Roll up, roll up for the Ralston v Ronaldo show at Hampden Park – Good luck Brickie

The Celtic Star

·15. Oktober 2024

Roll up, roll up for the Ralston v Ronaldo show at Hampden Park – Good luck Brickie

Things can only get better, can only get better,’ the famous lyrics echoed by D:Ream in 1993, is not worthy of any significance to Steve Clarke’s Scotland…

Anthony Ralston of Scotland crossed the ball under pressure from Luka Modric of Croatia during the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A1 match between Croatia and Scotland at Stadion Maksimir on October 12, 2024 in Zagreb, Croatia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

Cristiano Ronaldo was playing in the flumes

Anthony Ralston who will make his 14th cap for his country and start his eight consecutive match tonight for Scotland will be hoping the national team’s luck will turn as they aim to pull off a memorable victory.

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In a weird week, Cristiano Ronaldo was playing in the flumes at Cameron House in Balloch and training in Paisley. What next for the five time Ballon d’Or winner? Couple of pints at Wunderbar after the game?

Ironically, the 39 year-old footballing icon has never played at Hampden Park (unless my stats are wrong).He seems to be enjoying Scotland.

Anthony Ralston of Celtic battles for the ball with Jamie Gittens of Dortmund during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD6 match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic FC at BVB Stadion Dortmund on October 01, 2024. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Currently sitting on 906 career goals, reaching 1000 is in sight for Ronaldo as he gears up to face a Scotland team deprived of any confidence.

Scotland’s solitary victory was a 2-0 win against Gibraltar

Following Saturday’s 2-1 defeat against Crotia, it is now one win in 15 for Steve Clarke. A reminder, that solitary victory was a 2-0 win against Gibraltar in a friendly prior to the European championship disaster. It will be one win in 16 once Roberto Martinez’s high-flying side are finished with us at the national stadium this evening.

What self-respecting football nation holds onto a manager who will head into the November camp winning only one of his last 16 matches?

Steve Clarke, Head Coach of Scotland, acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A1 match between Croatia and Scotland at Stadion Maksimir on October 12, 2024 in Zagreb, Croatia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

Portugal sit top of the tree with a 100% record in Group 1 of Nations League A. Thir opponents? Bottom of the group on nul points. I am sick of hearing Steve Clarke using ‘elite teams’ as an excuse for Scotland’s shortcomings in their dismal run of results. He surely cannot be using Croatia and Poland as examples of ‘elite?’

Poland, like Scotland finished bottom of their Euro 2024 group. Croatia exited the tournament in the group stages, despite finishing third because they had only accumulated two points which was not enough to reach the last 16.

Players, match officials and mascots line up prior to the UEFA Nations League 2024/25 League A Group A1 match between Croatia and Scotland at Stadion Maksimir on October 12, 2024 in Zagreb, Croatia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

Depleted with injuries? Absolutely

Depleted with injuries? Absolutely. However, the squad is still more than good enough to go to Zagreb and get a result. It is also more than capable of taking points against a sub-standard Poland side at home.

Nothing will change until Scotland replace the manager. The sad reality is that the Scottish FA do not have the cojones to branch out and find a better replacement. They see Clarke as God.

“Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” – Albert Einstein.