Scots tend to get ups and downs

IT was an emotional roller coaster of a week for the fans of the national team. Intense euphoria after the result against Serbia.

Bitter disappointment after the loss to Slovakia. Then trauma after going down to Israel.

However, apart from the blow to our prestige, the technical upshot of it all is that Scotland will be in pot three when the draw for the next World Cup takes place on December 7.

There was much for Steve Clarke to be pleased about against Israel.

The system worked well, the players rose to the occasion and everyone put a shift in.

Chances were missed. There were also one or two moments, though, where we might have been awarded a decision in the box but, as no VAR was in operation, we got no help.

Since it was brought into use, VAR has been praised and condemned in equal measure.

Such alterations in the laws seldom please everyone. Ninetyfive years ago, at this time of year, attacking players and goals for columns were benefitting from a major change in one of the laws of the game.

Scotland played a role in this change. In 1905, Clyde had put forward the idea that a player could not be offside in his own half. It was not until 1907, though, that the International Football Association Board (IFAB) put this change into play.

Then, several times during the early years of the 1920s, the SFA put forward proposals to the IFAB to change the offside law.

At that time, a player had to have three opposition players between him and the opposing goal to be onside.

Just after World War I, in the early 1920s, defenders began to take advantage of the law, pushing up close to the halfway line and, as a pass was made, stepping forward to catch the attacking player offside.

The tactic was very successful and the number of goals scored dropped considerably.

The watching crowds were not pleased and complained.

Eventually, the message got through and action was taken, the SFA putting forward a proposal to alter one line in the wording of the law, changing it to two opposition players.

From there, the law has progressed to what it is today.

But there is just no pleasing some people.

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