June 16, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier
We'll be coming
Tickets for Scotland v Macedonia and Scotland v Norway are about to be made available to the Scotland Supporters Club.
I just received an email from the SSC. They’re letting us know that seats for the last two home qualifiers will be on sale from 22 June to 17 July. Being Scotland’s last two games in this stage there should be a lot of interest in these games. Holland have run away with the group, but Scotland are well placed to claim a second position play-off spot. It’s not certain, but a good couple of results in these matches could see us into the that desired position.
I’ll be goingto the Macedonia game. The Norway match will be the one of most interest. However I’m totally stuffed for holidays so won’t make it to Hampden that night. No worries though about watching it. I’ll be in the pub with everyone else watching Scotland to victorious end. I can’t wait. Tickets will be ordered on Monday:)
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April 20, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier
Scotland with Kirin Cup
It seems almost certain now. A Japan v Scotland friendly will take place on Saturday 10 October. And there is talk about a second match near Japan on the 14th (South Korea??). So, should I go?
Am totally up for it, but it’ll be no mean feat. It’ll totally bust the bank. Say that, it could be well worth it. Japan will be cool to visit and the last time the Scotland team went there they came home with the Kirin Cup. So a good game could be on the cards. I’ll just have to check my bank account after the fixture is confirmed.
Tags: japan, Kirin cup, Scotland
Posted in Friendlies, Scotland Squad, Tartan Army Abroad | Leave a Comment »
April 16, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier
I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s been paying attention to the debacle concerning the banning of Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor. What a nonsense! To my mind its another example of the SFA hindering the team’s chances of World Cup qualification. Banning is too extreme a punishment and serves only to disadvantage other players’ efforts.
OK, to be fair, I was away on holiday when the incidents happened. So, I had a little bit of catching up to do. But, from what I gather Ferguson and McGregor were a couple of diddies and DID desereve to be punished. However, how does anyone gain, now or in the future, by the SFA banning them from internationals for life? By excluding these two players the team has been significantly weakened, playing into the hands of our opposition.
And it seems this is a common view. Hamish Husband, speaking for the Tartan Army, said that Scotland fans would welcome Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor back to the Scotland team if they apologised. And more interestingly, George Burley is has distanced himself from the ban. He stated “The Scotland manager doesn’t decide who’s banned,” and went on to say “I stress, I didn’t ban them. The Scottish FA board as a whole decide these matters. I’m not on the board”.So, it seems, to me at least, that the SFA hierarchy are intent on a decision widely unsupported outside their offices.
What now? Unfortunately my faith inthe SFA isn’t great, so I don’t forsee any resolution. It may require someone’s resination, or even worse Scotland failing to qualify, to show the decision to be ill-considered. Hopefully it won’t come to either.
Tags: Allan McGregor, Barry Ferguson
Posted in George Burley, Scotland Coach, Scotland Squad, Tartan Army, World Cup 2010 | Leave a Comment »
April 3, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier
Thank goodness. A victorious result at Hampden.
Scotland are hopefully back on the route to qualification. Despite the controversial exclusion of Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor, the Scotland squad saw fit to defeat Iceland 2-1. While the Rangers duo were relegatged to the bench, both Ross McCormack and Steven Fletcher scored their first goals for Scotland to ensure a victory over the Icelandic visitors. I just wish I’d seen it.
Again, due to some regional, cable-related bonkerness Scotland games don’t appear to merit showing on TV in the USA. As before, we had to follow the game on the internet. As much as I appreiciated the score it would have been so much better to see the Scotland squad in action. And I wouldn’t have had to spend the day in a museum:(
Minor disappointments aside, am glad we’re back on winning form and hope we see more of the same.
Tags: Iceland
Posted in Scotland Squad, Tartan Army, World Cup 2010 | Leave a Comment »
March 30, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier
Am gutted! My Saturday in Atlanta was no fun, with Scotland suffering a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Dutch, and not even having the chance to see the game.
It all started so well. Stuart, who wrote to TAS a few day ago, emailed to say he had found a pub showing the Scotland match – Fado Irish Pub. Seemed like a perfect plan. And friends here agreed it was was likely the best venue for watching ’soccer’. So off we went.
