Scotland
Netherlands 3-0 Scotland
Really, not far from the expected result. There were some questionable referee decisions, but it would be wrong to say they cost us the game. We were outplayed, barely had a chance at the Dutch goal, etc etc. To be honest, with the crap stream I watched the match on (late, since I had a game of my own to play in), I can’t give a definitive answer on whether Caldwell’s goal should have stood, and when I can’t definitely argue with it, I tend to go with the ref’s decision. Even a ref that the French won’t even allow to officiate league games, and therefore has no place reffing a World Cup qualifier. Nice to see Kenny Miller get a shot on frame, but the fact is that three shots, one on target, was never going to be nearly enough against an offensive powerhouse like the Dutch.
Moving on. The match Wednesday is, realistically, the one that matters. Holland owns this group, and I conceded that basically when the draw was made. But Scotland should be the second-strongest team here, and anything less than a second-place finish, and a playoff for qualification, should frankly be George Burley’s head. That penalty goal for Holland might have been meaningless for the result of this game, but it was very meaningful in terms of putting Scotland behind Iceland on goal differential, and knocking us out of the second position. On Wednesday, in Glasgow, we need to beat Iceland, and if we can’t, we don’t deserve to go to South Africa.
As far as squad changes, it’s hard to say. Christophe Berra was clearly overcome by the challenge of opening his international career against Holland, and to be fair it was a bit of a harsh way to get his first start. Iceland would have been a far kinder way to start. Alan Hutton made an appearance, against expectations, and I hope he’ll be closer to form on Wednesday. In general, our back line was weak, and set the tone for a disappointing day. We won’t face this kind of quality on Wednesday, but we still have to better, and more solid, to get all the points safely and take that second-place spot. The danger man to watch will be Eiður Guðjohnsen , though with no Icelander scoring more than one goal from open play so far in the qualifiers, that’s a bit speculative.
Mon the Scots.
More Scotland World Cup News
Another bloody squad post: Holland
Here’s the list of Dutchmen that we’ll be facing a week from today. As always with Holland, the strikers are frightening, the midfield intimidating … the rest? Without the known quantity of Edwin van der Sar between the sticks, it’s hard to say.
Mon the Scots. Oh, and I’m no Dutch-hater, but if I didn’t include ... [read]
Holland v Scotland: The Keeper Situation
Long story short: Nobody quite knows who will man the sticks on March 28th in Amsterdam. On the home side, Edwin van der Sar said today that he wouldn’t be returning to international duty for the Netherlands. In a word, yay. Any day you don’t have to line up against a Champions League holder, that’s a good ... [read]
Squad for Holland and Iceland
Yesterday, we had the squads for the U-21 Euro qualifiers – now, here’s the one for the big show, the two World Cup qualifiers with Holland and Iceland. The big news is the return of Alan Hutton, who has been sorely missed in the defense. Iwelumo is back, for another chance, and let’s hope he can bury it ... [read]
U-21 Squad Announced
As Scotland prepares for vital World Cup qualifying matches against Holland and Iceland, we shouldn’t forget about the future either. The U-21 team begins qualification for the 2011 U-21 European Championships with a home-and-home with Albania. And, just to assure that the youth game has no audience whatsoever, the matches are the exact same dates as the senior ... [read]
Two weeeeeks …
God I love that movie. Anyway, the relevance of that clip, thin as it may be, is that in two weeks, Scotland is finally, FINALLY back in action, in the toughest World Qualifier of the whole campaign, away against the Netherlands. Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Saar (who apparently CAN be scored on), and the rest of ... [read]
Scotland v Argentina Friendly Preview
The Squad:
Keepers: Allan McGregor (Rangers), David Marshall (Norwich City)
Defenders: Graham Alexander (Burnley), Darren Barr (Falkirk), Christophe Berra (Hearts), Kirk Broadfoot (Rangers), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Alan Hutton (Spurs), Jamie McAllister (Bristol City), Stephen McManus (Celtic), Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United)
Midfield: Scott Brown (Celtic), Kris Commons (Derby), Barry Ferguson (Rangers), Paul Hartley (Celtic), Scott Robertson (Dundee United), Barry Robson (Celtic)
Forwards: David Clarkson (Motherwell), ... [read]
UK Olympic Football: My Vote is for Playoffs
… and apparently, David Cameron agrees. Usually, those three words would make me rethink any position on any issue, but since the idea was first brought up, I believed it to be the best solution to the incredibly tricky issue of what to do about football in London 2012.
Let me add that I agree with the SFA on this: ... [read]
Nacho for Scotland?
It’s been a long silence for the Scotland WCB. Since that incredible miss which will never be mentioned again in this blog, I’ve been in a bit of a stupor, and frankly, have survived by burying myself in club matters. Still, this is a story that needs to be dealt with.
Nacho Novo (of Rangers) was born in Spain ... [read]
Squad for 11 Oct Qualifier with Norway
Here is George Burley’s squad for Saturday’s matchup with Norway. More on this match as it gets closer.
Keepers:
Craig Gordon (Sunderland), David Marshall (Norwich), Allan McGregor (Rangers)
Defenders:
Graham Alexander (Burnley), Darren Barr (Falkirk), Christophe Berra (Hearts), Kirk Broadfoot (Rangers), Gary Caldwell (Celtic), Jamie McAllister (Bristol City), Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United), Davie Weir (Rangers)
Midfield:
Scott Brown (Celtic), Kris Commons (Derby), Darren Fletcher (Man ... [read]
Latest Comments
- And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
Jan-There's a reason he was known as "Kenny Misser" in his time at Celtic. ...[read more] - And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
Jan from the Dutch blog here... Sorry for your loss guys. I actually would have loved to see the ...[read more] - And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
Aye who wants to go to South Africa anyway as Seb said - I had plans at any rate - getting married a ...[read more] - And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
Believe me, Matt - I'm as far from a Kris Boyd fan as it comes, after the way he abandoned his count ...[read more] - And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
It'll be winter in South Africa though Seb. Thought the Scottish NT played well and were unluck ...[read more] - And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
Nevermind, who wants to go to South Africa anyway? It's too hot and the noise fae those horns would ...[read more] - And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
From the Dutch blog again - Sad to see the Scots not make it. You have the best fans, the most coura ...[read more] - And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
Drew - A win would have put us on 13 points, and second ranked (for now) among the second-placed tea ...[read more] - And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
I may be wrong, but looking at the table standings Scotland wouldn't have made it through even if th ...[read more] - And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
Oh, and to answer your question, I got match tickets in the first round of bidding back in March, an ...[read more] - And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
Ahh, the English trolls don't take long to show up. Eugene, I will definitely be supporting the Iri ...[read more] - And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
England in + Scotland out = Sweetest day in history. ...[read more] - And we're done: Scotland 0-1 Netherlands
Ian Purely out of curiousity, I'm assuming you have tickets for a match of some sort in South Afr ...[read more] - 9/9/09 Scotland vs. Netherlands
Hopefully some Ireland ones, John - those are a little easier to stomach. ...[read more] - 9/9/09 Scotland vs. Netherlands
Looks like Scotland's watching from TV, next summer. Maybe even get to watch some England games.:) ...[read more]
Scotland Club Football News
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- Don't forget to cheer on your fellow Scottish club tonight
- Hair of the Dog - The Sunday Morning Report
- Match Report : Celtic 3 - 0 Kilmarnock
- Happy Halloween: Caley 4-1 Morton
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