SCOTLAND SEE OFF WALES BUT MISS OUT ON TROPHY

 

 

Well the last time Scotland faced Wales George Burley was in charge and the Tartan Army saw their team beaten 3-0 at Cardiff City Stadium in what was an embarrassing encounter back in '09 that turned out to be Burley's last game in charge. The last time the Scots faced the Welsh in a competitive encounter was during the 1986 World Cup UEFA qualifying group 7 campaign where they were beaten 1-0 at Hampden Park then drew 1-1 at Ninian Park with Rangers' Davie Cooper getting a penalty though that match is best remember for all the wrong reasons, Scotland manager Jock Stein dying of a heart attack in the dugout and his assistant manager, a certain Alex Ferguson, having to take over for the rest of the campaign. The last time the Scots beat the Welsh was in the 1984 Home Nations championship when Mo Johnston hit the winner in a 2-1 win at Hampden Park.

Now though Craig Levein is in charge and his Scotland team made a pretty smooth start to Scotland's newest challege and were now in the mixer to win the competition. Next up though came Wales who had not only lost their first match of the competition but had yet to so much as score a goal in the Gary Speed era. So, the only cloud on the horizion for Scotland going into this Carling Nations Cup encounter at the Aviva Stadium was the ash cloud that stopped a lot of the Tartan Army getting over the Irish Sea. Bera right back, Caldwell and Blackpool's Steven Crainey in central defence, Rangers Steven Whittaker left back, Brown, Morrison and Adam in mdfield, Miller, McCormack and Naismith up front.

Scotland turned out to be the stronger side in the first half and looked as though they'd be the ones to take the lead but eventually the Welsh had other ideas as the game became more of a contest and yet it was Scotland that still looked like the slightly better side. Still, though they were unable to find the net but, supporting Scotland, I wasn't particularly concerned about their ability to do so but then a 36th minute long ball went wrong and Robert Earnshaw sped through the defence to open the scoring for Wales! After that, the Scots didn't look like getting an equaliser before half time. Craig Levein certainly had some talking to do if he wanted to leep his side in the competition.

Whatever Levein did say at half time though, it did the trick. In the 55th minute Adam flighted a ball over to Morrison who made it past the Welsh defence for an equaliser. Then in the 64th minute Morrison set up Miller and the now-Bursaspor assasin completed the turnaround. In the 70th minute it got even better, Whittaker crossing for Berra who headed in his first ever international goal. After that, the Welsh looked deflated and Levein gave a few Scottish subs the opportunity to see some action as his side cruised to the finish. Mission acomplished in a very smooth display from a side proving itself as one of the best Scotland teams in recent years.

Well the last time Scotland faced the Republic of Ireland Berti Vogts was the manager but like a lot of Scotland's encounters from that era, this match in '03 was not a succsessful one, Scotland losing 2-0 at Hampden Park. The last time they beat the men in green was when Craig Brown was manager, Don Hutchinson and Barry Ferguson hitting the net in a 2-1 win at Lansdowne Road with both goals coming before half time. The last time they faced the Republic in a competitive setting was in the Euro 88 qualifying Group 7 campaign when they drew 0-0 at Lansdown Road and lost 1-0 at Hampden Park. The last time they beat them in a competitive setting was in the 1962 World Cup UEFA qualifying group 8 campaign when they won 4-1 at Hampden Park(with Ralph Brand and MUFC's David Herd getting the goals) and 3-0 at Dalymont Park(with Everton's Alex Young amongst the goals).

The Republic of Ireland never played in the old Home Nations Championship and they weren't and aren't considered one of the "Home Nations" - that distinction is given to the nations of the United Kingdom. Still, other than England, the Republic are arguably the best side in this corner of the world and were top of the table coming into this Carling Nations Cup match at the Aviva Stadium. Scotland needed to beat them to take the trophy. Bardsley and Blackburn's Grant Hanley were in central defence. Robson, Brown and Adam in midfield, Miller, Naismith and Forrest up front. It isn't often that the Scots get a serious chance of winning a trophy.

Well despite being the underdogs on this occasion Scotland gave as good as they got early on and the Irish goalie had his work cut out to try and keep them at bay. Yet the Irish did hold out and had their uses at the other end. Indeed in the 23rd minute the hosts broke through. Paul McShane lobbed the ball to Robbie Keane who charged through the Scottish half before slotting the ball into the net. The Scots immediately came close to equalising but the Irish didn't look done yet themselves, still no further goals were scored before half time. Once again, Levein had some talking to do if his side were to turn the match around, it would surely be his side's toughest test yet.

The Irish had the opening opportunity of the second half but the Scots were in no mood to bow down just yet. Still the hosts were the stronger team and Levein had to freshen things up in an effort to get his side back in the game. That appeared to do the trick as the Scots started banging against the Irish door when when Miller was denied a penalty despite a blatent tug, well it became pretty obvious that this wasn't going to be Scotland's night. There was one last desperate opportunity in the dying second but it came to nothing. It was the Republic that got the chance to party though Levein can't be too dissapointed as the Scots certainly did themselves justice.

On other occasions, the Republic of Ireland beat Northern Ireland 5-0 at the Aviva Stadium, the Republic going three up before halftime in what was an embarrasing display for NI whose chances of liting the trophy disintegrated as a result. Wales then beat Northern Ireland 2-0 at the Aviva Stadium in a match that was ultimately a dead rubber but it did allow Gary Speed to come out of this tournament with a win under his belt. So, that meant that Scotland finished 2nd in the Carling Nations Cup table, three points behind winners the Reblic of Ireland, not a disgrace to the Tartan Army but not really what they were looking for from this competition.

So, congratlations to the Republic of Ireland, winners of the Carling Nations Cup. My first impression of the competition was that I was sorry England weren't involved in it but what we've been given has certainly been an interesting display. Of course given that they were hosting the tournament it would have been a surprise if they hadn't won it but having done so will certainly be a confidence boost to this group of Irish players who are looking to get to the finals of a major tournament for the first time in a decade. Will this tournament count for anything to the wider world? Did the old Home Nations tournament count for anything? Don't know but the Irish can certainly claim to be "best of the rest" in this part of the world.

(Image taken from Soccernet)

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