I’m gutted!! Scotland drew 2-2 to the Czech Republic in what can easily described a highly controversial match. Despite being ahead twice in the game, a series of falls by the Czechs and questionable refereeing decisions wrecked the day for every Scotland fan. Pundits are using words like ‘cheats’, ‘sickening’ and ‘disgusting’. And I can’t disagree. To suffer because of such dubious decisions while being the better team is hard to take. It feels like we’ve been raped.
Archive for the Euro 2012 Category
Scotland 2 – 2 Czech Republic – Scotland robbed as Rezek dives
Posted in Euro 2012 with tags Czech Republic, Scotland on September 3, 2011 by Tartan Army SoldierLiechtenstein v Scotland – Ticket allocation decision
Posted in Euro 2012, Tartan Army, Tartan Army Abroad with tags Liechtenstein, Scotland, Scotland Supporters Club, ssc on July 1, 2011 by Tartan Army SoldierThe SFA have released details of the ticket allocation for the Liechtenstein v Scotland match on 8 October. Scotland fans have been allocated 2000 tickets.
Tickets will be available to SSC members with 6 points or more. Purchases can be made any time after 10.00 am on Friday 8 July until 9.00 pm on Friday 12 August. Tickets will be available from ticketlink.
Spain v Scotland venue confirmed
Posted in Euro 2012, Tartan Army on May 14, 2011 by Tartan Army SoldierThe Spanish FA have confirmed the venue for the Spain v Scotland match in October. The game will be played in the Costa Blanca, at the Estadio Rico Perez stadium in Alicante.
This is almost perfect. The Costa Blanca is a fantastic place. I’ve been to Alicante a couple of times and its got excellent bars and great nightlife. And if everywhere is crowded out I’m sure there will be plenty of beach parties going on. Going there will be a stack of fun.
There could be a lot riding on this match. It’s Scotland’s final game in the Euro 2012 qualifiers, and if we go there needing points it going to be the toughest match ever. The tensions will be stratospheric. Going up against the world champions will not be easy. Hopefully that won’t be the case. That said, it would be so good to see Scotland get some points against Spain.
Whatever the scenario, I’m hoping to get over there. I’ll be straight in there as soon as tickets are available.
Scotland 2 – 3 Spain – beaten by world champions
Posted in Craig Levein, Euro 2012, Tartan Army on October 12, 2010 by Tartan Army SoldierScotland lost. Again.
I’m not exactly over the moon. Once again the Scotland team has ended a match with a worthless result. There were some good moments, but that doesn’t earn any points unless the ball finds the goal net. So, we sink to 3rd place in Group I while the Czech Republic move into second place after a decisive victory over Liechtenstien.
As I said there were some sparks of possibility in the match. Scotland did have their share of possession in the first half, much more so that on Friday. A first minute Scottish corner unfortunately bore no fruit, but even though the Spanish pressed hard and forced many saves, Scotland pressed on and almost scored with a James Morrison shot at goal. And the Scottish goal remained empty. But it couldn’t last. Hand ball by Whittaker in the 44th minute allowed Spain a penalty which Villa sadly converted. Scotland finished the first half 1-0 down.
There were more goals in the second half. Scotland started respectably, but Spain weren’t taking it easy. After initially unsuccessful efforts Iniesta put Spain further into the lead with a 55th minute goal. Tragedy!
But Scotland weren’t in the mood to give up. The responded immediately, quickly sending the ball up to the Spanish end of the pitch where Miller directed a cross between defenders Pique and Ramos and keeper Casillas, for Naismith to intercept and head the ball into the net from six yards. Scotland seemed to be on the way back.
Then,amazingly, Spain gifted Scotland an equalizer, Pique putting the ball into the Spanish net. Was this going to be a shock victory for Scotland.
We could hope, but hat was all it was going to be. With less than 11 minutes to go McManus inexplicably misjudged the ball, giving substitute Llorente the opportunity to side-foot the ball past McGregor to score the final goal of the evening, Spain finishing deserved victors.
All said, Scotland played a better game than on Friday. Unfortunately this still wasn’t enough.
Czech Republic 1 – 0 Scotland – a deserved defeat
Posted in Craig Levein, Euro 2012, Tartan Army with tags Czech Republic, Scotland on October 9, 2010 by Tartan Army SoldierLast night’s display by the Scotland team was shameful! We lost, or more correctly threw away the game to a mediocre Czech Republic team. Three points, or at least a draw were ours’ for the taking, But it seems that was too much to ask.
The Czechs have a formidable reputation. Their recent history has shown them capable of great things and a side of which we need to be wary. However, in the past few months they have fallen in stature quite significantly. They even lost at home to Lithuania 4 weeks ago. So, what on earth was Craig Levein doing putting out an unambitious 4-6-0 formation!!!
Were we even wanting or hoping to win??? The uninspiring, strikerless formation smacks of a timid lack of ambition. It tells me that Levein was going after a draw, and no more. And, if that’s what I think, I can only imagine what they players thought – going out there to face a beatable team with the most defensive formation anyone has ever seen. They must have been truly uninspired.
