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Strachan refused to be drawn on Roy Keane today. Donall Farmer/INPHO

‘It’s not going to be Celtic Park. Tomorrow, it will be Scotland’s park’ - Strachan

The former Hoops manager isn’t worried that travelling Irish fans will dilute their home advantage during Friday’s qualifier.

by Ben Blake reporting from Glasgow

SCOTLAND MANAGER GORDON Strachan is confident that home fans can create an intimidating atmosphere for Ireland when the teams meet at Celtic Park tomorrow night.

The FAI were allocated 3,500 tickets for the crunch Euro 2016 qualifier in Glasgow but double that are expected to make the trip after many supporters bought tickets for the home section.

Strachan knows all about big nights at the home ground of the Scottish Premiership champions having managed them for four years and, despite the club’s strong Irish connections, he insists that the Tartan Army will make themselves heard.

Speaking at his pre-match press conference at the five-star Mar Hall Hotel Golf & Spa Resort where the squad are based, he said: “The atmosphere is not going to be a problem for both sides. I think it will inspire us. How Ireland deal with I couldn’t tell you.

“We had a lovely test at Ibrox recently (against Georgia) and I thought the atmosphere was great there as well. I thought the Scottish fans turned Ibrox into the home of Scotland for the day.

“And we will do that tomorrow. We will turn Celtic Park into the home of Scottish football. You’ll know fine well you’re in Scotland tomorrow night, that is for sure.

“Tomorrow, it’s not going to be Celtic Park. Tomorrow is Scotland’s park. Tomorrow there is 50-odd thousand Scotland fans in there. That is Scotland’s territory tomorrow, and they’re coming into Scotland’s territory.”

Gordon Strachan Strachan surveys 'Scotland's Park' Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

Scotland trail Ireland by three points after as many games in Group D but put in spirited performances in the draw with Poland and narrow defeat to Germany.

And although they will be going out to win against Ireland, it’s not a must according to Strachan.

“If you look at it and take out Gibraltar, every game has been just one goal,” he said. “Any result is only one goal so that’s how tight this group is.

“You can only ask players to perform and we have done that in three games. Whether we think the points we have collected at this point from these performances are right or wrong, it doesn’t matter.

“I think you have to have a look at when we all play each other and see where we’re all standing when we play each other once. Then you will get a better idea how tough the task is after that.”

Martin O’Neill issues new Keane statement: ‘Roy has my full support’

‘It’s just another game’ – Aiden McGeady on Scotland clash

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57 Comments
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    Mute Shy Guy
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:08 PM

    Lads I hope we stuff them!

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    Mute Sean Delaney
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:10 PM

    These scots are really starting to annoy me hope Ireland slaughters them.
    Coybig.

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    Mute Stephen O Flynn
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    Nov 13th 2014, 9:26 PM

    Half the scots I have ever met in my life have been vile

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:21 PM

    Lets stuff the independence declining, kilt wearing, haggis eating, tennants drinking Jocks.

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    Mute Rhomas Teddy
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:28 PM

    In general I’ve never disliked the Scottish team. But after having to listen to the lot of them go on and on this week I hope we stuff the tosspots.

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    Mute Mark O'Grady
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:19 PM

    Don’t let one fool make you hate the rest of them. McQueen and the Daily Record have turned this game into a circus. Let’s hope we get a result and considering there will be Irish fans in the home section, let’s hope both sets of supporters behave how they should. Really hoping there won’t be any trouble. COYBIG

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    Mute IrishOwl
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:22 PM

    Agree 100%. Really annoying bunch lately. Hope we batter em and ram it down Gordon mcClowns throat !!

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    Mute Rhomas Teddy
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:35 PM

    Mark it’s not just McQueen. The manager and the players have acted like total prats the last couple of weeks. I seriously want the win in this game and just to rub it in I want to see England stuff the ignorant fools next week…

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    Mute Inntalitarian
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:16 PM

    Any friendliness between these two teams and fans has gone out the window on the wake of McQueen’s obnoxious comments.

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    Mute Noel Ryan
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:27 PM

    Hear hear

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    Mute Chris O'Ceallaigh
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:17 PM

    Me arse Gordon over 7000 Irish away fans will make as much noise easy most have tickets relatively close to the official away section COYBIG

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    Mute Willie Harpur
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:17 PM

    Yep. It will be still Celtic Park. But half full of Rangers fans too. Supporting Scotland with their Hoop counterparts. Football rivalries are funny :)

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:22 PM

    A sizeable portion of Scotland supporters come from outside Celtic and New Rangers

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    Mute David Garland
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:43 PM

    Rangers fans actually don’t know what they want or who they dislike.. It was only the night of the Idependence result that they went around Georges Square waving Union Jacks and starting fights with Scotland supporters.. Tomorrow night they’ll be wearing Scotland jerseys and starting fights with Ireland fans.. Their beloved club which is now gone even had a celebratory jersey congratulating Prince William the day he got married all the while they were defrauding his Grandmother out of Millions in Tax…

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    Mute Sean O'Malley
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:03 PM

    Haha good man David!

