nate

KT. His natural position is left back, not left CB

Yep got all 3 on Amazon or eBay on the cheap Scotlands Swedish Adventure is standard stuff. The kind of book you’d give a teenage boy for his birthday. Not bad but not great either 4/10 A Nation Again is better, a good memento, but no surprises. 6/10 Scotland At The Euros Past and Present is more fanzine style, a good laugh, puts the boot into English commentators etc, some good historical info too. Its very short but cheap enough 7/10 happy reading!

It’s all about squad depth, isn’t it? If our lot continue dropping like flies - a groin here, a spasm there- then Plan B must be invoked. Why not bamboozle the Germans with…Kelly, Ralston, Cooper, Souttar, Hyam, Taylor, Jack, Patterson, McLean, Forrest, Brown. On second thoughts…

Fair enuff, but I wouldn’t think Germany would be that popular a bet here or over the border…would think neutral punters more likely to favour France/Spain/England or maybe Portugal. It’s all ifs and buts, but my hunch is that Germany are a minimum SF here.

I was having a laugh ya po-faced tit

Thanks guys. Have ordered all three titles. Will let youse know if they’re any good

The broader picture doesn’t come into it. It’s all about recent form going into a tourney. Results from a year ago are largely irrelevant. That’s why those clever - and rich- bookies have Germany pegged at third faves to win the thing outright. Half the German players in their most recent squad were playing Champs or Europa League etc knockout football. I think we had two or three guys doing likewise. We’re rank outsiders to get even a point from the opener for those reasons. It’s the other two games that will define our tournament.

It’s not unreasonable to say that in a group with one superior team, and three others more or less at the same level, it comes down to whoever loses to Germany by the smallest margin. Getting Germany first looked ideal 5 months ago, but I’m thinking this is now a handicap. The goal difference situation is clearly going to be vital. I’d take a one-goal loss to Germany right now. Our probable back line of second-tier makeweights and guys out of position fills you with fear. Even a tube like Havertz is starting to get a bit tasty recently.

Archie Gilchrist (Chelsea) and Callum Wilson(Newcastle)…surely with names like those there’s a Scottish granny in there somewhere?

Thought I’d warm up for Germany by reading stuff about previous Scotland Euros campaigns. Any suggestions folks? So far have identified 3 books about the Euros. Not bought any yet. The books are… Scotlands Swedish Adventure A Nation Again Scotland At The Euros Past and Present Anyone on here read any of these and recommend them? Am looking for a decent read rather than the usual football tabloid book fodder. Something equivalent to Archie MacP’s World Cup book (title escapes me but a good read I thought) cheers

The Germany game is and always was a damage limitation job but I fear a gubbing here. We’ll bounce back with a helter skelter 2-2 v Switzerland, and scrape a VAR assisted win v Hungary. Four points. Bring on Spain/Italy/Croatia. Yes, I’m heavily medicated.

You got any fixed odds tips for the weekend?

But what if the glass was half full… We cuff surprise pot 4 entrants Kazakhstan followed by a narrow win against pot 2 Albania. Remarkably, Scotland have now replicated the qualifiers by reaching the next stage WITH A GAME TO SPARE, against pot 1 France as it turns out. And being in the group that completes its fixtures last, we now know that finishing second is more advantageous than actually winning the group (easier R16 opponent). SC then puts out a weakened team against France with a view to losing and finishing 2nd, shoving Jacob Brown into the team for instance. Next up is plucky Iceland in R16 who have somehow emerged as the surprise entrant (there’s always one). Dawdle. It’s Switzerland in the Quarters - doing their usual of reaching the knock outs but going no further. Ditto dawdle. A semi against Holland looks a toughie, but true to form the Dutch squad Implodes in the days leading up to the match, bickering with the coach over tactics and half of them refuse to play. We’re then facing a team of diddies from Zvolle and Sparta Rotterdam. Cakewalk. It’s hosts Germany in the final. They’re over confidant…kleine Schottland…was is das? We hang on for a dour 0-0, a Wembley Euro 2020 affair, and it goes the distance. Greg Taylor scores the winning penalty in a 10-9 shootout. Aye I know…the men in white coats are already at my front door.

Point taken, but Bulgaria would still have qualified with 2 points even if it was 3 points for a win back then. I’m no mathematician but it seems to me there are several scenarios where 2 points gets you into R16… TEAM A 3 wins = 9 pts TEAM B 2 wins, 1 loss = 6pts TEAM C 1 draw,2 losses = 1pt TEAM D 1 draw, 2 losses = 1pt Or TEAM A 3 wins = 9pts TEAM B 1 win,1 draw,1 loss = 4pts TEAM C 2 draws,1 loss = 2 pts TEAM D 1 draw,2 losses = 1pt There might be other permutations, but for qualification with only 2 points it would require at least 3 of the 6 groups finishing with something like the above. Unlikely but not impossible.

If this plays out then Pot 4 will be tougher than pots 2 & 3. Must be the first time that’s happened at a Euros or WC you imagine