I should give credit where credit is due. Scotland played a defensive game very well. For the majority of the match the defenders played an excellent game. And McGregor saved us numerous times.
But the Czechs were there for the taking. Their defence was shaky, and we could have scored at least a couple of goals given the chance. But, having no strikers wasn’t going to help that happen. Meanwhile the Czechs showed the ambition that we lacked and kept up the pressure, eventually getting the goal they needed. And the rest is now history.
I have one word for Craig Levein. Resign.
Scotland 2 – 1 Liechtenstein – A shambles of a victory
Posted in Euro 2012, Tartan Army with tags Liechtenstein, Scotland on September 8, 2010 by Tartan Army SoldierWhat a nightmare? Scotland may have won 3 points last night, but they did so in the most shambolic fashion I have ever seen. Having to come from behind, at home, against one of the lowest ranked teams in Europe, and waiting until the seventh minute of five minutes extra time to score the winning goal is not the stuff of champions. I am almost ashamed.
We were in the Rob Roy bar. As ever there was a great atmosphere. We were all optimistic of an impressive win. Liechtenstein, being ranked 141 in the world, should have been a pushover. How wrong we all were.
Liechtenstein were first to score. After a first half to forget the game quickly turned in the visitors’ favour with a 46th minute goal. Nightmare! We couldn’t afford to lose this game! And not to this ‘minnow’.
The remainder of the game was desperate. We were desperate to see some Scotland goals. And the Scotland squad were just desperate. Then, at last, after 63 minutes a Robson cross headed into the path of Miller leveled the score as the striker drove the ball home from 15 yards. Now Scotland had a chance.
But still it was dire viewing. The Scotland Squad obviously want to qualify to the Euro 2012 finals. Don’t they? Well, they didn’t show it. Another thirty-odd minutes and into injury time it didn’t look good. Was this going to be remembered as the low-point of Scottish international football? It certainly looked that way.
Unbelievable!! Just when it was looking like Craig Levein was destined for the Job Centre, McManus rose above the Liechtenstein defence to send the ball into the visitors’ net, and Hampden into a roar tinged with a big streak of relief. 2-1 to Scotland. What a relief.
Lithuania 0 – 0 Scotland – A bad start to Euro qualification
Posted in Euro 2012, Tartan Army with tags Lithuania on September 4, 2010 by Tartan Army SoldierScotland had to win. With teams like Spain and the Czech Republic in our group, we needed all the points we can get against the other teams. So 6 points out of the first two games, against Lithuania and Liechtenstein, had to be a necessity. Well, now that isn’t going to happen.
I guess we didn’t play too bad. There were a few good chances by Scotland and we were the better team with more shots at goal than the opposition. However it was the same problem as in many other games – we just can’t seem to score. As one of the pundits pointed out, Scotland haven’t scored a competitive goal away from home in two years, the last goal being James McFadden’s goal against Iceland in 2008.
Now we face Liechtenstein on Tuesday, at Hampden. A decisive victory must be on the cards. 3-0? 4-0? Maybe then, with an impressive victory behind them the Scotland squad can go on and take some points from Spain or (more realistically) the Czechs.
Scotland win 1-0 against Czech Republic
Posted in Craig Levein, Euro 2012, Friendlies with tags Czech Republic, Scotland on March 4, 2010 by Tartan Army SoldierLast night was a rare thing – a Scotland friendly victory. Against future Euro 2012 qualifier opponents, Czech Republic, Scott Brown scored the winning goa
l to secure a 1-0 scoreline.
It was a great result, but not a great game. I’m as chuffed as anyone about the result. 1-0 against the might of the Czechs is impressive. However we played a typically defensive game, that saw our goal net under constant attack. And if we want to qualify for Euro 2012, or anything else, Levein is going to have to play a more offensive, attacking football to ensure further victories. If we’re not looking to succeed, what’s the point of taking part.
Well done the Scotland Squad, but let’s see some more aggressive football in future.
Euro 2012 Qualifiers – Match dates announced
Posted in Euro 2012 on February 19, 2010 by Tartan Army SoldierThe match dates for Scotland’s Euro 2012 qualification matches have just been set. They are as shown below. Scotland coach, Craig Levein was in confident spirits, declaring that he is “relatively pleased with the outcome”.
2010
Friday 3rd September Lithuania Away
Tuesday 7th September Liechtenstein Home
Friday 8th October Czech Republic Away
Tuesday 12th October Spain Home
2011
Saturday 3rd September Czech Republic Home
Tuesday 6th September Lithuania Home
Saturday 8th October Liechtenstein Away
Tuesday 11th October Spain Away
Further details can be found at the SFA website.
Euro 2012 – Another tough draw for Scotland
Posted in Euro 2012 on February 11, 2010 by Tartan Army SoldierThe team have been drawn for the Euro 2012 qualifiers, and the groups are set. Scotland has been drawn with into a group including champions Spain. We also have the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Liechtenstein. By rights Scotland should come third, but we all know that’s not any good. Hopefully the team can regain their form and play like they did in the Euro 2008 qualifiers and, with a bit of luck, make it to the finals.
