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2007 ? What a Year for Scottish Football
3rd January 2008
As the year draws to a close it is only natural to take a look back at what has happened in the past twelve months. What a year it has been for Scottish football. The national team surpassed all expectations by battling valiantly in the European Championship qualifiers, whilst our club teams have been excelling themselves in Europe too.
The moment of the year had to be James McFadden?s forty-yard screamer against the French at the Stade de France. I don?t think anyone will ever forget where they were when they saw that goal. It has to be one of the greatest Scotland goals of all time. Archie Gemmill would certainly have been proud of it.
If McFadden?s strike left us in a state of euphoria, Italy?s last minute winner at Hampden plunged us into the depths of despair as our qualification hopes evaporated. At the time the defeat was hard to take but looking back with hindsight we gave the champions of the world an almighty game and we should be proud of our attempts to qualify from a horrifically tough group. We can now look forward optimistically to qualifying for the next World Cup.
Aberdeen also had a great year. They qualified for the UEFA Cup by finishing third in the SPL. The Dons then managed to reach the group stages of the competition by knocking out Dnipro on the away goals rule. Of course, the year culminated in them thrashing FC Copenhagen 4-0 to reach the last-32 of the UEFA Cup. A fantastic achievement for Jimmy Calderwood?s men.
It is amazing to think that it was only on January 1st of this year that Paul Le Guen stripped Barry Ferguson of his captaincy. Rangers started the year as a club in turmoil but twelve months later they are still in Europe and giving Celtic a serious challenge for the SPL title. Much of the credit for this has to go to the work of Walter Smith since returning to Ibrox after Le Guen was axed.
Celtic fans also had reason to celebrate. Their team reached the last-16 of the Champions League, narrowly losing out to the eventual winners AC Milan. Gordon Strachan also guided his side to their second championship in a row and a Scottish Cup.
Let?s hope 2008 can deliver the same amount of entertainment. With the Dons gearing up to face Bayern Munich, the closest SPL title race for years and the start of Scotland?s campaign to reach South Africa 2010 we certainly have a lot to look forward to.
The Start of the Silly Season
In the world of football the New Year means the chance to get new faces at your club. The transfer window opens on January 1st amidst the usual rumours that players are ready to move elsewhere for new challenges. Football fans pray that their managers are given money to spend to freshen up their squad, whilst using the opportunity to get rid of any deadwood. Hopefully Stewart Milne CBE will be in a generous mood after being honoured by the Queen and will give Mr Calderwood a few more pennies to spend in the January sales.
The problem with the transfer window comes towards the end of January when clubs who have failed to sign anyone panic and buy the first player who is available. Comedian Bob Mills summed it up perfectly when he said: ?It?s a bit like Amsterdam. They look great in the window, but it?s different when you go inside.?
Talking a Good Game
?I swear on my mother?s life, my late mother?s life.?
Snooker legend Alex Higgins.
?It?s a bit like melons. Only when you open and taste the melons are you 100 per cent sure that the melon is good. Sometimes you have beautiful melons but they don?t taste very good and some other melons are a bit ugly and when you open them the taste is fantastic.?
Jose Mourinho?s bizarre attempt at explaining how you bring young players into the team.
?Some players have psychologists, sportologists- I smoke.?
US Open champion Angel Cabrera reveals the secret of his success.
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