Some of them arrived in the capital yesterday, but there were many more reinforcements on the day, all in good humor and good voices.
A combination of the rain and coronavirus restrictions meant that the Scottish invasion was not as visible or audible as it could have been if this game had been played in the sweltering weather in which these teams began their campaigns, but they were still impossible to ignore. .
Almost everywhere you looked there was someone wearing a kilt or a flag on their shoulders. Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn’s song has been sung in a loop for hours – Steve Clarke’s man, better than Zidane, it’s clear visiting fans have high hopes for him.
Many traveled without tickets (they had paid for their travel and accommodation before being asked not to) and celebrated as if social distancing was something other people did.
As kickoff approached, no one in London could surely have been unaware that there was a game at Wembley and not everyone seemed so excited about the idea. The voices of John Motson and Clive Tyldesley are regularly heard over the tannoy on the subway calling for good Covid-19 hygiene. What strange times we live in.
On the tube there was talk about who might be playing: Scott McTominay falling on defense, possibly with Leeds United captain Liam Cooper leaving? A first international outing for Chelsea’s Billy Gilmour?
Not that there weren’t many England fans as well, although they felt a bit more subdued. Qualification can be assured tonight, but they have everything to lose with.
In general, the Scots are here with hope, not with expectations. “He’s coming home, isn’t he?” Said the English driver over the tannoy as he entered Kings Cross this afternoon.
England fans trying to question Gareth Southgate would do well to learn the lessons of their national team against Croatia and not bother. You have so many options, all kinds of things are possible.
Everything has been of good character. Boos from the Scottish contingent as a group of supporters in England jerseys got on the subway was quickly followed by handshakes. Hopefully we all have a little more perspective than we could have played if this game had been played as planned last year.
As for the mood afterwards, one gets the impression that English expectations are so high that anything short of victory will be difficult to accept. Scots are here to have fun and they will find that they are not coming home with a bit of a crossbar.
But matches between England and Scotland don’t always stick very well to the script. It promises to be a fascinating evening.
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Source: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-06-18 18:00:31