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    Mute Marc MacFhearchair
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:10 PM

    Nice one Dave.. Hats off

    44
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    Mute Jack Matthynssens
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    Nov 13th 2014, 5:30 PM

    Most Rangers fans don’t follow the Tartan Army, a lot of them will actually support England. According to what I heard, they consider the Tartan army too friendly and jovial and lacking that nasty hooligan element that many old firm fans (especially Rangers) crave.

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    Mute David Garland
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    Nov 13th 2014, 8:00 PM

    Jack please don’t associate Celtic fans when you say “Old Firm Fans” want the hooligan element.. Cast your mind back to 2003 when Celtic brought 100,000 fans to Seville and there wasn’t one arrest, as a matter of fact Celtic fans won the FIFA Fair Play Award that year.. Rangers bought 80,000 to Manchester and they all ended up on Crimewatch and after smashing up the City and it’s Police Force.. Rest assured if any Ireland receives a ‘Glasgow Kiss’ tomorrow night it will be from a Rangers Fan and not a Tim….

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    Mute Jack Matthynssens
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    Nov 13th 2014, 8:14 PM

    Cast your mind back to Amsterdam last year, Celtic fans aren’t all saints and scholars either. That being said, a better reputation than Rangers but not perfect by any stretch.

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Nov 13th 2014, 8:54 PM

    The first person up in court this week had his case thrown out

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:19 PM

    Shut it Strachan you Ginger t**ser*

    *When the games over I can go back to liking you again.

    102
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    Mute Inntalitarian
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:36 PM

    Scots are gonna get a shedload of abuse in the wake of the referendum. Half the Scots livid the other half awkwardly twiddling their thumbs.

    95
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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:38 PM

    Groundskeeper Willie: It won’t last. Brothers and sisters are natural enemies! Like Englishmen and Scots! Or Welshmen and Scots! Or Japanese and Scots! Or Scots and other Scots! Damn Scots! They ruined Scotland!

    Principal Skinner: You Scots sure are a contentious people.

    Willie: You just made an enemy for life!

    72
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    Mute MUFC
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:46 PM

    buzzing for tomorrow night. If we beat them we’d be in a great position to quality automatically . having said that i’d love if they finished in 3ed and we both got through to the group stages in of Euro 2016 . Germany will finish top of the group, but not not they way they’re playing at the moment! as for our rivalry with them, it’s nothing in comparison to Germany/Poland IMO. I’ve always be fond of Scotland and Scottish people in general but would love nothing more than to hammer them 3-0 tomorrow night. #COYBIG etc………..

    66
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    Mute Dan The Man
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:49 PM

    McQueen calling people traitors. Bet he didn’t vote for independence would prefer to hold on to England’s apron strings and his cushy job at sky

    59
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    Mute hitch22+vat
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:26 PM

    A reporter asked strachan once for a quick word! Strachan replied “velocity ” and walked off!

    55
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    Mute MUFC
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:49 PM

    imma have 8 dutch gold sitting 10 inches away from my 32 inch TV is where’ll I’ll be tomorrow night if anybody interested, which lets be honest here, nobody is

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    Mute Davin Lynch
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:55 PM

    Dutch gold,dude,your standards, raise them.

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    Mute Je
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:23 PM

    Wow MUFC,8 cans of utter rank piss,God bless your taste buds or lack of them.

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    Mute Del
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:48 PM

    Iv really gone off that little ginger twonk

    30
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    Mute ryan o sullivan
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    Nov 13th 2014, 5:28 PM

    I’m a big Celtic fan and even when Strachen was there I still hated him he was a donkey always talkin poo ! Celtic park is gonna be bouncing! Wish I was going tomorrow do us proud lads !

    27
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    Mute Miriam Soughley
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:47 PM

    Wait until tomorrow boy. Then let’s hear you.

    19
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    Mute jonathan masterson
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:59 PM

    I never liked Strachan..He is too much of a smart arse..

    17
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    Mute Gazjon
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:20 PM

    Crowd trouble??

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    Mute John Flood
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    Nov 13th 2014, 3:54 PM

    Oh be quiet, Delaney!

    28
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    Mute Stephen Walsh
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    Nov 13th 2014, 10:10 PM

    What does it say on yer Scottish passports lads if your so patriotic?? Ahhh thats right a Scottish passport doesnt even exist.

    13
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    Mute Andrew Tuite
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    Nov 13th 2014, 8:54 PM

    Ah this is all guff, the scots won’t fight for anything. Look at the independence vote. Ireland to win 2-0

    9
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    Mute Scott Coulter
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    Nov 13th 2014, 4:29 PM

    We are rangers super rangers no one likes us we don’t care. Listen to ye all shiteing out of yez.

