The results from their final world cup qualifiers may have been the same, but for England and Scotland, the 2-0 victories will have left a very different set of emotions. While England, having seen off the challenge of Poland, can bask in the euphoria of a confirmed place among the protagonists in next summer’s extravaganza in Brazil, Scotland can only dwell once more on what might have been.
Croatia were put to the sword at Hampden, but for all the deserved acclaim the Scots will receive for a performance that carried no little guile and skill, the result ultimately put little more than a touch of gloss on what has been, when all is said and done, yet another frustrating campaign.
Of course, the damage was really done some months before, when qualification was rendered impossible with a mere half of the ten matches played. Craig Levein’s tenure as manager was inevitably brought to a merciful end at that stage, and for all Scotland remain well short of appearing ready to assume their place among the elite of world football, Gordon Strachan has at least restored a sense of pride and hope as far as the national side’s fortunes are concerned.
Recent victories against Croatia (twice) and Macedonia – allied to a close match against England at Wembley back in August - certainly offer encouragement for the future. And that alone may enable Scotland to begin to anticipate the prospect of ending a lengthy period in the wilderness as far as the major tournaments are concerned.
The last time the Tartan Army dusted down their kilts on that very stage, of course, was at the world cup in France, back in 1998. If that feels like a long time ago, it’s because it’s precisely that, certainly in football terms. For all Scotland will always fall short of being a Germany, Italy, Brazil or Argentina, eight missed world cups and European championships in succession represents failure on an unacceptable scale.
Statistics like that suggest that Levein can hardly take the full blame for the malaise, although even his supporters – and there can’t be many in that group – would surely acknowledge that Strachan has overseen a remarkable upturn in the side’s results and performances since he took up post.
That is not to say that the corner has been completely turned. For instance, we must acknowledge that Croatia were hardly giving the match at Hamden on Tuesday night their all – going through the motions springs to mind actually – and were clearly happy to treat the game as a training exercise for the most part. And, under Strachan’s tutelage, group winners Belgium swatted Scotland aside with the minimum of fuss just a few short weeks before.
However, the light at the end of the tunnel has been switched back on, nonetheless dim on the horizon it may appear to some. The painfully obvious limitations of certain players among Strachan’s charges need no repetition here, but the manager’s job is simply to get the most out of the resources at his disposal, and nobody could deny that he is doing precisely that for now.
It just goes to show what a manager who has the wit and experience to mould together a bunch of players into a cohesive unit can achieve. For Strachan at least, there is comfort in knowing that certain players are responding positively to his coaching methods, and for all there will be no grandiose announcements – many of us winced at Levein’s toe-curling announcement at the outset of the campaign that Scotland could win every match in the group – the manager can look forward with momentum and even optimism on his side.
Group A could and possibly should have represented a great opportunity for the Scots to emerge from the doldrums, but then again Wales and Serbia could make a similar claim. Belgium were rightly recognised as group favourites from the outset, but the results against Croatia demonstrate that Scotland should have been pressing for a play-off spot from this group of nations.
In truth, a terrible start did for that (home draws against Macedonia and Serbia), but at least grounds for optimism have somehow emerged from the series of matches.
However, let’s take time to dust away the layer of failure before daring to dream once more. Much remains to be done before the European Championships of 2016 can be considered. That the tournament will be held in France may represent a happy co-incidence for some, although many Scottish fans will be reluctant to make their plans just yet.