A generation away from World Cup qualification?
Locals think Scotland are years behind
It was yet another failure for the Scotland football team last week after a draw in Slovenia ended any chances of the nation making next year’s World Cup in Russia.
Manager Gordon Strachan pointed to genetics as part of the problem, while it is now 20 years since we were represented at a major tournament, which was France 98.
We went to Rutherglen Main Street to ask locals if they felt Scotland would manage to break their drought in the near future or not.
Alan Gaitens said: “It’ll be 12 years at least. There’s a lack of good young players, and the good ones we do have weren’t getting a game.
“I don’t believe anything about the height or stature of the players having an effect either – if they’re good enough they would play well, however tall they were.”
Kevin McCrone said: “I can’t see it being for another decade. Look back at the teams we had in 74 or 78 – we don’t have players even near the calibre of that. I thought Strachan was a great club manager but I don’t think he cut it as an international boss.”
Robert Blake said: “I can’t see us qualifying again. I used to go see Scotland take five off Switzerland at Hampden, but they’ve got better, Greece have got better, and all these other countries have caught up to us.”
Angela Booth said: “I’m not a football fan but it’s a shame they couldn’t qualify. Maybe they can in the future if they aim towards that.”
Look back at the teams we had in 74 or 78, and we don’t have players like that Kevin McCrone