Scots took leap of faith – but it ended up a one-way trip
Clarke’s men got a chasing then went on the chase
PERHAPS that crackpot French fella had the right idea.
Before stomachs were lurching in Mount Florida, some wacky guy up the road in Perthshire broke the world record for the amount of bungee jumps in a single day.
Francois-Marie Dibon leapt off the Garry Bridge in Killiecrankie a mind-blowing 765 times in 24 hours.
He must have met his breakfast, lunch and dinner on the way a few times but it still sounded less queasy than the Tartan Army’s ups and downs last night.
What the heck did we all expect? It’s the Scotland way.
The bellies were back in the blender yet again at Hampden. Steve Clarke’s men got a chasing for an hour and then went on the chase.
They looked down and out at one stage and came close to hitting the heights at the end.
But maybe it was meant to be that it was Ukraine who were destined to be the ones who came out on top and us left down in the dumps.
We started on a high and dreaming big about heading to Qatar via a stop-off in Cardiff. Unfortunately Scotland took a leap of faith – but it ended in a one-way trip.
It’s hard to grudge Ukraine in the circumstances but that doesn’t mean we can’t feel down about watching another World Cup disappear out of sight.
But Clarke gave us the joy of the play-offs to get to the Euros. Then the pain of going down to the Czech and Croats after lift off at Wembley.
A feeling the World Cup was beyond reach after a couple of qualifiers to a party against the Danes.
Last night there were a million and one emotions all rolled into one. No wonder Scotland fans can be unsteady on their feet at times.
The poor punters barely knew what to do last night.
Ukraine’s plight back home couldn’t be confined to a subplot or stuck in the margins. The Russian invasion was rightly front and centre and the Tartan Army did their bit at rolling out the welcome mat to the 3,500 Ukrainians in the ground.
But Clarke’s men did anything but once the whistle went. And you know what? The Ukrainians wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. They bust a gut to get here and get the game on amid turmoil and heartache in their homeland.
They know more than anyone it’s just sport – it doesn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things.
But then again it does. It’s a symbol of something bigger. And it’s still sport. That means a proper contest, they didn’t want Scotland to play nice and roll over.
Ukraine came here to compete – and so did our boys. The way it should be on the pitch and in the stands.
So spare us any tutting about the Tartan Army booing the Ukraine huddle or when they had the ball. It was game on and may the best men win. They probably did.
Any thoughts the visitors were going to play nicey nicey went out the window inside five minutes when Roman YaremchuksentBillyGilmour spinning up into the air.
It was heartwarming to see Ukraine competitive. We just didn’t need them to be this competitive.
The opening goal had been coming but it only added to the weird atmosphere. One minute Hampden would be up. The next it would be down and hushed. A lot of that was down to how nifty Ukraine were but it was almost like no one quite knew how to take it all.
At two down the baw was burst – but as Ukraine energy levels dropped home hopes were raised.
Soon the Hampden roof was too thanks to Callum McGregor’s goal and then his incredible chase back to prevent a third.
The dream was on but sometimes fate won’t play ball. The agonising World Cup wait goes on. Fortunately foundations are in place for this squad to continue to rise as long as Scotland act like the French bungee guy – and bounce back.