#scotland-football

#scotland-football

This crew - smallish in number but sufficiently large to assault the eardrums of the management and players - are an odd bunch. It's true that Scotland should be beyond the point of just being happy going to the World Cup - and these players are way past that notion.

Scotland fans with even average memories take nothing for granted on the road, their mind's eye still capable of conjuring up disturbing images of losing qualifying matches to Georgia in Tbilisi in 2007 and Kazakhstan in Astana a dozen years later. Zalaegerszeg in western Hungary doesn't get to join the hall of infamy, not after Scotland won a fairly joyless, but wholly professional, behind closed doors contest against Belarus.

Four of Scotland's five European representatives remain in contention for UEFA competitions, with Celtic, Rangers, and Aberdeen seeking places in the Champions League and Europa League. Hibernian faces a tough Conference League qualifier against Legia Warsaw without a safety net, as UEFA's nation ranking depends on points collected over five years. Scotland ranks 17th and aims for 15th to improve future qualification routes, needing to close a 2.8 points gap from Austria, which is equivalent to winning seven league matches.

Scotland's national team needs a strong performance against Liechtenstein to restore confidence and momentum after a disappointing defeat to Iceland.

Adam Idah realized that his experience at Norwich City FC—where it felt more like a one-team town—would contrast significantly with the intense passion surrounding football in Scotland.