DIDN'T Scotland grill the Danish team’s bacon in extra time? Yass!
Scotland have qualified for the 2026 World Cup next summer, 27 years since they last qualified.
As I write, some Scots are remortgaging their house and selling a kidney to get to the Americas’ World Cup party.
Since 1977’s Joe Jordan ball-punch to win a penalty against Wales at Annfield and Kenny Dalglish’s header, I don’t think Scotland has gone quite as totally bananas as we did over Scotland’s epic victory.
Let’s face it, a succinct summary of the game was: ‘A bicycle kick, a penalty, a red card, a tap in, another Danish equaliser, a stoppage time belter and halfway line lob to secure the win, all while playing utter ‘You’ve got it right’ Humpty Mince!
Perhaps the most Scotland way to qualify for the World Cup. This, all after Belarus miraculously drew two all with Denmark in Copenhagen to give us a shot at clear qualification, which we didn’t really deserve.
I have some sympathy with Denmark, who overall played better than Scotland, but oh the sheer delight when McTominay scored his towering and astonishing bicycle kick goal; the joy when Shankland tapped in and ecstatic relief when Tierney caught a Danish sklaff clearance to curl the ball past his club team mate Schmichael.
And as Scots held our breath worried that the skilful Danes might snatch another equaliser, the delirium when McLean launched the ball from the halfway line to beat Kasper, who gave up the ghost!
The highest causes of absences from work registered by UNISON for 2025 could now well be: 1. Flu, 2. Sprains and 3. Scotland’s 4-2 win over Denmark. But many of us have been here before, able to reflect on eight World Cup appearances.
Alas, we’ve never advanced beyond the first round of any finals and missed progression to the
What we can be sure of is much partying, bagpipe playing, kilts swaying, & friends making as the Tartan Army land in the host countries crying, “No Scotland, No Party!”
Yes, I’m all for passionate patriotism and competiton, but there are some values more important. The Scottish team Steve Clarke’s put together are talented and have some good role models, humble and not too big for their boots.
Captain Andy Robertson spoke emotionally of his former Liverpool team mate ‘Diogo Jota’, who tragically died in a car accident.
They used to chat about how they both failed to reach the last world cup with their national teams and their aspiration to reach next year’s. Andy couldn’t get his friend Jota out of his mind, thinking that, if alive, Jota would be in the World Cup due to Portugal qualifying and that Andy now had the chance to go for both of them.
I admire 31 year old Andy’s vulnerability and readiness to talk honestly about his grief in losing his beloved pal and the importance of their friendship.
John McGinn opened up about why he makes goggles for his eyes and face on scoring a goal. It’s to encourage his nephew Jack, whose eyesight has deteriorated such that he has to wear glasses permanently and goggles for football.
John saw how upset his nephew was and told him, each time he scored he’d pretend he had goggles on. Lo and behold such an action has encouraged a host of young footballers not to be put off or discouraged about having to wear such specs for sport, rather to wear them with confidence and pride!
And Ayrshire lad Ben Gannon Doak, now playing in the English premiership for Bournemouth, speaks openly about how his Faith in Jesus Christ and spiritual disciplines of prayer, reading the Bible and fellowship with other believers, increase his confidence to train and play without fear and to the best of his ability.
The legendary Liverpool manager Bill Shankly famously said, "Some people think football is a matter of life and death, I can assure you it is much more serious than that."
Well, I can assure you, that while fitba is very important to our nation and world, there are many more important things like God, family, friendships, and your inside self, your soul, who you truly are and who you are becoming. Character & values which are longer lasting than a euphoric victory or major success in your line of work.
Hopefully this Scotland team can give us both good examples and more to cheer about!
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