Posted September 8, 200717 yr Irrespective of what happens between now and the end of qualification I can't see beyond Scotland as the home nation that has impressed the most in the qualifiers. After the Scots I would then nominate Northern Ireland. Both countries are punching well above their weight and at the risk of tempting fate for the Scots I can honestly see them qualifying at the expense of Italy.
September 9, 200717 yr Be nice to see Scotland in a Euro again , even just to have a piss up with their fans . Only caught the end of their game today and havnt seen too much of their games. On an Irish note , there we were , ahead twice in the game but Stan the Man blew it again . A goal up with 6 mins left , i'd love to know what instructions Stan the Man was giving the players , and playing Jonathan Douglas , a first division player who cant get a game with his club getting in ahead of Andy Reid or Steven C**t. To be honest , im delighted we lost , anything to see that ignorant arse wipe come down with a bang. Even his after match interview was abysmal , he certainly wouldnt inspire you with confidence.
September 9, 200717 yr European Championship Qualifying : Group B Table ....................P...W...D...L....F...A...Pts 1. Frogs........8....6....1...1...15..2...19 2. Scotland...8....6....0...2...16..7...18 3. Greasers...8....5....2...1...13..6...17 4. Ukraine.....7....4....1...2.....9..7...13 It's a tough group, with France, Italy & Ukraine - but I honestly think that if Scotland keep playing to their strengths as they have been, then there's every chance they could qualify. Alex McLeish has continued where Walter Smith left off, and the team looks well balanced. Wednesday night is key - Scotland away to France, Italy away to Ukraine. Ukraine could easily cause an upset against the Italians, and I honestly believe that Scotland could get a draw in France, maybe even sneak a win - but then, being a Scotland supporter, I'm eternally optimistic and extremely biased Even if it all goes tits-up, Scotland can be proud of their performance in the qualifiers - as can Northern Ireland.
September 9, 200717 yr On an Irish note , there we were , ahead twice in the game but Stan the Man blew it again . A goal up with 6 mins left , i'd love to know what instructions Stan the Man was giving the players , and playing Jonathan Douglas , a first division player who cant get a game with his club getting in ahead of Andy Reid or Steven C**t. To be honest , im delighted we lost , anything to see that ignorant arse wipe come down with a bang. Even his after match interview was abysmal , he certainly wouldnt inspire you with confidence. Yep was very dissapointing, Doyle's goal was class though. Can't really see us getting much from the Czech's on Wednesday.
September 9, 200717 yr To be honest , im delighted we lost , anything to see that ignorant arse wipe come down with a bang. Even his after match interview was abysmal , he certainly wouldnt inspire you with confidence. A disaster given that we were ahead twice, having scored 2 excellent goals, playing crap opposition, in a ground where 70 percent of the fans were Irish. Staunton gave the initiative to the opposition with his substitutions but we've noone to get on the ball and take responsibility. I can't bring myself to hope we lose games but would still like Staunton gone. He hasn't learnt a thing. Richard Dunne was tremendous though. He's looking every bit as good as JT these days and he doesn't burst out crying every 5 miniutes.
September 9, 200717 yr how many sides go through in scotland's group? the top two? and how many go into the qualifiers? one or two? despite having been great so far I don't think you'll do it- too much of a gap between italy and you. if you had england's group thing's would be difficult. getting both world cup finalists is unfortunate.
September 9, 200717 yr Author Two go through from every group and I think there is a place for the 3rsd placed team with the most points from all the groups. I actually think Italy are going to fail to qualify (at least I can hope, it will allow me to create the group table as Pauly's signature).
September 9, 200717 yr heh- took me a while to get that reference. er, I'll raise you... bah. can't think. if this was bralk I'd have so many choices. instead, scott brown- how good is he?
September 9, 200717 yr Author So far so good with Brown. He has started very well for Celtic and has probably been Scotland's most impressive performer in the last few qualifiers (certainly yesterday and in the 2-0 defeat to Italy). Hibs developed a number of players at the same time who have all been tipped to have good careers and have all moved on from Hibs at roughly the same time (Brown to Celtic, Thomson to Rangers and I am sure there was anoher who I have forgotten) So far Brown seems to be the one who has stepped up his game and looks like he may fulfill his potential. I probably haven't seen enough of him to form a full opinion on him however from what I have seen he looks like having a bright career aheaad of him. It was strongly rumoured in the Scottish press that Premiership club offered ?9m for him just before the transfer window closed (only a cuple f months after Celtic paid ?4.5m to take him from Hibs) although that was never confirmed by anyone.
