What are the Scottish media saying about tonight's Euro 2016 qualifier?
Unsurprisingly, Martin O’Neill and Gordon Strachan feature in all the daily papers while there are interviews with Ray Houghton and advice from Charlie Nicholas.
THE WAITING IS over. After months of talk and preparation, Ireland will take to the field against Scotland at Celtic Park later this evening (7.45pm) for this first competitive qualifier between the sides in 27 years.
While the Irish media were stll focuses on the aftermath of the Roy Keane team hotel incident, the majority of their Scottish counterparts led with manager Gordon Strachan’s promise that Ireland can think again if they are hoping for a welcoming atmosphere at the famous Glasgow ground.
The Daily Record splash with “This is Scotland not Celtic” and feature pics of Keanes Robbie and Roy as well as Aiden McGeady during their time with the Hoops. The Scottish Daily Express (“Roar us on to win”), the Scottish Daily Mail (“Now it’s game on”) and The Scottish Sun (“Celtic Park? This is… Scotland Park”) all go with something similar.
Team captains Robbie Keane and Scott Brown both feature prominently among the back pages after yesterday’s pre-match press conference. Keane spent half-a-season in Scotland on loan from Tottenham four years ago so inevitably the short stint came up in conversation.
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John Greechan, chief sports writer of the Scottish Daily Mail, writes: “Without wishing to spoil this love-in, it’s safe to assume that the Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill and captain Keane won’t be made to feel too much at home as they attempt to get one over on their gracious hosts tonight.
“Still, Keane — the remarkable 34-year-old who just keeps on scoring goals — is already dreaming of getting just one more at the ground he briefly graced following his ecstatically-received deadline-day loan move to Celtic in the winter of 2010.”
Ray Houghton, branded “the original James McCarthy, the trailblazer for Aiden McGeady”, gave interviews this week and discusses how he ended up playing for Ireland despite being born in Glasgow.
Everyone asks me if I had a decision to make,” he tells Gregor Kyle. “But I really didn’t. Scotland weren’t knocking on my door saying ‘Ray, come and play for us.’
“I had trials there when I was 17 or 18 and they didn’t go well, it wasn’t a good experience.”
In the Daily Express, Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas is sitting there thinking that the Scots are well capable of earning three points tonight but says that Strachan must send them out with an attack-mindedness.
Where does former Celtic and Arsenal striker think they can get joy?
“The full-backs will be key for Scotland, as well as our wide men, Ikechi Anya and Shaun Maloney. I reckon Ireland’s main weakness is at left-back and that is an area where Scotland can have some joy.
“Stephen Ward and Aiden McGeady will occupy that area. We all know that about McGeady’s talent going forward and he will be definitely a threat to Scotland. But he’s not the best at tracking back, as is the case with many forward-thinking players.
“So if Scotland can isolate Ward with Maloney pushing up on him, that could give space for (Steven) Whittaker to get forward and put in some crosses.”
The Sun, meanwhile, have an interview with one of O’Neill’s former player Gary Smith, who played under him at Wycombe Wanderers and now act as a scout for the Ireland boss under instructions from Steve Guppy.
And the Englishman says O’Neill hasn’t changed much since those early days in management.
“The passion and the ability to inspire young a young player like myself was the really striking party of Martin’s personality,” he explains. “There was being in his company in the changing room at half-time and listening to those really passionate speeches.
“I’m not fortunate enough right now to be in the changing room but when I speak to Steve it sounds almost identical to back then.”
What are the Scottish media saying about tonight's Euro 2016 qualifier?
https://vine.co/v/O5mphEiEep5
by Ben Blake reporting from Glasgow
THE WAITING IS over. After months of talk and preparation, Ireland will take to the field against Scotland at Celtic Park later this evening (7.45pm) for this first competitive qualifier between the sides in 27 years.
While the Irish media were stll focuses on the aftermath of the Roy Keane team hotel incident, the majority of their Scottish counterparts led with manager Gordon Strachan’s promise that Ireland can think again if they are hoping for a welcoming atmosphere at the famous Glasgow ground.
The Daily Record splash with “This is Scotland not Celtic” and feature pics of Keanes Robbie and Roy as well as Aiden McGeady during their time with the Hoops. The Scottish Daily Express (“Roar us on to win”), the Scottish Daily Mail (“Now it’s game on”) and The Scottish Sun (“Celtic Park? This is… Scotland Park”) all go with something similar.
Team captains Robbie Keane and Scott Brown both feature prominently among the back pages after yesterday’s pre-match press conference. Keane spent half-a-season in Scotland on loan from Tottenham four years ago so inevitably the short stint came up in conversation.
John Greechan, chief sports writer of the Scottish Daily Mail, writes: “Without wishing to spoil this love-in, it’s safe to assume that the Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill and captain Keane won’t be made to feel too much at home as they attempt to get one over on their gracious hosts tonight.
“Still, Keane — the remarkable 34-year-old who just keeps on scoring goals — is already dreaming of getting just one more at the ground he briefly graced following his ecstatically-received deadline-day loan move to Celtic in the winter of 2010.”
Ray Houghton, branded “the original James McCarthy, the trailblazer for Aiden McGeady”, gave interviews this week and discusses how he ended up playing for Ireland despite being born in Glasgow.
“I had trials there when I was 17 or 18 and they didn’t go well, it wasn’t a good experience.”
In the Daily Express, Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas is sitting there thinking that the Scots are well capable of earning three points tonight but says that Strachan must send them out with an attack-mindedness.
Where does former Celtic and Arsenal striker think they can get joy?
“The full-backs will be key for Scotland, as well as our wide men, Ikechi Anya and Shaun Maloney. I reckon Ireland’s main weakness is at left-back and that is an area where Scotland can have some joy.
“Stephen Ward and Aiden McGeady will occupy that area. We all know that about McGeady’s talent going forward and he will be definitely a threat to Scotland. But he’s not the best at tracking back, as is the case with many forward-thinking players.
“So if Scotland can isolate Ward with Maloney pushing up on him, that could give space for (Steven) Whittaker to get forward and put in some crosses.”
The Sun, meanwhile, have an interview with one of O’Neill’s former player Gary Smith, who played under him at Wycombe Wanderers and now act as a scout for the Ireland boss under instructions from Steve Guppy.
And the Englishman says O’Neill hasn’t changed much since those early days in management.
“The passion and the ability to inspire young a young player like myself was the really striking party of Martin’s personality,” he explains. “There was being in his company in the changing room at half-time and listening to those really passionate speeches.
“I’m not fortunate enough right now to be in the changing room but when I speak to Steve it sounds almost identical to back then.”
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