SCOTLAND v ENGLAND SCOTS CAN GET A TRIPLE EFFECT FROM OUR TREBLE MAKER BOSS SAYS
walk out at Hampden has competed at the very top level.
That’s not to say they won’t some day. Deli Ali and Harry Kane will probably get there but it’s not their day yet.
England are a team with potential. That’s it. They are not a Germany, Spain, Italy or a France. They are not Brazil, Argentina or even a Belgium.
They are England, a side ranked below Switzerland, Poland and Wales – and one spot above Peru. We know the rankings are not always a reliable measurement. At least we hope not, given we are just one place above Uzbekistan and 20 rungs lower than Burkina Faso.
But it is one way to view Saturday’s square go.
Scotland need to play the game, not the occasion.
The game is against the side ranked 13th in the world. If we were playing Poland we’d be playing to win so this is no different. Forget about all the Three Lions guff, park 1967 and swinging from the Wembley goalposts. It’s about the here and now and this is a chance to keep the hope alive and the drinks coming for a while yet.
Scotland haven’t done anything special in a qualifier for a generation. The last time we beat a much higher-ranked side in a meaningful clash was Ukraine 10 years ago and we blew it days later in Georgia.
To get to the big parties you need to pull something out of the bag, like Ireland did against Germany in the Euros campaign to kill us last time.
The England game is a lowrisk shot at glory but make the most of the free drink and at least we can still dream of a World Cup lock-in.
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes Scotland insists Fletcher veteran Darren can help Potters to take the the next Midfielde r level. from West Fletcher, 33, moved after Brom on signing Thursday a two-year Hughes said: “I believe deal. experien ce and Darren’s qualities leadersh will ip enhance significan tly us. He’s hada great career.”