SCOTTISH ABILITY TO CREATE A BIG WORRY
FOR ME the pressure is on England going into this game.
Scotland need to take something from it but England – and especially the head coach – are under massive scrutiny.
You are playing your big rivals, there is so much riding on the game. If you lose you are written off for the rest of the tournament if you can’t beat Scotland.
So even though Scotland are under pressure to get three points, there is more on England on a number of levels.They need this win to prevent the doubts creeping in and deny Scotland bragging rights for the next however many years until they play again.
There has been a lot said about the history of this fixture but I would have to say that, for some of the newer generation, it doesn’t have much impact.
Yes, the loathing the Scots have for the English is well documented but this generation does not buy into that as much, as far as I can see.
Even I sat there the other night wanting Scotland to win. Whereas you ask an older
Scotland fan if they want England to win and they would probably turn away in disgust! So it’s more a rivalry on their side. Scotland have undoubtedly improved under Steve Clarke and have some outstanding players – winners such as Andy Robertson and others destined for the top such as Kieran Tierney.
But this is their first major tournament in 23 years. Performing well and hanging in would be their focus rather than being drawn into any bad blood from the past. Scotland created 19 chances in defeat by the Czech Republic in their opening game. I would be less worried if they could not produce those openings. But they will be dangerous. They utilise that left side well.
Even without Tierney, Robertson got two or three excellent crosses in, and they will look to expose us down our right to get crosses in to Lyndon Dykes or Che Adams.
It will be a fascinating game and I can’t wait for it.