tell you why, they are
scared of us! It's an English
league they say, oh is that
right? Then why do Welsh teams
play in the English leagues?
Why does an English team play in
the Scots league? Think it
over...
our national footy team is
no doing bad actually!
April 07.
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THE TARTAN ARMY
The Tartan Army are
travelling
supporters of the
Scottish national
football team. They
are the World's
Friendliest Fans, as
awarded in France
during the 1998
World Cup, and have
won numerous awards
over the years from
both FIFA and UEFA
for their
combination of rabid
support and friendly
nature. This
friendly attitude is
all the more
surprising bearing
in mind their team's
track record, which
especially in recent
times, has been
relatively poor.
PAUL MCLEAN of
McLean Scotland is a
card carrying member
of the Perthshire
Regiment of the
Tartan Army and
proud of it.
They have never got
past the first round
of a World Cup,
although they did
qualify for five in
a row - from
1974-90. Some say
that the amicability
of the Tartan Army
is due to the high
volumes of alcohol
imbibed before,
during and after a
game, a fact that
few members would
dispute. Countries
drawn against
Scotland look
forward to the
arrival of the fans,
and events, such as
concerts, are put on
to keep them
occupied. These are
generally
accompanied by a low
level of policing
due to their good
behaviour over the
years. Let's face
it, most times we
know we will draw or
get beaten, but it
is for the love of
the team the country
and of course, the
great craik that the
army travel. There
are many regiments
dotted all around
the world, not just
in Scotland. Try
these links ...
www.t-army.com
http://scotlandinter.net/football/tartanarmy.htm
www.perthshiretartanarmy.com
http://taboard.com
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CUP WINNING TEAM
The Kirin Cup is an
annual football
tournament organised
in Japan by the
Kirin Corporation.
Since 1992 only
national teams enter
this competition.
Scotland won the
Kirin Cup with a 0-0
draw against Japan
in Saitama today,
the first trophy for
the national team in
twenty years.
After the 5-1
victory over
Bulgaria the Scots
knew that a draw or
even a narrow defeat
would secure the
trophy. Japan had
the better of the
first half, and came
closest when Koji
hit the post from 25
yards in 23 minutes,
while Ogasawa forced
Neil Alexander into
two saves, and the
keeper also saved at
point blank range
from Ono. There was
a scare deep into
stoppage time but
Neil Alexander again
saved the free kick,
and the Kirin Cup
will head back to
Scotland.
Scotland squad:
Alexander, Weir,
Murty (sub McNamee
79), McCulloch (sub
L. Miller 69),
McFadden (sub Boyd
59), Severin (sub
Rae 46), G Caldwell,
Anderson, Naysmith
(sub Murray 46),
Teale (sub Burke
59), Fletcher.
So, it may only be a
trophy that 3 teams
contest but come on,
when did England
last win a trophy?
Well done lads, and
it was lads, the
Scots team were
mainly young lads
coming up through
the ranks, let's
keep it going.
.....................................................
Scotland
Supporters Club
www.scotlandsupportersclub.com
The website is
exclusively for
members of the
Scotland Supporters
Club and features a
range of News,
Information and
Travel Tips and
details on tickets
and exclusive
members
Competitions.
If you are not
currently a club
member, find out
more details about
the Scotland
Supporters Club
please click on the
link above.
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Caribbean thanks to football fans
(15 July 2006.)
Costumed dancing girls led the
celebrations in Glasgow. A
delegation from Trinidad and Tobago
is in Scotland to thank football
fans for supporting them in the
World Cup. The Caribbean team faced
England in the group stages and the
fixture caused cross-border debate
when First Minister Jack McConnell
gave them his backing. Celebrations
include musicians, dancers and two
local Trinidadian bands. The event
was held in Glasgow's George Square
on Saturday and moves on to
Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens
on Sunday. Mr McConnell had said he
would be rooting for the underdogs
during the tournament, as well as
the teams showing "a bit of flair".
He also said he would be supporting
teams with Scottish-based players,
like Trinidad and Tobago, whose
player Jason Scotland was adopted by
the Tartan Army, he plays for St
Johnstone (Perth).
SCOTLAND Under 19 1
CZECH REPUBLIC 0
CALUM Elliot (Hearts) sent
Scotland's Under-19 side marching
into the European Championship final
with a golden winner to beat the
Czech Republic in Poland last night.
It is the first time since 1982 that
a Scottish side has reached the
final of the competition and it was
richly deserved. Considering this
was a semi-final, it was hugely open
and mightily entertaining as chances
flowed at both ends, after all the
action, the opening period ended
goalless. Scotland enjoyed the
better of the game, but the Czechs
upped their efforts as they set
about hauling themselves level.
Gemmill's (Scottish manager) men
were thus offered counter-attacking
opportunities but most importantly
they kept their composure at the
back to thwart the Czech fightback.
Scotland: McNeil, Cave-Brown,
Wallace, Cuthbert, Ferry, Elliot,
Fletcher (Snodgrass 46), McGlinchey,
Conroy (Dorrans 87), Cameron
(Kenneth 78), Adams. Subs not used:
Fox, Gilmour, Reynolds. Czech
Republic: Petr, Donalek, Pavlic,
Svec, Simunek, Mazuch (Hasek 73),
Jungr, Fenin, Mares (Jeslinek 78),
Janda, Strestik. Subs not used:
Frydrych, Blazek, Kudela.
SPAIN 2 Bueno 51, 71
SCOTLAND 1 Dorran 87
Scottish under-19 team, NARROWLY
beaten by Spain by the odd goal in
European Championship final in
the Polish city of Poznan. We almost
pulled off the shock of beating
Spain, the hot favourites who had
set a record for goals in European
finals at this age group. A late
goal from Graham Dorrans of
Livingston gave the Scots a chance
of a sensational comeback after two
second half goals from Spain . Every
one of the Scots lads can take much
credit from their performance in the
tournament. But how the young Scots
battled back. Simon Ferry of Celtic
scorned an easy chance after his
Parkhead team-mate Michael
McGlinchey also missed a
half-chance. Then Dorrans came on
for Greg Cameron of Dundee United
and Brian Gilmour of Rangers
replaced Celtic's Ryan Conroy. The
substitutions really paid off as
first Gilmour almost scored from a
free kick, and then Dorrans set up a
grandstand finish with his goal in
87 minutes, the score coming from a
powerful header off Elliot's cross.
It is an amazing achievement for the
lads just getting to the final, you
have to ask, "where were England
then?" Really well done lads you are
a credit to us.
Scotland U19: McNeil, Cave-Brown,
Wallace, Grant, Cuthbert, Ferry,
Elliot, McGlinchey, Cameron (Dorrans,
74), Conroy (Gilmour, 79), Adams.
Spain U19: Adan, Barragan, Valiente,
Pique, M Suarez, Calvo (J Suarez,
73), Garcia, Capel (Granero, 83),
Canella, Mata, Bueno.
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