On Friday evening Scotland continued their winless run in the FIFA World Cup 2014 qualifying campaign, once again letting a lead slip to find themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 scoreline against Wales. The match was Gordon Strachan’s first competitive game in charge, following the 1-0 friendly win over Estonia in February. Both performance and result left a lot to be desired, however, and what follows is five things that the ninety minutes of pain told us:
The year 2012 will not be looked back on with fond memories for Scotland. Only two wins from eight games, not a single one in competitive action, and yet another major tournament passing us by with noses pressed up against the window. Only if you’re into football betting and laid on the inevitability of Craig Levein’s eventual sacking can you have taken any satisfaction from the year as a Scotland fan.
Scotland fans weren’t asking for too much last night, they weren’t expecting a goals avalanche or some tiki-taka themed football. Just a reason or two to look to the future and say “well maybe it’s not that bad”. Perhaps it wasn’t the fixture to look for it, after all most people had derided the fixture in some shape way or form over the last week. It was a waste of time to take on a minnow, what’s the point of picking the old guard, and then conversely when a clutch of those first choices threw a sickie, what’s the point of picking guys like Shinnie, Barr and Kelly?
When the squad was announced, the return of ‘the Fletchers’ was one that as Scotland fans we were hoping for and wished for.
Supporting the Scotland national football team from a fresh perspective.
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