The Traveling Celts: A Great Week

By: JT | September 13th, 2007

Its been over twenty four hours since Scotland’s fantastic 1-0 win in Paris over France, so I find it positively incredible that we haven’t heard from Ian at the Scotland Offside yet. It must mean he’s having one hell of a good time, or recovering from one hell of a good time.

I tend to resist using terms and Mel Gibson references like “brave hearts” to refer to the Scottish National Team, but just this once I have to say, “In the Year of our Lord 2007, patriots of Scotland–outshot but not out thought–charged the pitch of Stade de France. They fought like warrior poets, they fought like Scotsman, and they beat those Frenchman.”

Congratulations go out to the three Bhoys who took part for Scotland. Stephen McManus was immense, and Paul Hartley and Scott Brown put in the requisite workmanlike performances that helped contribute to the home side’s frustration. Young players like McManus and Brown will benefit from this type of match and bring that experience back to the dressing room at Celtic Park, no doubt. OK, I admit there are a few good things about international breaks. But not many.

I’m normally the one that finds myself defending the French in political debates, but one Frog I really hate is Raymond Domenech because of his aversion to picking players who are Scorpios. As a Scorpio myself, I find this practice abhorrent. Can’t the ILO get involved here or something? I thought France was all into that egalitarian shit. It appears not.

In Scotland’s match over the weekend, McManus and Brown played, McManus scored, Hartley and Caldwell got splinters in their butts. Seriously, how far has McManus come? He has everything you could ask for in a center back and is on the fast track to superstardom, methinks.

Who else…oh, Aiden me lad. Think he’s regretting his choice to play for The Republic over Scotland these days? Ireland dropped five points over two matches to Czech Republic and Slovakia, leaving them six points adrift of the second place Czechs with a match against group leaders Germany yet to come. McGeady was substituted in both matches around the hour mark and was for the most part ineffective.

Future Celt Shay Given was his normal rock like self for the Irish, even though he wasn’t required to play the role of Superman as is normally the case when he’s between the sticks for Newcastle.

Current Hoops keeper Artur Boruc and his fellow Poles solidified their position on top of Group A with draws against their two nearest competitors, Finland and Portugal. They lead the Finns by two points and the Cristiano Ronaldaires by 4, with winnable home matches against Kazakhstan and Belgium coming up. They are almost a sure bet to qualify, but they need to wrap it up before the away date at Serbia that rounds out this never-ending qualifying process.

Shunsuke Nakamura’s Japan squad took the spoils in a barnburning 4-3 friendly with Switzerland, and drew 0-0 with the other Euro 2008 host, Austria. Naka dispatched a penalty early in the second half against the Swiss.

Thats all I got. The Celts are back in action at the weekend against Ian’s very own Inverness Caledonian Thistle. If someone can find him, make sure he’s breathing and then wake him up so we can talk some trash!

Next week, to Ukraine and beyond! HAIL HAIL!