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Post by staggerstag on Mar 26, 2017 5:30:44 GMT
Scotland must beat Slovenia this evening to have any hope of World Cup qualification. They've taken just four points from 12 in their group and Slovenia are unbeaten in seven games. Scotland played out a dire goalless draw in the friendly against Canada on Wednesday to a crowd of less than 10,000. No doubt about it, tonight is a must-win situation. Do or die for Gordon's boys |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2017 5:36:33 GMT
Scotland drew 1-1 against Canada I believe.
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Post by staggerstag on Mar 26, 2017 6:14:06 GMT
Scotland drew 1-1 against Canada I believe. Yes, Stan, you are correct. Cheers. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2017 7:27:43 GMT
I hate to say it, but Scotland aren't going to the WC. I'm not a Scotland hater, but I just can't see it.
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Post by staggerstag on Mar 26, 2017 7:49:54 GMT
For once it would be good to see all four home nations and Ireland at a major tourney. Euro 16 was close to that but the Scots failed to complete the set. It adds interest in my eyes.
Strachan saying that tonight's game doesn't have to be won in the first five or ten minutes doesn't bode well for me. What are they gonna do, play the waiting game and end up being caught quick break? No, get in there from the off, Gordon, this is it, man.
I'm personally looking forward to this match more than the England game. But sadly I too think Scotland will be hard pressed to secure the three points. Let them prove me wrong and I will not be unhappy.
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Post by WullieFort on Mar 26, 2017 9:10:15 GMT
Strachan's selection has to be right. There are suggestions that all 6 Celtic players should start and the idea has a lot of merit, given their success and familiarity with one another and their quality. But does wee Gordie have the nerve ?
He lamented the loss of the early goal against Canada, now he talks about the game not being won in the first 6 minutes. He needs to ensure that the game isn't lost in that time. Labouring to find an equaliser on Wednesday (and almost losing a second in the process) altered the objectives from looking for a win to looking for a draw.
Apart from the Celtic contingent he needs to select the right pairing for central defence. This is an area that has been awful for a long time.The days of McNeil, McQueen, Yeats, Ure, etc. have long gone, since our teams now go for big strapping foreigners. Russell Martin and Charlie Mulgrew look the best on paper. His other big headache is who to play as striker. Griffiths can't get a game at Celtic but none of the others could hit a barn door from a few yards away. If he goes the "Celtic route" then LG has to be the man.
The other fascinating aspect to this game will be the performance of Stuart Armstrong. His turnaround in form and confidence since the BRodger arrived in Glasgow is amazing and has banished the memories of his unhappy time under the ill-fated Deila/Collins combo of last season who persisted in playing him wide left. One of his great assets is his versatility, switching easily from midfield creator to second striker, evidence by his 12/13 goals for thr Hoops this season. If he can reproduce his Parkhead form in the National team then Strachan will have an opportunity to smile.....assuming of course that the wee man picks him.
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Post by staggerstag on Mar 26, 2017 10:06:19 GMT
Strachan's selection has to be right etc... What an excellent write-up. I am loathe to predict a scoreline but think it may come down to a single goal deciding it, hopefully for Gordon's lads. |
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Post by Carl LaFong on Mar 26, 2017 12:56:19 GMT
We'll probably go on a great winning run and then lose the vital last match to a wee diddy team!
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Post by staggerstag on Mar 26, 2017 17:59:30 GMT
Scotland: Gordon; Tierney, Mulgrew, R Martin, Robertson; Brown, Morrison; Forrest, Armstrong, Snodgrass; Griffiths.
Subs: Hamilton, McGregor, Anya, Berra, Fletcher, Bannan, Ritchie, McGinn, Cairney, C Martin, Naismith, Rhodes.
Slovenia: Oblak; Al. Struna, Samardzic, Cesar, Jokic; Krhin, Kampl, Krtic; Birsa, Bezjak, Ilicic.
Subs: Belec, Koprivec, Sirok, Krajnc, Beric, Novakovic, An. Struna, Mevlja, Omladic, Zajc, Verbic, Crnic.
