Alex McLeish spoke repeatedly after the Georgia game about being "greedy" - about Scotland raising their aspirations and really wanting that place at Euro 2008. It's refreshing to hear such positive words from the new manager, because Scotland are going to need all the desire and belief they've got if they are really going to make it to the Alps next summer. Last night's game against the world champions showed exactly what they are up against.
Scotland have improved markedly in the past 3 years, but they remain a work in progress. McLeish was right to retain Stephen McManus at centre back after his strong performance against Georgia, but it was the Celtic player who conceded the free kick from which Luca Toni scored the first of his goals. It was a pretty soft decision, but hardly a surprise that the Italians would play for any advantage they could get. As McLeish said, maybe his team had to be a little "cuter".
Having conceded that early goal, Scotland were chasing the game against the undisputed masters in holding onto a narrow lead. In the circumstances any attack force in the world would have their work cut out, and Kenny Miller, Lee McCulloch and Gary Teale aren't the world's most feared attack. Luca Toni then doubled his tally to seal the match with 15 minutes to go.
There were plenty of positives in all this. Scotland certainly did not disgrace themselves, Scott Brown did well in his first start for his country, and Craig Gordon remains a reassuring presence, despite the chaos at his club. But a look at the table demonstrates just how tough this qualifying campaign is going to be. Ukraine and France are both on 12 points with Scotland, Italy are just 2 points behind, and all these teams have played a game less.
But we're in the mix, long after many expected Scotland's challenge to have faded to nothing by now. McLeish believes Scotland can still qualify, and he's right.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Hibs party after finally bringing a trophy home
Hibs have won the CIS League Cup, after a thrilling final at Hampden. After years of heartache and disappointment, they have at last won a tangible reward for their efforts. Fittingly, they won the trophy with the brand of passing football that has become their trademark.
The club last won a trophy in 1991 - that was the League Cup too, although it was sponsored by Skol lager back then. Since then, they and every other club in Scottish football have watched as Rangers and Celtic have hoovered up every championship between them, and most of the other silverware on offer as well. But Hibs failed to pick up any of the occasional scraps that were thrown from the Old Firm table.
To be fair, for much of that period they had other things to worry about, such as crippling debt, relegation battles, or managers that had lost their way. Most cup runs had ended prematurely, but in recent years they had got tantalisingly close, before failing once again. It was no great surprise that they were beaten by Celtic in the 2001 Scottish Cup final, but losing the League Cup final to Livingston in 2004 was a real shock. In 2005 and 2006 they were defeated in Scottish Cup semi finals, the latter a traumatic spanking by Hearts. But not this time. Hibernian are the Cinderella of Scottish football no more.
Sunday's 5-1 scoreline was a bit harsh on Kilmarnock, in the sense that history will record this match as a one-sided thrashing, which it wasn't. The first half was fairly even, as predicted by most pundits, with the atrocious weather making conditions difficult and both sides keeping the opposition's strikers quiet and patiently looking for an opening. If Steven Naismith's 20th minute effort hadn't gone just wide of the Hibs goal, the game would have been very different. But Kilmarnock did less well 7 minutes later, when they allowed Rob Jones to get a run at a Hibs corner and bullet the header into the net.
Kilmarnock probably felt aggrieved to go into the break a goal down, but already there were cracks appearing that would become chasms in the 2nd half. The key to the match was that Hibernian used the width of the Hampden pitch much more effectively. While Naismith swapped flanks trying to get on the ball, Ivan Sproule was always available on the Hibs right to receive the ball and run at the opponents. Killie doubled up on him to negate the threat, but this left yawning gaps on the other side of the park. With Hibs' two fullbacks always bright and looking to get forward, they started to dominate possession.
As well as pretty football, Hibs have also developed a reputation for trusting in youth, and they were true to their philosophy here. As well as a 19 year old, Andy McNeil, in goal, they had another teenager, Lewis Stevenson, in midfield. The precocious young scamp even had the cheek to collect the Man of the Match award.
From the sidelines, John Collins was constantly driving his team on. There was no question Hibs were going to try and sit on a one goal lead - they wanted to win in emphatic style. The strikers started coming into the game more as Hibs went for the kill, and Steven Fletcher and Abdessalam Benjelloun got a goal each before Killie scored themselves from a corner. 3-1 down, with 15 minutes to go, Killie had no choice but to attack, but it left them exposed at the back, and they conceded the final 2 goals in the last 5 minutes. It was only then that their loyal fans started leaving in numbers, as the Hibs supporters danced and sang in delight.
