MATCH WILL BRING ENTIRE COUNTRY TO A STANDSTILL
On the Albert Bridge here in Glasgow, they are selling scarves that proudly declare: ‘no Scotland. no Party.’ Schoolteachers, by contrast, will allow pupils to watch today’s euro 2020 opener against the Czech Republic by claiming it is a ‘cultural event’.
Arty or party, your motivation matters not, the fact is an entire country will come to a standstill at two o’clock this afternoon. not that they will be standing still should Scotland score their first goal at a major tournament in 23 years. Or, even better, win their first match since euro 96.
Classroom, front room, beer garden or back garden, televisions are already in position and chairs assembled, for not even Steve Clarke has put this level of preparation into today’s game. In a restricted Covid world, supporters are leaving nothing to chance.
The Glasgow Green Fan Zone, with its wooden benches and giant screens on the banks of the River Clyde, is already sold out.
As, of course, is Hampden Park, where tickets were last night available online for £600. There will be 12,000 lucky souls inside the stadium, which has been fortified by a ring of steel.
The reason for such measures is that, once people are verified, temperature checked and permitted entry, the organisers want to keep them inside. Don’t worry, no one will be trying to escape Hampden — it is the centre of the universe as far as the natives are concerned. Their heroes — Scotland’s players
achieved such status simply by qualifying — landed at Glasgow Airport yesterday afternoon, flying north from their training base in Darlington.
If Clarke and his squad were in the dark as to the bubbling fervour in their homeland having spent the last two weeks in Spain and england, then the drive from the airport to their hotel was enlightening, if a little frightening.
‘I was a bit nervous on the M8 when all the cars were slowing down to toot their horns,’ said Clarke. ‘They were swerving to avoid each other!
‘But everyone wanted to wish us well, and that’s great. So we’re definitely aware of the magnitude of this game and know what it means to everyone.’
Much has been made here of the campaign to allow children to watch the game in school, with the Scottish government saying they would leave it to the discretion of headteachers.
One of them, Wendy Cameron of Broomhill Primary in the west end of Glasgow, made headlines when she declared: ‘Maths worksheets and workbooks won’t create memories as good as watching the match.’
Captain Andy Robertson was certainly supportive of her words. ‘Rightly so,’ said the Liverpool defender. ‘I hope the schools give them a special pass to watch the game. ‘This has been a long time coming. A lot of kids, even teenagers and people in their early 20s, haven’t witnessed us in a major tournament. I hope the fact that is now happening will inspire the nation.
‘We could have sold out Hampden many times over. We could feel that buzz around Glasgow as soon as we landed. We’ll try to keep that smile on their faces.’
That’s the noise on the outside, but on the inside Clarke continues to go about his work quietly. He certainly does not give much away. Does he know his starting XI? ‘Yes.’ Silence. OK, next question. Clarke is not one for grand expansion in front of the press. His team, however, promises to be far more expansive.
The manager has found a way to fuse two world-class left backs in Robertson and Kieran Tierney in the same team. His solution — madcap on the face of it — is to play without a left back.
It’s a bold move, but it’s also brilliant, given that Tierney at left centre half and Robertson at left wing-back allows two outstanding players to defend and attack in tandem.
Clarke’s ‘methodical’ approach — his words — means there is likely to be another surprise in store for their opponents today, just like when they stunned Holland with a rampant press two weeks ago.
The sight of a group of Czech journalists wrestling with a bus timetable outside of Hampden last night is perhaps a forerunner for the headaches which await their side.
And headaches of a different cause come tomorrow morning will be the hope of a nation who are about to indulge in sunshine, beer and cheer. except for the schoolkids, that is. Tomorrow it’s back to maths.
Miss, how many points do Scotland need to make the knockout round?