Well, that’s that over thank God.
Another international long weekend over that pretty much nobody cared about to begin with.
Scotland actually won a few with a 2-1 win in Cyrpus and 3-1 win at home to Kazakhstan last night.
In the grand scheme of things, it means little of course as Scotland finished third on 15 points miles behind the imperious group winners Belgium who pretty resoundingly humped everyone in their path (they finish with a goal difference of +37) and runners up Russia.
But it means we can roll out words like ‘momentum‘ and phrases like ‘feel-good factor‘ in regards to the play-off semi-final at Hampden in March.
How the hell any momentum built now will factor into a game against an unknown opponent in four months time is a mystery in itself but even more mysterious will be Scotland’s opponent in said semi-final.
The four possible candidates are Romania, Bulgaria, Israel and Hungary.
How they are selected is also anyone’s guess.
There will be a draw, or selection process or something on Friday.
No matter who Scotland get if they get past them – and that’s a big if – then we do know they’ll play the winner of Norway vs Serbia in the final to decide who goes to Euro 2020.
Neither of those nations qualified automatically through their groups but did win their Nations League groups last year just like Scotland so getting the winner of a game between them was always on the cards.
We were originally slated to play Finland in the semi who also won their Nations League group but thanks to the incessant goal scoring of ex-Celt Teemu Pukki they finished runners up in their group behind Italy and in doing so have qualified not only automatically but for their first-ever major tournament.
It’ll also be decided on Friday that should we do win the semi-final whether the match against Norway vs Serbia winners will be on home turf or not.
Also going into playoffs rather ridiculously in March will be the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Both finished bottom of their Nations League groups with neither recording a single win – indeed Northern Ireland didn’t even garner a solitary point – and both have also just finished third in their qualifiers.
But hey ho you know that playoff place Scotland were celebrating winning this time last year well both the Republic and Northern Ireland are getting one each too now for some unbeknownst reason.
It really is just farcical.
You could now have a situation where Nations League group winners are missing out and nations that have hardly a competitive win to their name over the past two years are now going to the tournament.
Anyway, this mess all gets ‘sorted out’ on Friday apparently so tune in for that one if indeed you still care.
In my opinion, all four teams are beatable with the preferred candidate being Bulgaria who have been on their arse in international football for years now and have won only one of their last eleven competitive international games.
England took ten goals off them over their two games against them in the qualifiers and they finished second bottom with only six points from 24.
The Celtic contingent played a pretty major part in the weekend’s action with Ryan Christie netting a peach to open the scoring against Cyprus, Greg Taylor provided a couple of assists over the two games, Callum McGregor looked impressive in the middle and James Forrest was an ever-present threat also.
None appeared to pick up knocks though Forrest was clattered in last nights game and hobbled off for treatment but returned for the second half.
Elsewhere Nir Bitton played 90 mins in the centre of defence for Israel as they were beaten 1-0 away in Macedonia, Kristofer Ajer remains an ever-present for Norway as they triumphed 2-1 in Malta and Odsonne Edouard scored two penalties for the French under 21 side over their two games taking his tally to seven in these qualifiers and 35 for the under 17-21s in total.
Word so far is there are no injuries to worry about though Mohamed Elyounoussi was sent back early from the Norway camp last week nursing an injury the extent of which is not yet clear and of course just last week we found out that Elhamed will be out for six weeks with a groin strain.
On Saturday we’re back in action and it’s at home against Livingston.
They started off the season strongly with an unbeaten four-match run in the league coming hot on the heels of a five-game run without a loss in the League Cup.
However, they then lost four on the spin (three in the league and a League Cup elimination) which they then arrested with a shock 2-0 win at home against us back in early October.
Ryan Christie got himself needlessly sent off that day and either side of his dismissal we struggled to create anything meaningful so combined with Livi taking their chances it was a well-deserved defeat and so far our only domestic loss of the campaign and one of only two in all competitions.
But the West Lothian side haven’t won since with two draws against the struggling Edinburgh clubs and away losses to Kilmarnock and Motherwell followed by a 2-0 defeat at home to Rangers last time out.
Let’s hope a match with us doesn’t arrest their poor form like it did last time though at home on our grass pitch, it should, of course, be a totally different kettle of fish to that pretty frustrating day at the Tony Macaroni Arena seven weeks ago when the rug was pretty unceremoniously whipped from beneath our previously all-conquering feet.
I’m hoping none of our international stars are feeling any of the ill effects of travel etc and hopefully, we can get some payback and a few goals to boot against a team who’ve actually not beaten in our last three games against them so we really do owe them one.
I’m going for 4-0.
....Always A Tim! 