Deep-rooted impressions of a national football side are often difficult to shake, and there’s nothing like a double-header against neighbouring rivals to bring them out of every crevice. Everyone knew Scotland’s games against Ireland and England would be remarkably intense, but it still seems as though they’ve been a touch misrepresented at times, both before and afterwards. From a Scottish perspective, it was odd to see both sides quite so evenly implicated for the physicality of the match on Friday – and that an asymmetry in intensity on Tuesday was for wanting on the home side’s part.
There were so many pleasing aspects to the Ireland victory, even aside from the result. The narrative applied outside of Scotland in the rest of the UK was notably different than that from within. Notions of a match that represented a throwback of outrageous tackles and quaint thuggery, always felt a bit exaggerated. Unlike plenty before it, this Scotland team is not one out to spoil – they’re at their best when the games are fluid and attacks develop a natural ebb and flow. The Republic of Ireland are a physical team, sure, but anyone shocked by that has wilfully or carelessly forgotten each of Martin O’Neil’s sides in the last 20 years. The styles were contrasting rather than mutually brutal, and it was satisfying that the more aesthetic of the two won.
Not that Scotland were operating on some sort of mercurial plain that the likes of Walters, McClean and Gibson could’t reach – the respective quality of the sides isn’t greatly distinguishable. But the way Strachan has this lot playing gave decent grounds for righteous indignation before they found a route to the winner.
And what a winner it was. A perfect response to that guy who sits next to you, changing form from time to time admittedly, who emits a cry of anguish when a corner isn’t hurled into the general airspace of the penalty spot. When your strengths lie on short, quick passing, which is as true of Anya and Maloney as it is of Strachan’s side as a whole, to play any corner outside of the ten-yard exclusion zone seems almost ridiculous. It was appropriate that a game so intense should be decided by a goal so delicate and refined.
Perhaps though, we were all dafties to think the self-same team that had been through the physical and mental exertion of Friday night could produce another 90 minutes with sufficient intensity to beat a side with such quality as England. Yet it was anathema to pre-match rumblings that the visitors would look more fired up, and less content to play an exhibition match. Scotland struggled to cope with their pressing and energy, and aside from a reasonable spell in the first half at one goal down, never looked like they had a firm foothold in the game. That could easily be down to fatigue, or it could be that there isn’t quite the ability level among the Scots that we’d had ourselves believe.
In terms of individuals, the two games didn’t reveal masses that those who’ve watched Scotland over the course of 2014 didn’t already know. Naismith is a persistent menace. Hanley is prone to error. Anya is an invaluable outlet. Robertson is a captivating attacker. Chris Martin exists. The only one to significantly enhance his reputation arguably, was Charlie Mulgrew, who looked as imposing and capable in the centre of the meaty internationals as he does in the relative comfort of the Premiership for Celtic.
It all pales a little compared to what they achieved collectively in beating the Irish. Winning a game that simultaneously could, needed to and feasibly wouldn’t – that was telling, and it hasn’t happened in quite a long time. It isn’t just the defensive mechanism at work when supporters start talking about the Ireland game when they were asked about the England one – the former was really that important.
Also, that’s how supporting a football team works. You only ever talk about ‘the long term’ immediately after a defeat. No-one considers ‘the bigger picture’ after a win. But, by the same token, you scarcely mention either if they aren’t encouraging. By and large, the last week serves as a net gain in Scottish optimism, rather than diminishing it. Keep on like this, producing victories when it matters and knocking some nice football about in between times, and people’s impressions of how the Scotland national side plays might change for good.
WRITTEN BY JOHN CALLAN
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