da stake casino： Scotland’s capitulation to a bang average England team at Wembley has opened up various cans of worms – some have even questioned the role of SFA chief executive Stewart Regan.
da mrbet： For Scotland fans it is no longer near misses, it’s a long downward spiral that shows no sign of bottoming out. A look at the U21 results will confirm exactly what is in the ‘pipeline’.
Along the way of the great fall in the Scotland national team it has become obvious that the international game is vastly inferior to the club variety.
Twenty years ago international managers could pick the best players from various clubs. These days it’s a case of looking around the fringes of bloated squads to find players who might be able to do a turn for the national side.
Next week Celtic host Barcelona with an outsiders chance of success, the performances against Manchester City and away to Borussia Monchengladbach suggest that there is a chance.
But what hope would you give Scotland if they were playing Barcelona at Hampden next week?
Once upon a time there would be an argument for which Celtic players would get into the Scotland team.
Today it would be role reversal, so which Scotland players would get into Brendan Rodgers side?
DAVID MARSHALL v CRAIG GORDON
Of all the changes to the team at Wembley, dropping Marshall seemed the strangest – although perhaps not to the Hull City keeper.
Without particularly being at fault in Celtic’s 5-0 loss at Artmedia or 4-4 draw at Motherwell, Marshall found himself dropped by Strachan for the return match with Artmedia and the legend of Artur Boruc began.
Marshall has carved out a great career in England, it was an erratic decision to drop him for a keeper of very similar ability. Score draw.
CALUM PATERSON/ IKECHI ANYA v MIKAEL LUSTIG
No contest here, a converted Hearts striker or Watford winger against a tried and tested international full-back.
Lustig has played in two European Championships and been part of an international side consistently more successful than Scotland.
I don’t think that Paterson would get a game ahead of Tony Ralston in the Celtic Development team – no contest here, Lustig every day of the week with Cristian Gamboa as back-up. Celtic win.
LEE WALLACE v KIERAN TIERNEY
Not even close, not a contest. Scotland’s third choice left-back had his best days at Tynecastle and showed his ambitions by sticking around at Ibrox for a four year journey against lower tier opposition.
Waldo may be passable at charging forward in the SPFL but his crossing is as weak as his defending.
Exposed to top tier quality every week his game has been shown up, on the other hand Tierney is improving every week and has shown that he can live with it in the Champions League. Celtic win.
CHRISTOPHE BERRA v ERIK SVIATCHENKO
Berra never really impressed at Hearts and has taken that form south into stints with Wolves and Ipswich that haven’t resulted in interest from anywhere else. He displays little of the qualities required in a central defender.
In contrast Sviatchenko likes to get in and about strikers, knows when to play it safe and shows increasing signs of leadership qualities.
Berra’s career has plateaued at Championship level, Sviatchenko is developing towards Champions League standards. Celtic win.
GRANT HANLEY v JOZO SIMUNOVIC
It is almost an act of cruelty putting Hanley into international football. An honest performer but woefully short at both ends, his defending leaves a lot to be desired while his first half header in front of goal would be cringe worthy at any level of the game.
Simunovic has still to be tested at the highest levels but is starting to deliver on the billing that he arrived from Croatia with.
Whether it’s a bread and butter SPFL match or Champions League tie I’d rather have Jozo in my team than Hanley.
JAMES MCARTHUR v SCOTT BROWN
McArthur is a rare example of a Scot who has gone down to England and developed his career in the right direction but isn’t on the same level as the 2016/17 version of Scott Brown.
The Crystal Palace man would certainly be in and around Brendan Rodgers’ first choice XI but it would take someone pretty special to take the place of the club captain. Celtic win.
DARREN FLETCHER v STUART ARMSTRONG/NIR BITTON
The West Brom midfielder remains a class act, maybe one day we will get around to watching him on a weekly basis in a green and white shirt.
After more than a decade around the international scene he is assured of his place with only injury interrupting his cap count.
Neither Bitton or Armstrong has got close to the levels Fletcher plays at, for Armstrong that may develop, with Bitton his game seems to have stagnated just when it should have been kicking on. Scotland win.
MATT RITCHIE v JAMES FORREST/PATRICK ROBERTS
Ritchie appears to be one of those Englishmen that hits a little bit of form, earns a few Scotland caps then returns to the level he’s played most of his career at.
Switching from Bournemouth to Newcastle suggested that he is ambitious, although it did involve a step down a division.
Forrest and Roberts have shown real signs of quality this season and have their best years ahead. Celtic win.
STEVEN NAISMITH v TOM ROGIC
Naismith has been very fortunate to carve out a career in the richest league in the world – thanks to his refusal to sign for Rangers in 2012.
The striking skills that he showed earlier in his career have been replaced by a willingness to rush around chasing lost causes, which earns international brownie points.
In contrast, Rogic is more attack minded, has great ball skills and an obvious eye for goal from any range. Celtic win.
ROBERT SNODGRASS v SCOTT SINCLAIR
Snodgrass has bounced back brilliantly from serious injury and has shown the attitude to succeed throughout his career.
He is enjoying a productive spell with Scotland but has still to perform consistently in the Premier League with just one season, when Norwich were relegated, under his belt.
The same arguments could be used against Sinclair but there is an extra level of skill to his game, with his transfer to Celtic proof that he still has the ambition to improve. A narrow Celtic win.
STEVEN FLETCHER v MOUSSA DEMBELE
Fletcher has created a lucrative career playing for struggling teams, which seems to suit his style of play down to the ground.
Other than against Gibraltar he has looked out of his depth at international level, battling it out with Chris Martin for a Scotland shirt.
Dembele’s Champions League performances have laid down a firm marker, there is lots more to come from for the young French striker at a far higher level that Fletcher has ever known.