Hearts may be the real benefactors of success
The naysayers may argue differently, but there’s plenty to be happy about in Scottish football just now.
After the country’s stirring, and important, win over Albania in the first of the Nations League ties, it was back to club action and the first of the Europa League group games in midweek.
And Celtic’s victory over Rosenborg, plus Rangers’ valiant performance away to Villarreal, got us off to a cracking start.
It is fair to say – and many have over the last couple of days – both teams rode their luck a little.
Celtic didn’t play at their best and only clinched their win in the final minutes.
In Spain, Rangers were dominated by their hosts for large passages of play.
But as different as the two games were, Scotland’s representatives both showed their resilience to get the job done.
Steven Gerrard’s side survived the loss of a goal in the first minute, and twice had to come back from behind, to force their draw.
To do that away from home against a La Liga side is very impressive – and by no means a fluke. This season they have played five away ties and have yet to lose one.
This from a team which is, as manager Steven Gerrard points out, still in transition.
It is only logical to imagine the spirit they have shown in Europe also bodes well for the domestic tests to come.
Celtic’s display of character was more about one individual than the team.
Leigh Griffiths was left on the bench, but when called upon in the final quarter, he seized his chance by scoring the winner.
It sets up an intriguing contest in Salzburg in a couple of weeks’ time, against a host team who pulled off one of the results of the week when beating their fellow Red Bullsponsored club, Leipzig, 3-2.
For an Austrian club to go to Germany is akin to a Scottish team winning in England. It hardly ever happens, and when it does, it is something to be celebrated.
That result would suggest to me Salzburg should be favourites for the group. But we will have a much clearer idea after they host Celtic. The Thursday night European games may also, I believe, be something of an advantage for Hearts, whose Premiership form has been another of the reasons to be cheerful.
With the Old Firm’s games being put back 24 hours to allow them time to recover, Craig Levein’s men will get the chance to crank up the pressure every week.
When they actually do meet Rangers on Sunday, October 7, they will go in off the back of a clear week against hosts who will have had to face Rapid Vienna three days earlier.
It might not make a big difference, but the surprise challenge from a team outside Aberdeen and the Old Firm is every bit as welcome as the positive European contributions being made by Rangers and Celtic.
More of the same, please, coupled with a bold Scotland Nations League run all the way to Euro 2020.
Or is that just a little too ambitious?