The Sun Always Shines on Stevie

David Marshall

Stephen O’ Donnell

Andy Robertson

Scott McTominay

Declan Gallagher

Kieran Tierney

John McGinn

Ryan Jack

Lyndon Dykes

Callum MacGregor

Ryan Christie

11 names that will forever be remembered as those who did what hundreds before them couldn’t. After 22 years Scotland have finally qualified for a major tournament. From a team struggling against San Marino to a team of cult heroes. Steve Clarke has transformed this squad into a hard-to-beat, hard-working side who wear the navy blue with pride, instead of groaning as they receive the call-up – something that has been missing from our national team for some time.

Scotland started the game strong and matched Serbia well, looking unfamiliar from the underdogs they had been painted as before the match. In the 52nd minute Ryan Christie put the ball past the Serbian keeper and it really sank in that Scotland could actually qualify for the tournament, but as Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic lost his man and headered the ball home late into injury time as Christian Panucci did for Italy 13 years ago it felt like a very familiar story. It wouldn’t be a potential historic Scotland game without our bottle crashing in the late stages of the game. However, this time we had a second chance in the form of extra-time and penalties, and due to our perfect penalty shoot-out in the previous round vs Israel, six million prayed for the latter as Serbia attacked relentlessly. Scotland survived the 30 minutes and once again turned into prime Germany during the penalty-kicks. With the 5th and final penalty, David Marshall guessed correctly and sent the nation into a frenzy. I doubt many have celebrated a Scotland game like that in decades, and it may be a while until they do so again unless Steve Clarke’s men can pull off a couple memorable results in the European Championships next summer. Although I would certainly settle for just one if it came at Wembley stadium in June.

The Scotland squad swarm David Marshall after he puts Scotland through to the European Championships

To have gone from being beaten 3-0 by Kazakhstan, ranked 119th in the FIFA world rankings, just over a year and half ago to now looking forward to playing in the next European Championships is an incredible feat and cannot be overstated. The turnaround in performances since Clarke’s - extremely attractive - footballing philosophy has been instilled in the players is massive. The number of goals we concede has decreased at a large rate, shipping just four goals in his seven games in charge compared to 13 in the seven games before he took over from Alex McLeish. Scotland did face tougher sides in those last games under McLeish however the improvement in our defensive structure is undeniable. The idea of an international break is definitely not as daunting as it once was, which can also be credited to the introduction of the Nations’ League – regardless of whether or not you understand how it works, the improvement in performances and lack of meaningless friendlies has made the break between club fixtures much more enjoyable.

Scotland’s youngsters are showing promise as the under-21’s currently sit second in their qualification group for the Euros with a game in hand, it makes for an exciting future under Clarke with players like David Turnbull, Billy Gilmour, and Lewis Ferguson in their midst. If Scotland keep up their current form it could also go a long way in persuading Karamoko Dembélé to choose Scotland as his national team. It looks very likely that the Celtic player will choose England as he has committed himself to their youth side and has made four appearances for the under-17s, however with a lot of competition for first team places in the England set-up, and a Scotland team capable of making it to major tournaments there is a chance it could sway him Scotland’s way.

Karamoko Dembélé playing against Germany for the England u-17 squad

It does not matter if it takes Scotland another 20 years to qualify for a major tournament or if this is the first of a long run of Scottish success, there is no doubt in my mind that I will be re-watching that penalty shoot-out until my face is consumed with wrinkles, and my luscious, golden hair has turned grey. A memory has been made which will last my generation and I a lifetime. With our qualification for the competition and the perfect song for Scotland’s anthem at the hands of Andy Considine, it could make for a much better summer than the lonesome Zoom quiz-filled season we have just endured - something which everyone desperately needs right now. We are all struggling for anything to look forward to at the moment, and a bit of light has been added to an extremely dark year, via the most unthinkable of places – the Scottish national team.