If 30,000 supporters belting out "Sunshine on Leith" at Hampden wasn't enough to convince onlookers of how much this meant to the club, the scenes back in Edinburgh made it abudantly clear. As the open top bus carried the trophy and the team through Leith to the stadium, tens of thousands lined the streets to applaud their heroes, and then stormed the stadium to see the cup being brought home. There were chaotic scenes as some fans invaded the pitch and ruined the planned presentation, but this was a spontaneous outpouring of joy. The pubs around the stadium then heaved with punters drinking to their success late into the night.
That's what happens when a club that has been starved of success finally has something to celebrate.
The club last won a trophy in 1991 - that was the League Cup too, although it was sponsored by Skol lager back then. Since then, they and every other club in Scottish football have watched as Rangers and Celtic have hoovered up every championship between them, and most of the other silverware on offer as well. But Hibs failed to pick up any of the occasional scraps that were thrown from the Old Firm table.
To be fair, for much of that period they had other things to worry about, such as crippling debt, relegation battles, or managers that had lost their way. Most cup runs had ended prematurely, but in recent years they had got tantalisingly close, before failing once again. It was no great surprise that they were beaten by Celtic in the 2001 Scottish Cup final, but losing the League Cup final to Livingston in 2004 was a real shock. In 2005 and 2006 they were defeated in Scottish Cup semi finals, the latter a traumatic spanking by Hearts. But not this time. Hibernian are the Cinderella of Scottish football no more.
Sunday's 5-1 scoreline was a bit harsh on Kilmarnock, in the sense that history will record this match as a one-sided thrashing, which it wasn't. The first half was fairly even, as predicted by most pundits, with the atrocious weather making conditions difficult and both sides keeping the opposition's strikers quiet and patiently looking for an opening. If Steven Naismith's 20th minute effort hadn't gone just wide of the Hibs goal, the game would have been very different. But Kilmarnock did less well 7 minutes later, when they allowed Rob Jones to get a run at a Hibs corner and bullet the header into the net.
Kilmarnock probably felt aggrieved to go into the break a goal down, but already there were cracks appearing that would become chasms in the 2nd half. The key to the match was that Hibernian used the width of the Hampden pitch much more effectively. While Naismith swapped flanks trying to get on the ball, Ivan Sproule was always available on the Hibs right to receive the ball and run at the opponents. Killie doubled up on him to negate the threat, but this left yawning gaps on the other side of the park. With Hibs' two fullbacks always bright and looking to get forward, they started to dominate possession.
As well as pretty football, Hibs have also developed a reputation for trusting in youth, and they were true to their philosophy here. As well as a 19 year old, Andy McNeil, in goal, they had another teenager, Lewis Stevenson, in midfield. The precocious young scamp even had the cheek to collect the Man of the Match award.
From the sidelines, John Collins was constantly driving his team on. There was no question Hibs were going to try and sit on a one goal lead - they wanted to win in emphatic style. The strikers started coming into the game more as Hibs went for the kill, and Steven Fletcher and Abdessalam Benjelloun got a goal each before Killie scored themselves from a corner. 3-1 down, with 15 minutes to go, Killie had no choice but to attack, but it left them exposed at the back, and they conceded the final 2 goals in the last 5 minutes. It was only then that their loyal fans started leaving in numbers, as the Hibs supporters danced and sang in delight.
If 30,000 supporters belting out "Sunshine on Leith" at Hampden wasn't enough to convince onlookers of how much this meant to the club, the scenes back in Edinburgh made it abudantly clear. As the open top bus carried the trophy and the team through Leith to the stadium, tens of thousands lined the streets to applaud their heroes, and then stormed the stadium to see the cup being brought home. There were chaotic scenes as some fans invaded the pitch and ruined the planned presentation, but this was a spontaneous outpouring of joy. The pubs around the stadium then heaved with punters drinking to their success late into the night.
That's what happens when a club that has been starved of success finally has something to celebrate.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
CIS League Cup Final preview
With Rangers predictably coming unstuck against Osasuna last night (the crowd trouble was – sadly – predictable as well), Scottish football clubs are now entirely concentrated on domestic matters. Handy, then, that the first trophy of the season is up for grabs on Sunday.
Refreshingly, given Celtic's runaway lead in the league, neither side of the Old Firm is involved in the CIS League Cup Final. In fact, this is the first year since 1979 that neither Celtic nor Rangers made it to the semi-final stage of the League Cup. Disgraceful and myopic scheduling means that Celtic are playing an SPL fixture on Sunday (was there really no other date available?), but thanks to their loss against Rangers last week, they will not win the title for another week at least. Hopefully, this means the winner of the Cup should enjoy a moment in the spotlight, before being obscured by the Old Firm shadow again.