September 13, 200717 yr anyone in scotland, could you box this man and ship him to hungary? http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/referee_profil...&viewcategory=1 i promise you will never see him again... last night he made one of the worst decisions i have ever seen.
September 13, 200717 yr I honestly believe that Scotland could get a draw in France, maybe even sneak a win:: Sh*t, I knew I should have put some money on that!
September 13, 200717 yr Vive L'eccosse What a result, had a few drinks to celebrate that one, but I am not counting my chickens before they ahve hatched. Also, in this Euro qualifying there are NO life lines. The top 2 from each group go through, and that is all. No 3rd place, nothing. Top 2 or your out!
September 14, 200717 yr I honestly believe that Scotland could get a draw in France, maybe even sneak a win:: Sh*t, I knew I should have put some money on that! sh*t BB - You've come out of that Liberal wishy-washy closet of yours and at last owned up to your true allegiance - That's a WELSH dragon flag! Yacky Dah Boyo! Kev
September 14, 200717 yr I honestly believe that Scotland could get a draw in France, maybe even sneak a win:: Sh*t, I knew I should have put some money on that! sh*t BB - You've come out of that Liberal wishy-washy closet of yours and at last owned up to your true allegiance - That's a WELSH dragon flag! Yacky Dah Boyo! Kev You really need to lay off that local scrumpy, Kev - it's affecting your eyesight!
September 14, 200717 yr I thought that the Scottish flag was like a Blue Cross sticker (everything half price at Lidl's) and that the Welsh had bragging rights on red dragons! Oh well, never mind! Kev (off down to the farm gate for some more scrump!)
September 15, 200717 yr That is a Red Lion mate, wales can keep their dragons...wouldn't mind some of that scrumpy though, sounds like it's mildly hallucogenic
September 19, 200717 yr Very belated congrats on an outstanding result! Thought it was a bit of a goalkeeping error tbh, but who cares...
October 13, 200717 yr Author Once again Bluebeard and Mad Mac, A great result and a great performance for Scotland - McLeish has taken the foundations laid by Walter SMith and carrying on where Smith left off. One thing it has shown is that the knocking Smith's reputation as a manager got when he was at Everton was possibly very unjust - his hands were totally tied at Everton and he probably did as well as anyone could give the fact that all his prize assets were being sold from under him without any of the cash coming back his way.
October 13, 200717 yr Great result yet again. Will we actually see Scotland in Euro 2008? Two games remain. One against Georgia (away) and one against Italy (home). Surely they'll beat Scotland and if so then a draw against Italy would be enough to send them through. And if that happens then I think we'll see Scotland and France progress while the current world champions Italy miss out.
October 13, 200717 yr Author Scotland may well still fail to qualify (and I really hope they don't because they have punched above there weight long enough now to really deserve a place in Euro 2008). They have done phenominally well already. After 10 games they top a group which has France, Italy and the Ukraine in it, and after 10 games only one team in all the groups have more points than Scotland. As things currently stand they have done better than France Italy Portugal Ukraine Germany England Spain Sweden Holland (amongst other teams) and this despite the fact they are playing in one of the toughest groups, no I take that back, the toughest group in the entire qualification round. It is time they got the recognition they deserve for what they have achieved to date rather than people thinking that despite doing well expectation will eventually prevail and France and Italy will qualify. I really hope Scotland make it, in a similar vein to the English rugby team, they have outshone teams tipped for greatness and they have done so against the odds and through an extremely credible ability for the sum of the team to exceed the sum of the parts. Both France and Italy have achieved the opposite.
October 14, 200717 yr It's a shame the way the group will end, with one of Italy or Scotland going out. France currently sit third but Italy will play in Scotland in our next fixture while France have one challenging match away in the Ukraine to come. It will be a real test of nerves against scotland as i'm sure they are a tight group and will throw everything at us. I love France as a country but that football team really needs to fall flat on it's face- from manager, to players, to playing style it's an arrogant antagonistic and generally unpleasant entity. I'm happy to see Sheva got another 90 minutes and a goal for the Ukraine tonight.
