Scotland-Russia. Whose hearts are braver?

If you ask a Scot to describe himself and his people in one word, he will undoubtedly say “the brave” — brave. Bravery goes through the history of this small Northern region. Anthem music — Scotland the brave, national anthem cinematic — Braveheart (Braveheart), reading Walter Scott, the legends, legends — all sings of courage. Our team will definitely feel it for themselves. But we’re not cowards, are we?

Let’s start with the fact that the alignment in our qualifying group is already a great motivation before the September qualifying meetings.

Three points advantage over Scotland and over Kazakhstan-not bad for the middle of the campaign, and if a week later the gap will increase to 6 (or even to 9, given the game of Scots with the Belgians), it will be generally fine. Russia rest of the tournament, the pressure subsides and you can focus on the preparation to the status qualifier — home game against Belgium in November in St. Petersburg. Which would still by and large will morph into a friendly/control. Now the first two teams of the group go to the Euro directly. And we are close to solving the problem.

September 5. Glasgow. Stanislav Cherchesov and Artem Dzyuba.
Stanislav Cherchesov: “we Don’t want to do mathematics, but this game is for six points»
But that is only “close” and it carries a lot of deceit.

After all, if you look at the table through the eyes of the nearest opponent, everything looks very different.

Imagine, you are Scotland. A country with great football traditions, a team with history and ambitions, made up of fighters hardened in the Premier League and the championship. For each of them the word brave is a national idea. Yes, you somehow started the selection, barely scraped 6 points, but the main matches ahead, and all-home. Your main competitor is greater Russia, and that is what you are hosting now in your native Glasgow at Hampden Park stadium, which knows how to become the 12th player. With this for the Scots can begin a very beautiful story! I am convinced that the opponents will have a furious attitude, and we will have a very difficult time, especially in the first minutes.

To take their own at the expense of character, will, passion-this Scots were able at all times. And Cherchesov remembers well 1992, when the CIS team defeated unmotivated Scotland in the European championship-0: 3. The current head coach of the national team was then in reserve, but nevertheless.
September 5. Glasgow. Artem Dzyuba.
Artem Dzyuba: “Britain for me is Liverpool and Klopp. He’s a tough guy»
He Cherchesov loves to remember in 2007, when Spartak were playing against Celtic in the Champions League. Indeed, in Glasgow took place on phenomenal matches, red-and-white stadium welcomed standing still, let’s not forget that penalty on was “Celtic”. Because at home any Scottish team, whether club or national team, has a double force.

But still, we are able to cope with the British bulk. For every negative example (you can remember Northern Ireland Capello), there is a positive. I recall visiting Wales-and Ireland 2003-2010, when strangers crowded stadiums, our team took the victory. Including due to the Russian character, which is not exactly inferior to the Scottish.

And there’s a sense that Scotland today is no stronger than either those Welsh with Giggs or the Irish with Keane and O’shea.

June 18, 1992. Norrkoping. Scotland – CIS 3:0. Dmitry Kuznetsov replaced Sergey Aleynikov in the game.
How we lost to the “drunk” Scots. Myths and reality of the fiasco of the national team of the CIS-1992
And ours more than a year on undoubted positive. Confident, with football, with the specifics of almost all lines, except perhaps the center of defense. Much is said about the 2018 world Cup legacy, referring mainly to stadiums and infrastructure. So, the Russian national team, which is now loved and appreciated, which itself enjoys football and is not afraid of anyone, is also part of the heritage.

Let’s be honest, the defense inspires fears, well, do you remember immediately the times when our defenders were the best of the best? If that ever happened to happiness, for a long time, and so, domestic football — and the level of teams, and the club often was searching for happiness in the midfield and in attack. And discipline, of course, than the Top order.

That’s why we’re going to Glasgow. Discipline of defense, the intelligence of the average line, cool forwards, the speed of the wings. I think that should be enough. Along with the bravery of the entire team. Let’s see whose hearts are braver!