Least important of the big three domestic competitions it might be, but a League Cup trophy would mean a huge amount to either Hibernian or Kilmarnock. Hampden Park’s 50,000 seats were sold out as soon as they went on sale, a measure of the anticipation from both sets of fans. The Killie boss, Jim Jefferies, has said that winning this one would be even more important than the Scottish Cup he won as Hearts boss in 1998, while Hibs have waited 16 years since their last piece of silverware (Division One trophy excepted).
Finals are often disappointing games, as the tension of the occasion feeds into a cagey approach on the pitch, but this one could be a classic. Hibs and Killie are very evenly matched: they are currently locked together on 43 points in the league. Killie were arguably more impressive on route to the final, especially in the Semi Final where they dismantled Falkirk, but then Hibs overcame an impressively combative St Johnstone. The bookies agree – Hibs are marginal favourites, but there is very little in it.
Both are tidy footballing sides, too, who will want to exploit the wide open spaces of Hampden park. There's a little added spice, too, with Jefferies’ past as Hearts manager – he makes no secret of the joy he takes in getting one over the Jambo’s bitter rivals. As an ex-Hibs player, John Collins needs no lectures in his club’s trophy-starved past.
It would be unfair to characterise Kilmarnock as a one-man team, but their hopes for success probably do rest on the slender shoulders of Steven Naismith. Still young enough not to have worked out yet whether he is a winger or a striker, Naismith’s goals did for Falkirk, and Killie will be looking to get him on the ball at every opportunity. For Hibs, it’s a little more complex – they are a pretty but fragile footballing side, who score lots of goals but have regular defensive jitters. Scott Brown is a certain starter and will be his usual industrious self, but will need the rest of the midfield to click if he isn’t to be chasing down blind alleys all afternoon.
Whatever the result, season 2006/7 will see a club outside the usual hegemony win something worthwhile. And that has to be good for Scottish football as a whole.
Refreshingly, given Celtic's runaway lead in the league, neither side of the Old Firm is involved in the CIS League Cup Final. In fact, this is the first year since 1979 that neither Celtic nor Rangers made it to the semi-final stage of the League Cup. Disgraceful and myopic scheduling means that Celtic are playing an SPL fixture on Sunday (was there really no other date available?), but thanks to their loss against Rangers last week, they will not win the title for another week at least. Hopefully, this means the winner of the Cup should enjoy a moment in the spotlight, before being obscured by the Old Firm shadow again.
Least important of the big three domestic competitions it might be, but a League Cup trophy would mean a huge amount to either Hibernian or Kilmarnock. Hampden Park’s 50,000 seats were sold out as soon as they went on sale, a measure of the anticipation from both sets of fans. The Killie boss, Jim Jefferies, has said that winning this one would be even more important than the Scottish Cup he won as Hearts boss in 1998, while Hibs have waited 16 years since their last piece of silverware (Division One trophy excepted).
Finals are often disappointing games, as the tension of the occasion feeds into a cagey approach on the pitch, but this one could be a classic. Hibs and Killie are very evenly matched: they are currently locked together on 43 points in the league. Killie were arguably more impressive on route to the final, especially in the Semi Final where they dismantled Falkirk, but then Hibs overcame an impressively combative St Johnstone. The bookies agree – Hibs are marginal favourites, but there is very little in it.
Both are tidy footballing sides, too, who will want to exploit the wide open spaces of Hampden park. There's a little added spice, too, with Jefferies’ past as Hearts manager – he makes no secret of the joy he takes in getting one over the Jambo’s bitter rivals. As an ex-Hibs player, John Collins needs no lectures in his club’s trophy-starved past.
It would be unfair to characterise Kilmarnock as a one-man team, but their hopes for success probably do rest on the slender shoulders of Steven Naismith. Still young enough not to have worked out yet whether he is a winger or a striker, Naismith’s goals did for Falkirk, and Killie will be looking to get him on the ball at every opportunity. For Hibs, it’s a little more complex – they are a pretty but fragile footballing side, who score lots of goals but have regular defensive jitters. Scott Brown is a certain starter and will be his usual industrious self, but will need the rest of the midfield to click if he isn’t to be chasing down blind alleys all afternoon.
Whatever the result, season 2006/7 will see a club outside the usual hegemony win something worthwhile. And that has to be good for Scottish football as a whole.
