A 0-0 in Slovenia last month to begin with. At the time I’d have said: that’s a disgrace, I’m weighing my words. Not a goal in ninety minutes, for a first game. And then Skopje. Sebastien Pocognoli’s first win with Scotland, first goals. That’s historic. Well, not bad.
I read it all at the café, next to the table football, on my phone, while the “Sunday Devils” WhatsApp group argued about something else. I sent them the list. Andy Robertson, captain, 100th cap. Kieron Bowie, first goal for Scotland. John McGinn, a penalty. Luke Graham, of Stoke City, debut. My brother-in-law replied “so what”. He understands nothing about the thermometer.
Because in the same match there’s the red card for Scott McKenna late on. The manager has to make at least one change. Historic and annoying in the same evening. Both. I know that by heart from seat 14.
A win, a red card. We used to call that an ordinary Sunday.
On Tuesday, Hampden Park, Slovenia are back. The same side that held the 0-0. They’ve just lost 2-1 in Switzerland, the group leaders, a narrow defeat. A team that loses narrowly to the leaders, that’s a sign. A sign of what, I’m still looking. It’s the last Nations League game of this international window. For me, that makes it a final. Well, a Tuesday. I’m not saying that because I adopted Scotland this week. Well, I did.
And Oli McBurnie, 19 caps, still no goal. Me, I believe in him. Tuesday would be historic. Now we take it one game at a time, you know.
It’s true, we checked: BBC Sport.