Anticipation was high. Like Scotland’s recent journey to Paris the odds were stacked agaianst us. So, there was nothing to lose and everything to gain. However, all thoughts if watching the game were quickly dashed. For some cable TV/BBC messed up reason they couldn’t show the Scotland match. So we ended up watching the Germany v Liechtenstein game while following the Scotland match on the Internet. As BBC reports updated my mood dimmed and I ended up thinking maybe it wasn’t so bad that I missed seeing it all.
Next game, Iceland. Well, I think I’ll be following that on the Internet as well. Fado’s have no plans of showing the match. I just hope I see the BBC Sports site describing a few Scotland goals. Otherwise we are in big doo-doo. Come on Scotland. It’s time for some serioous points!
Tags: Holland, Scotland
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March 12, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier
Hampden Park
Been waiting to get your hands on a ticket for the Scotland v Iceland game? Now’s your chance. The sale of tickets to the Scotland Supporters Club has closed and a public ballot has been opened for remaining tickets. Registration for these tickets can be found at http://www.ticketlink.co.uk/scotlandballot, and you ca sign up until the end of Sunday 15 March.
I’ll be on holiday then. I’m still looking for somewhere to watch this and the Holland match. Being that I’m going to the USA where they (or their TV stations) are still light years behind in appreciating ’soccer’ it’s not been easy to locate somewhere I might watch the games. I’ll keep looking, but any input would be very welcome.
Tags: Iceland
Posted in World Cup 2010 | 1 Comment »
February 21, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier
The first batch of tickets for World Cup 2010 are now on sale. FIFA are offering an initial 743,965 tickets to be allocated by ballot on 15 Arpil. Applicants will be able to apply throught the FIFA website, fifa.com until 31 March. Ticket prices range from £55 to £627 and fans can apply for up to four tickets each per match for up to seven matches.
This is the first of five sale period. Tickets will next be available between 4 May and 16 November.
Tags: South Africa, World cup
Posted in FIFA, World Cup 2010 | Leave a Comment »
February 18, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier
I just heard from the Scotland Supporters Club the other day. They are offering a chance to get hold of tickets to the Holland v Scotland tickets that will be open to anyone with no points.
Part of me is gutted. I have no points, which hinders me massively towards getting an away ticket. No points equals nigh on no chance of being allocated a ticket, leaving me still with no points – a very annoying cycle. Now that I have a chance to break this cycle and go see the Dutch game I am not going to be able to go. Not that I expect too much pity, but I will be in the US that weekend. Anyway, the long and short of it is that I am a wee bit miffed at this lost chance.
In case you didn’t receive the email, details are being sent out by email next week. Good luck everyone.
BTW, if anyone knows of a Scottish ex-pat group in Atlanta or somewhere there that I can watch the game it would be most appreciated. Thanks.
Tags: Holland, Scotland
Posted in World Cup 2010 | 1 Comment »
January 27, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier
They’ve being talking about it for yonks now. At last, but not surprisingly, the English FA have submitted a bid to host World Cup 2018.
Sure, I know what many will be thinking. If England are chosen it’ll be a perfect excuse for media-inspired small-mindedness and expectation on the part of the English – 52 years of hurt, blah blah…, football’s coming home, and England expects. Sure, that will be a pain. But, more than usual? I’m not convinced. And it wouldn’t be all bad.
Having the venues nearby will make going to the matches easier. No 12 hours on a flight, to a country of questionable safety. Just nip down the road, watch Scotland win, maybe stay over after all the boozing, and come home the day after. Brilliant. I’m all for the England bid.
Plus, it’s been ages since a host team won the World Cup. Long may that continue;)
Tags: World Cup 2018
Posted in England, FIFA | Leave a Comment »
December 8, 2008 by Tartan Army Soldier
I just got back from my hoidays to find that the Norway v Scotland game has been rescheduled to 19 August instead of the original 12 August. Because of Champions League dates, UEFA made a request to FIFA to move the date forward. They were happy to agree.
Apparently the SFA made ‘repeated attempts’ to have the date changed to Ocrtober, after the start of the SPL season. As seems to be usual, the SFA was “disaapointed”.
Anyway, now we can start making plans. We have flights to Oslo in mind and are hoping to book some accommodation for 4 days. Oslo is meant to be expensive for beers, so if anyone knows of some cheap venues, we have would welcome a reply.
Tags: Norway, Scotland
Posted in FIFA, Tartan Army Abroad, UEFA, World Cup 2010 | 1 Comment »
