Scotland v Italy Tomorrow
16 November 2007So, here we are on the eve of the biggest match in Scotland’s recent footballing history.
The build up and hype has been incredible. Every newspaper, pub and club in the land has jumped on the bandwagon and whilst there will always be those that ask “Where were you when we were sh***”, it was great to walk down Sauchiehall Street this morning and see Saltires flying from every window.
It seems like a long time ago now that I was sitting in Hampden in the dark days of friendly defeats to the likes of Hungary and Australia. I think the lowest point of all was a defeat by Austria on a cold Wednesday night with just 9,000 of us bothering to turn up. Hampden was like a grave yard that night.
Despite his obvious failings, it’s good to see that Berti Vogts doesn’t harbour any ill feelings and wishes us well for the game. I guess he was well renumerated for his efforts…
These days the demand for Scotland tickets is unbelievable and Hampden could probably have sold out twice over. I was offered £250 for my ticket last week, but I wouldn’t part with my seat in the North Stand for 10 times that amount. This is the game that can finally see us emerge again as a force in world football. The 2 games against the French, the Ukraine game, they’ve all been leading up to this point.
There are those who say that if we don’t make it then we can look back on a successful campaign and be glad of the improvement we have made. After all, we have jumped from 4th seeds for this campaign, to at least 2nd seeds for the World Cup qualifying draw next week.
Yes, before a ball was kicked we would have taken third place in the group, but to have got so close and miss out now would be devastating. No one will remember the nearly men when it all kicks off in Austria and Switzerland next Summer. It would be a total injustice to all the players who have put so much into getting us into this position to be sitting watching the tournament on the TV. Not to mention I want a holiday in the alps…
Can we do it? Yes, we can.
In recent years at Hampden we’ve beaten France, we’ve beaten Holland and 2 years ago we came within 10 minutes of beating the Italians. We have a full strength team available, the atmosphere will be incredible and the players will know that they are 90 minutes away from becoming Scottish heroes. If we can keep the game tight and nick a goal then as we have shown in recent games that we have learned how to defend a lead.
It`s for this reason that I think James McFadden may start on the bench on Saturday, coming on around the 60 minute mark after Kenny Miller has tired the Italians with his running. I believe the starting line up will be: -
Gordon
Hutton McManus Weir Naysmith
Hartley
Brown Fletcher Ferguson (c) McCulloch
Miller
So, my prediction. 2-1 Scotland, with Miller getting the first and McFadden scoring the winner around the 80 minute mark. Alba Gu Braith!
on November 16th, 2007 at 2:53 pm
No work being done for the King of Bebo today. Too edgy. Finding it difficult to stay in my seat for any length of time. Still, finish in 40 minutes though!
on November 16th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Get some work done King of Bebo!
James McFadden has to start.