    9
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    Mute Gerard Fitzgerald
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    Nov 13th 2014, 5:10 PM

    Scotty Kid we know you lot are bricking it,we can smell the fear,all this hot air just proves it,its gonna be a killer for ye,getting knocked out of euro 15 after 4 games,and to a bunch of taigs,lol i cant wait,we did ye before we,ll do ye again,COYBIG!!!!!

    34
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    Mute Roy Ska Butler
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    Nov 13th 2014, 5:22 PM

    Ye are who???? Never heard of that club are they down the lower divisions in Scottish Leagues

    37
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    Mute Scott Coulter
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    Nov 13th 2014, 5:31 PM

    Never heard of the most successful football club in the world..jeez where you been Mars. Ye all make me laugh.lol

    5
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    Mute Scott Coulter
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    Nov 13th 2014, 5:33 PM

    Lol. It not about taigs or huns. It’s about 2 national teams. And the better team will win on the night I have no doubt about that.

    9
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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Nov 13th 2014, 6:20 PM

    2 “national” teams? Scotland chose not to be a nation

    56
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    Mute Scott Coulter
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    Nov 13th 2014, 6:32 PM

    So say yous who sold yer sovereignty.heir Merkel runs thus country now so don’t patronise me.

    5
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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Nov 13th 2014, 6:49 PM

    At least we have some sovereignty to sell.. We were forced into a bail out to save the rest of Europe. Ye’re not a nation and are afraid to be one. Merkel doesn’t even know who ye are

    36
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    Mute Mr Phil Officer
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    Nov 13th 2014, 6:52 PM

    GS looks like Chesney out of coronation st.

    15
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    Mute Scott Coulter
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    Nov 13th 2014, 7:29 PM

    The rest of Europe saved your arses.pmsl. While we are on the subject about independence I’m not a unionist I’m a proud scotsman and overwhelmingly wanted independance.

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    Mute Liam MacSuibhne
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    Nov 14th 2014, 2:36 AM

    Hey Scott- the Irish footed exactly 42% if the entire Euro bailout fund. While Irish banks were forced to take toxic loans from many countries, including British banks. Your banks.

    Back to sleep and dream of being someone. Someone educated, someone independent. Someone with a nation. I won’t embarrass you by making uncomfortable comparisons between Scotland and Ireland. It will only hurt too much.

    Enjoy the laga’ and the crisps.

    They’re on us.

    8
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    Mute Scott Coulter
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    Nov 14th 2014, 6:19 AM

    Bull$hite you can’t blame anybody except the people who run this country.there wasn’t a gun held to your head and told you had to foot the bill of 42% like you claim. Country is run by imbosiles. You can butter it up put a dress on it make it look nice. But in cold light of day your in the pockets of Germany. Hail hitler your not irish anymore your nazis gob$hites. Haha hahahahaha.

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    Mute Scott Coulter
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    Nov 14th 2014, 7:40 AM

    We have nothing to fear are you mad. If anything it’s the irish who are running scared. Pmsl

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    Mute An_Beal_Bocht
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    Nov 14th 2014, 11:25 AM

    Pmsl? What’s that.. Pre-menstrual Scottish langer?

    3
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    Mute Dec Moyles
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    Nov 14th 2014, 11:25 AM

    says the man working for irish rail and living in dublin! ^^^^^^^^^ yeah, good man scott!!!!

    3
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    Mute Scott Coulter
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    Nov 14th 2014, 11:53 PM

    Stalker. For your information I do work for irish rail bit don’t live in Dublin. . What’s it to you anyway.???? What ye gonna say go home brit. Small minded pr!ck. Friendly nation me hole. Anti Scottish anti British yez are a disgrace.

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    Mute Scott Coulter
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    Nov 14th 2014, 11:56 PM

    Lmfao.

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    Mute Liam MacSuibhne
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    Nov 23rd 2014, 3:46 AM

    jesus scott get a life.

    The figures are exact I can assure you. And remember, when you’re in this country – you’re on foreign soil. None of that “am I scottish/British/english….ahhhh confusing” Seriously though, we understand your chip. Must be infuriating to come from such a lie-down and follow your masters in London.

    For the love go god, stop projecting your cowardly history, especially onto us rebels.

    Now go salute your queen. And don’t forget to kneel.

    1
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    Mute Diarmuid O'Connell
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    Nov 13th 2014, 7:46 PM

    Acchew bullshit! Strachan ya wee ginger runt. There’ll be Irish everywhere

    9
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    Mute Scott Coulter
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    Nov 14th 2014, 11:50 PM

    Bragging right fookers. Lmfao they call ireland a friendly nation all the post on here are anti Scottish oh wait anti British since you think every scotsman is a brit you fooking tw@ts. GET IT RIGHT UP YEZ YEZ FOOKING HYPOCRITES.hahahaha

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