Archive for the Friendlies Category

Levein announces Scotland Squad for Sweden

Posted in Craig Levein, Friendlies, Scotland Squad with tags , on August 3, 2010 by Tartan Army Soldier

Scotland coach, Craig Levein, has disclosed the Scotland team he plans will face Sweden in Stockholm next week. Changes from the recent match against the Czech Republic include recalls for Rangers pair Kirk Broadfoot and Allan McGregor, Stephen McManus (Middlesbrough) and James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion). The 23 squad is as follows:

Charlie Adam (Blackpool)
Neil Alexander (Rangers)
Christophe Berra (Wolves)
Kris Boyd (Middlesbrough)
Kirk Broadfoot (Rangers)
Scott Brown (Celtic)
Graham Dorrans (West Bromwich Albion)
Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Steven Fletcher (Wolves)
Alan Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur)
Chris Iwelumo (Burnley)
David Marshall (Cardiff City)
Lee McCulloch (Rangers)
James McFadden (Birmingham City)
Allan McGregor (Rangers)
Stephen McManus (Middlesbrough)
Kenny Miller (Rangers)
James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion)
Barry Robson (Middlesbrough)
Kevin Thomson (Middlesbrough)
Lee Wallace (Heart of Midlothian)
Andy Webster (Rangers)
Steven Whittaker (Rangers)

All the best to them. Here’s hoping for a good result.
More information is availble at the SFA site.

Sweden v Scotland – Venue decided

Posted in Friendlies with tags , on April 6, 2010 by Tartan Army Soldier

I received an email from the Scotland Supporters Club earlier today. They reported that the venue for the Sweden v Scotland on August 11 has been decided and will be at the Rasunda National Stadium in Solnoka, Stockholm. This stadium has a capacity of 35,000. So, with the usual 10% allotment for away fans, there should be 3,500 available for Scotland fans.

Unfortunately, I have no holidays, so I’ll be watching it on TV here. See you in the Rob Roy I guess.

Scotland to face Sweden in August

Posted in Friendlies with tags , on March 18, 2010 by Tartan Army Soldier

It has been reported on the SFA website that Scotland will be playing against Sweden this coming August 11. Venue and ticket allocation remain to be be decided.

This is going to be another weekday game. I really think the SFA need to try and arrange some Saturday fixtures. Midweek games never attract huge crowds, so the money coming in to the SFA must be a lot less than if it were to organise weekend matches. I’m sure this isn’t helping to keep ticket prices down.

Scotland win 1-0 against Czech Republic

Posted in Craig Levein, Euro 2012, Friendlies with tags , on March 4, 2010 by Tartan Army Soldier

Last night was a rare thing – a Scotland friendly victory. Against future Euro 2012 qualifier opponents, Czech Republic, Scott Brown scored the winning goaScott Brownl 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.

Mission to find a pub showing Wales v Scotland – a wasted effort??

Posted in Friendlies with tags , , on November 15, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier

We spent ages yesterday looking for a pup showing the Wales v Scotland match. Now, I almost wish I hadn’t bothered.

We were in Oxford for a concert. Having never been there before we had search out a pub showing the football. Easier said than done. With the England v Argentina rugby match being on at the same time and a local preference for rugby this was less than easy. Luckily we found the Eurobar, which was good enough to provide half the pub for football viewing. Result! :) Next, to enjoy a few beers and a fine Scotland performance?

No. Not quite. It was embarrassing! 3-0 down by the end of the fist half.  Did we have any defence? Well, I never saw any effort to stop the Welsh goals. A shocking effort! The only consolation was that I never wasted money for a ticked or wasted time travelling to Cardiff. Not that it help make the result any easier to bear. Polite words fail me.

Wales v Scotland – Obliged to watch on TV because of SFA points sytem

Posted in Friendlies, Tartan Army with tags , , on October 18, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier

The SFA recently announced that Scotland will be travelling to Cardiff for a Wales v Scotland friendly on 14 November. And it looks like I won’t be going:(

I won’t be in Cardiff for two reasons. One, I have tickets to see The Airborne Toxic Event in Oxford. And two, I don’t have 4 away points. That’s right, the SFA are only offering tickets to anyone who has accumulated 4 points over the last 10 away matches.

4 away points! That’s a joke! How many fans have 4 away points? I have none. None at all. And as long as anyone in my position has no chance of even applying for an away ticket thousands of us are trapped in a zero-point rut. And it could easily be solved.

