Gordon Parks
No excuses: Euro glory isn’t in lap of gods for our sides
FLICKING though the ancient book of excuses for failure of Scottish clubs in Europe is something of an Old Testament.
A bible of sorts that covers a whole litany of misadventures on the continent by our teams against opposition from the likes of Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Iceland and Luxembourg.
Too short a close season, playing games in July, facing minnows who’re already up to speed, the pitch, the heat and the unlucky bounce of the ball. We’ve heard them all.
Can it only be that eight years ago Scotland was ranked 10th and had six teams in Europe with Rangers directly qualifying for the Champions League group phase?
Since those heady days it’s been season after season of shame and next week it all begins again as we discover if our game has reached its nadir.
Once again we take nothing for granted, as ex-Gers boss Pedro Caixinha will tell you there’s no such thing as a Europa League gimme.
When it comes to checking the Champions and Europa League it was through the cracks in the fingers as Scotland were plummeting in the mid-20s on the table of UEFA rankings.
Our coefficient’s taken more blows in the past decade than Anthony Joshua’s punchbag but it’s time for Aberdeen, Hibs and Rangers to step up this year.
Celtic aren’t exempt from criticism but they’re the only club who’ve really been making a fist of their European excursions.
Steven Gerrard’s about to discover there is no margin for error as his Rangers side take a baby step into the Europa League’s first qualifying round with anything but a mountain to climb against a Macedonian outfit that should be swatted aside.
No drama, they face a Shkupi side who finished fourth in their league last season, a massive 40 points behind runaway champions Shkendija.
They should be rolled over as the Ibrox men begin to restore a reputation damaged by last season’s Progres Niederkorn humiliation.
Neil Lennon’s second tilt at Europe with Hibs will begin against minnows Runavik, a side that finished fourth in the Faroe Islands Premier League.
It’s now 11 attempts and counting as they try to win their first game in Europe so it should be a glorified but easy pre-season run out for the Easter Road men.
Aberdeen’s route has been blocked by big-spending Burnley but the Dons should be capable of giving as good as they get.
Celtic’s bid to reach the Champions League group stage starts against Armenians Alashkert who knocked St Johnstone out of the Europa League three seasons ago.
Already the headlines are about the handicap of playing in scorching heat but let’s put the book of excuses away and get Scottish football punching its weight.
Scotland’s coefficient has taken more blows in the past decade than Joshua’s punchbag OUR TOP WRITERS GIVE THEIR FEARLESS VERDICTS EVERY DAY IN RECORD SPORT