Friday, March 09, 2007
The Old Firm are quartered
Celtic are out of the Champions League, and will have watched today’s draw for the quarter finals from the sidelines. Rangers are technically still in the UEFA Cup, but based on last night’s performance, no one is expecting them to come through against Osasuna in the 2nd leg next week. It looks like Scottish involvement in European club competition is over for another year.
It is telling that the mood amongst the Hoops fans is considerably lighter than the despair felt by Arsenal supporters following their exit from the competition on the same night. Partly, this is due to lower expectation – just getting through the group stage is still something of a novelty for a Scottish club. But it is also because Celtic know they will be back next year, with the SPL title now within touching distance, while Arsenal still have a fight on their hands to guarantee a place in next season’s elite competition.
Yet both teams share a very good reason not to be too disheartened – they are both young, and can surely only improve in the next few years. The callowness of the Celtic team was thrown into sharp relief against the veterans of Milan, and in the end experience (and quality) told, as Kaka scored in extra time to settle the tie. Celtic were denied a penalty when Maldini handled the ball inside the area, but then Lee Naylor also got away with an illegal challenge in Celtic’s box too, so the result was a justified one. Celtic had failed to score in the first leg at Celtic Park, and were always second favourites at the San Siro.
Gordon Strachan done a remarkable job at Celtic so far, refreshing an ageing squad with limited a transfer budget and reducing the wage bill at the same time, but it’s surely time to accept that one of his bigger purchases has flopped. Thomas Gravesen was signed from Real Madrid in the summer to add some experience and guile, but was not brought on until an hour had gone on Wednesday night. If he cannot command a starting place in front of the 19 year old Evander Sno, or the technically limited Jari Jarosik, in such an important match, it’s very hard to justify his reputed £40k a week wages. Strachan refutes the rumours that he’ll be off in the summer, but if they can find a buyer, it will happen.
Rangers are also in the midst of a rebuilding programme, and they too will likely be looking to next season very soon. Runners-up spot in the SPL is looking increasingly safe, meaning a qualifying round entry into next season’s Champions League, and they have a few more young players joining in the summer – St Mirren defender Kris Broadfoot being the latest to sign a pre-contract agreement.
They are not out of this season’s UEFA Cup yet, but the 1-1 result against Osasuna flattered them, a defensive mistake by their opponents in the last minute of the game allowing Brahim Hemdani to batter the ball into the net. Once again they played Kris Boyd and Barry Ferguson in a kind of split-striker formation, but Osasuna were much less generous than the Hapoel Tel Aviv in the previous round.
It is telling that the mood amongst the Hoops fans is considerably lighter than the despair felt by Arsenal supporters following their exit from the competition on the same night. Partly, this is due to lower expectation – just getting through the group stage is still something of a novelty for a Scottish club. But it is also because Celtic know they will be back next year, with the SPL title now within touching distance, while Arsenal still have a fight on their hands to guarantee a place in next season’s elite competition.
Yet both teams share a very good reason not to be too disheartened – they are both young, and can surely only improve in the next few years. The callowness of the Celtic team was thrown into sharp relief against the veterans of Milan, and in the end experience (and quality) told, as Kaka scored in extra time to settle the tie. Celtic were denied a penalty when Maldini handled the ball inside the area, but then Lee Naylor also got away with an illegal challenge in Celtic’s box too, so the result was a justified one. Celtic had failed to score in the first leg at Celtic Park, and were always second favourites at the San Siro.
Gordon Strachan done a remarkable job at Celtic so far, refreshing an ageing squad with limited a transfer budget and reducing the wage bill at the same time, but it’s surely time to accept that one of his bigger purchases has flopped. Thomas Gravesen was signed from Real Madrid in the summer to add some experience and guile, but was not brought on until an hour had gone on Wednesday night. If he cannot command a starting place in front of the 19 year old Evander Sno, or the technically limited Jari Jarosik, in such an important match, it’s very hard to justify his reputed £40k a week wages. Strachan refutes the rumours that he’ll be off in the summer, but if they can find a buyer, it will happen.
Rangers are also in the midst of a rebuilding programme, and they too will likely be looking to next season very soon. Runners-up spot in the SPL is looking increasingly safe, meaning a qualifying round entry into next season’s Champions League, and they have a few more young players joining in the summer – St Mirren defender Kris Broadfoot being the latest to sign a pre-contract agreement.
They are not out of this season’s UEFA Cup yet, but the 1-1 result against Osasuna flattered them, a defensive mistake by their opponents in the last minute of the game allowing Brahim Hemdani to batter the ball into the net. Once again they played Kris Boyd and Barry Ferguson in a kind of split-striker formation, but Osasuna were much less generous than the Hapoel Tel Aviv in the previous round.
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