The SFA say that the points system is designed to reward the most loyal fans. Fine. I broadly agree with that. However, some means has to be available to provide opportunity to those who would loyally follow Scotland abroad if given the chance. Something like a point or half point for loyally attending home games? That’s not rocket science and I’m sure it would be difficult to administer. So, SFA, how about it??

Meanwhile, I need to find a Scottish or Welsh pub in Oxford that will be showing the game. Anyone have any suggestions?

Japan v Scotland – Was it worth getting out of bed?

Posted in Friendlies, Scotland Squad, Tartan Army Abroad on October 11, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier

I almost wish I’d stayed in bed. Getting up on a Saturday morning to see Scotland lose 2-0 is not my idea of time well spent. And to have opened the scoring (for Japan!!) is even worse. An excuse is that we were missing a number of our best players. True enough. But Japan were not exactly fielding their best squad.

The game seemed to really drag.  As for the Scotland squad, the did try, but they didn’t merit Burley saying that  ”they were excellent”. Not one shot at goal (the Japan goal!!) and, as a result, nothing to show for it. Then the own-goal. Well, you all saw it. I was just glad when it all ended.

Japan v Scotland friendly organised. And more?

Posted in Friendlies, Scotland Squad, Tartan Army Abroad with tags , , on April 20, 2009 by Tartan Army Soldier
scotland_with_kirin_cup

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.

Rob Roy hearts sink as Argentina defeat Scotland

Posted in Friendlies with tags , , , on November 22, 2008 by Tartan Army Soldier

Argentina are one of the best teams in the world. So, a Scotland victory over such opposition would have been an astounding achievement. That said, I am still depressed.

Hoping for a victory, a decent result, or even an impressive show of skill and effort by Scotland we had made our way to the Rob Roy bar. Sadly, spirits were quickly dampened. With the Argentina players out-pacing our team, Maxi Rodriguez took the lead after only eight minutes. Not a good start.

And the first half continued to be dominiate by the Argentines. Scotland did make a few chances. Stephen McManus’ header from a Kirk Broadfoot’s flick-on was diverted over the bar by Gabriel Heinze as the Argentine defence struggled cope with Paul Hartley’s corner. And McFadden almost equalised from a Chris Iwelumo’s pass during a defensive lapse by Argentina. However, no Scotland goals by half time.

Somewhat disheartend, we were hoping for a better Scotland performance in the second half. Any such hopes were quickly put to rest, when Argentina’s Lavezzi, who fired at the Scotland goal, the ball fortunately passing over the net.

The second half was mildly better from a Scotland point of view. We did play a little better, and did create a few chances. Commons’ free-kick into the Argentina box looked dangerous, but Argentine keeper, Carrizo intercepted, keeping the ball from mcFadden.Miller too had a chance, inthe 70th minute, but failed to convert, which unfortunaely summed up the evening.

In the end we didn’t deserve to win. Argentina outpaced us and we just couldn’ convert the chances.

I hope we improve.

Scotland Squad Announced for Argentina Friendly

Posted in Friendlies, Scotland Squad with tags , on November 12, 2008 by Tartan Army Soldier

I received an email earlier about the squad George Burley plans to have ready for the Scotland v Argentina friendly on 19 November. The players named are:

Goalkeepers
Craig Gordon (Sunderland)
Allan McGregor (Rangers)
David Marshall (Norwich City)

Defenders
Graham Alexander (Burnley)
Darren Barr (Falkirk)
Christophe Berra (Heart of Midlothian)
Kirk Broadfoot (Rangers)
Gary Caldwell (Celtic)
Alan Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur)
Jamie McAllister (Bristol City)
Stephen McManus (Celtic)
Gary Naysmith (Sheffield United)

Midfield
Scott Brown (Celtic)
Kris Commons (Derby County)
Barry Ferguson (Rangers)
Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Paul Hartley (Celtic)
Shaun Maloney (Celtic)
James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion)
Barry Robson (Celtic)

Forwards
David Clarkson (Motherwell)
Steven Fletcher (Hibernian)
Chris Iwelumo (Wolverhampton W.)
Ross McCormack (Cardiff City)
James McFadden (Birmingham City)
Kenny Miller (Rangers)

I won’t be going to Hampden, but I do expect to watch the match in the Famous Three Kings. Hopefully the calibre of the opposition will inspire a really good game. Also, while there I hope to meet up with a few German friends as I understand that Germany also has a bit of an important friendly to play. Lets hope they too do admirably well.

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