Group D - opponent watch!

[Charlie Darwin]

That Nigerian goalie was in on the betting scam.

Unfortunately he protested too much and got a free kick.

[tricky_colour]

Not seen that before but a blatant handball.
So Scotland effectively lost to a team ranked 102 (which is worse than us!! )

[Charlie Darwin]

Not seen that before but a blatant handball.
So Scotland effectively lost to a team ranked 102 (which is worse than us!! )

No, it was disallowed for a foul.

[geysir]

It wasn't a handball Tricky, the Scot's head knocked against the goalie's hand, his arms were away from the ball.
Frames 15 to 21 in the giff.

[DannyInvincible]

We're doomed.

I think all 3 goals have been deflections.

With Scotland's secret weapon being the deflected own-goal, any possible return of Richard Dunne could prove our downfall.

That Nigerian goalie was in on the betting scam.

I came across this blog piece on Slate earlier featuring some truly astounding tales of the goings on in Nigerian football: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_spot/..._national.html

There have been 15 international FIFA Youth Championships. Nigeria has won four of them, including the 2007 and 2013 titles, and finished second another three times. The Nigerians are also the reigning champions of Africa, have one of the best World Cup pedigrees outside of Europe or South America, and a roster that features a handful of household names. Why, then, isn’t Nigeria a serious contender in Brazil?

The answer is that, historically, Nigerian football has been synonymous with self-sabotage and dysfunction. “Traversing the minefield of Nigerian football is no task for the faint-hearted,” writes Osasu Obayiuwana, a BBC journalist and expert on African football. “Pulling defeat and sorrow out of the jaws of victory … is a well-established Nigerian tradition.”

It’s tough to know where to start. How about the fact that current coach Stephen Keshi won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations but still didn’t get paid? There’s also the recent match-fixing in Nigeria’s domestic league that led to the farcical scores of 79–0 and 67–0. And consider that the secretary-general of Nigeria’s football federation once said it was OK for refs to take bribes, so long as they don’t let the money influence their decisions.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Got free tickets for this, passing through, Scotland played very well IMO. Albeit not heard of any of Nigeria's players, they seemed destined to bomb, like us in the Euros.

Liked the way Scotland used the wings a lot and seemed to have a fluent syle about them, though their defence is definitely a bit dodgy at times.

[geysir]

With Scotland's secret weapon being the deflected own-goal, any possible return of Richard Dunne could prove our downfall.

I came across this blog piece on Slate earlier featuring some truly astounding tales of the goings on in Nigerian football: http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_spot/..._national.html

The allegations were around this match, the allegations went global and in the Sidney Morning Herald the mug shot they used of Strachan looks damming.

[Stuttgart88]

Georgia 1 up away (or neutral?) to Saudi Arabia at HT. We're doomed.

[Stuttgart88]

2 now. One more and they're as good as we are.

[Charlie Darwin]

I haven't been this pessimistic about the future of Irish football since Scotland went 2-1 up against Nigeria

[pineapple stu]

Given they then went and lost 1-0 to the UAE, I think hope can be restored.

Gibraltar 0-0 Malta at half-time.

[pineapple stu]

1-0 Gibraltar with five minutes to go!

[pineapple stu]

That's a result now. Their first ever full international win.

[Stuttgart88]

We're doomed.

[Charlie Darwin]

It was bad enough when it was only Scotland and Georgia we had to worry about.

[Stuttgart88]

Germany win World Cup suggesting they might be a tricky opponent.


Some bloke called Lahm retires from international football

http://www.dw.de/germany-captain-phi...eam/a-17793396

[BonnieShels]

Thank god.

It's not like they have any decent players to replace him...

Gulp.

Not like me to praise him, but what a player.

[ifk101]

Sure Lahm is a top RB but he was average enough by his "usual" standards in the WC. Playing him in midfield was a massive failure. Would have been great for us if they tried to play him in midfield again during the qualifiers.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Transfer Window Analysis

Scotland

Danny Fox - Nottingham Forest
Phil Bardsley - Stoke
Aaron Taylor-Sinclair - Wigan
Chris Kettings - Crystal Palace
Stephen Kingsley - Swansea
Robert Snodgrass - Hull City
Ross McCormack - Fulham
Don Cowie - Wigan
Chris Burke - Nottingham Forest
Andrew Robertson - Hull
Ryan Gauld - Sporting Lisbon
Tony Watt - Standard Liege

Ireland

Steven Reid - Burnley
Sam Byrne - Everton
Keith Andrews - Watford
Stephen Henderson - Charlton
Keiren Westwood - Sheffield Wednesday
Joe Murphy - Huddersfield
Gavin Gunning - Birmingham
Stephen Gleeson - Birmingham
Paul Green - Rotherham
Alan Judge - Brentford

I just included the Scottish players who are moving to Premier League clubs, big European clubs and big Championship teams. I had to include every Championship related Irish transfer to make up the numbers. Of the Irish transfers, Byrne has been signed for Everton's U-21 team, Reid is 33 and was already playing PL football anyway and Andrews is pushing 34. Three young Scottish left-backs have made moves to Premier League teams or high end Championship teams. Our designated left-back is in Wolves' bomb squad. A couple of young Scottish players have also made eye catching moves to pedigree continental teams, which is something that is alien to our young players. Ross McCormack is one of the Scots listed that hasn't moved up to the PL but an 11m transfer fee shows Fulham's PL ambitions. The contrast in transfer windows from Scottish and Irish perspectives is made all the more galling by the fact that our two biggest transfer window movers in recent times are Scottish born.

There is a remarkable shortage of Irish players competing in the Premier League, a shortage of genuine contenders coming through and even a paucity of quality players under-25 in the Championship.

In the interest of balance, Paddy McCarthy has yet to be sold by Crystal Palace and could make the squad of 25 as back up. Enda Stevens has impressed in pre-season for Villa and even won over a significant amount of skeptical fans. Jack Grealish has got rave reviews though he remains eligible for England. Other young Irish players like Carruthers, Burke, Sutherland, Harriman and Duffy have seen pre-season action though all face an uphill climb to make it for their clubs.

[DeLorean]

Thankfully it's not only players involved in summer transfer activity 2014 that are eligible when we play them. We already have established first team players at the majority of those clubs. What difference does it make if they were recently signed or not? Fair enough to be concerned about not having anybody playing for the really top sides but the Scots don't either. The only transfers on that list that is worth looking out for is Gauld and maybe McCormack just because of the fee. James McCarthy went to a bigger club for a bigger fee less than a year ago though.