Scotland 6/4
Slovenia 23/10
Draw 2
Preamble by Nick Ames
"Scotland the Brave? Perhaps – but first of all it’s Scotland the Desperate, really, because this is the final drink in the last-chance saloon for their World Cup hopes and, quite possibly, for Gordon Strachan’s time in charge too. It’s been an utterly miserable start to the qualifiers and, even if they gave it a go against England in November before being breezily swatted aside at Wembley, the simple truth is that they just haven’t been good enough. A 1-1 draw with Canada in a midweek friendly didn’t do a lot to spur thoughts that they might have improved much in the meantime – but hey, this is football and weird things can/do/will happen. A win would, just like that, put them a point behind tonight’s opponents and right back on The Mix.
It’s not especially easy to make things happen against a dogged and neat Slovenia, though. Slovenia are a superb example of a national team that punches above their weight – the kind Scotland are routinely advised to learn from but, systemically, never do. They need the win, too, otherwise Slovakia are likely to overhaul them and go second with a win in Malta. So it could be that we’re in for quite a high-octane affair. Here’s hoping."
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Post by WullieFort on Mar 26, 2017 18:34:04 GMT
I'm trying to think of another left-footed full back who plays right back for his country !
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Post by runie on Mar 26, 2017 18:36:21 GMT
Line of duty at 9 lads - great show... just saying  |
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Post by WullieFort on Mar 26, 2017 18:46:27 GMT
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Post by staggerstag on Mar 26, 2017 19:25:36 GMT
Oh Griffiths!!! 3 yards out and he strikes the bar on '34.
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Post by staggerstag on Mar 26, 2017 19:26:44 GMT
A minute later Griffiths is denied by the woodwork again! This time the post.
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Post by staggerstag on Mar 26, 2017 19:39:24 GMT
It's nil-nil at half time, but with two strikes of the woodwork, major possession, seven corners to Slovenia's none, 3 shots on target, 8 off, and even a disallowed goal, Scotland really should have potted by now. The signs look good for the second half. But a goal must be netted against an off-colour Slovenian side before the Scots get caught quick break.
HT book :
Scotland 7/5
Slovenia 15/4
Draw 13/10
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Post by staggerstag on Mar 26, 2017 19:56:12 GMT
30 seconds into the second half and there's something not right with Leigh Griffiths. It looks like he's struggling with something. Wait, he's on his back now, and could well come off. Yes, he's definitely being subbed. Naismith comes on.
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Post by staggerstag on Mar 26, 2017 20:20:07 GMT
Nick Ames says:
"66 min: Scotland might as well lose this game as draw. Time for some risks? Chuck another striker on? The chances have dried up. Snodgrass tries to fashion one with another free-kick but, again, it meets the fist of Oblak.
70 min: It’s a bit quiet in Hampden now. The belief appears to be ebbing away."
Will the crowd yet go mad, with 20 left?
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2017 20:35:43 GMT
That should do it.
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Post by staggerstag on Mar 26, 2017 20:36:11 GMT
It's hold-yer-breath time at Hampden as Chris Martin pots with two minutes left on the clock!!!
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Post by staggerstag on Mar 26, 2017 20:47:14 GMT
And as '(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles' (la-la-la-lah, la-la-la-lah, la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-lahhhh) blares out at Hampden Park, here's the Postamble by Nick Ames :
"That’s it! What drama! And it is, for now at least, right back on for Scotland!
Gordon Strachan looked absolutely impassive at the end of that. Relief, perhaps. Had they not won, that may well have been him out of a job. It was one of his substitutes who won it for them and put them right in touch with the pack behind England – and you can’t say they didn’t deserve it. The first-half performance was very good and should have seen them in the lead. After the break it was, in honesty, pretty uninspired stuff and the departure of Griffiths through injury didn’t help. But they kept at it, gained another gear when Anya – who missed a big chance himself – came on, and found a second wind towards the end. Slovenia, for their part, showed virtually nothing in attack and looked happy to settle for a draw as that went on. They didn’t get one; Scotland win, and now they look to the big one against England here in June."
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