We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
I missed out on all of the Euro 2012 action yesterday, so I'm jonesing for a bit of the footer today. Fortunately, the powers that be have saved one match for the weekend - and it's a crucial one. Scotland take on tiny Liechtenstein in a must-win match that could see them jump back up into second place temporarily. Join me from 2:30 EST onward for all the LOB chatter.
posted by The Blue Devil @ 11:47 AM
We are all former students at Lakenheath High School and other public schools in East Anglia. We were in school in the 70s and 80s and drank deeply from the well of British culture of those decades - the pints, the telly, and of course the footie!
130 Comments:
Here are the current standings in Group I:
1. Spain - Played 7 (21 pts) +18GD
2. Czechs - Played 7 (10 pts) +1GD
3. Scots - Played 6 (8 pts) 0 GD
4. Lithuania - Played 7 (5 pts) -6
5. Liechten - Played 7 (4 pts) -13
This group is all going to come down to Tuesday's matches in which the Scots are away to Spain, who have obviously already qualified as winners of Group I. The Czechs are away to Lithuania who have already been eliminated.
But the Scots clearly need a win today and some goals would be handy. That will put them a point up and some goals in the bag, so that on Tuesday it's just a matter of matching the Czechs efforts.
Bugger - I've just got a link working and found that I've buggered up the time. The match must have started at 1:30pm. It's 0-1 Scots approaching half time.
The Brighton striker Mackail-Smith with a headed goal on 32 minutes for the Scots' lead.
Hello BD. The Scots still lead 0-1 thanks to a header by Craig Mackail-Smith. Scotland must win as they will not qualify for a playoff spot if they are level on points with the Czechs due to their head-to-head record with the Czechs.
We are basically hoping for a Scottish victory today and a loss by the Czechs in Lithuania on Tuesday.
Good afternoon. Where's the link?
The teams for today:
Scotland: McGregor, Hutton, Caldwell, Berra, Bardley, Fletcher, Bannan, Morrison, Adam, Naismith, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Marshall, Goodwillie, Robson, Cowie, Wallace, Whittaker, Forrest.
Liechtenstein: Jehle, Ritzberger, Kaufmann, Martin Stocklasa, Rechsteiner, Martin Buchel, Hanselmann, Nicolas Hasler, Poverino, Beck, Frick. Subs: Benjamin Buchel, Eberle, Michael Stocklasa, Flatz, Niklas Kleber, Wolfgang Cleber, Bicer.
I thought it was 2:30 too!
Afternoon, Someone. Sorry about bollixing up the time. We've just hit half-time. Here's the link I'm on:
http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/84787/1/watch-liechtenstein-vs-scotland.html
MU Rules is right. Czech's have the big tiebreaker.
Well, the British sites all said 19:30 (read: 2:30EST) so I don't know what happened.
The Scots lead 0-1 at halftime. Thank you for the link,BD.
Go Lithuania!
Thanks for the link.
Hiya, MUR - thanks for the clarification. You are spot on. With this year's Euros, head to head is the first tie-breaker, so the Scots will have to hope for a Czech loss against Lithuania. I don't really expect the Scots to get a win away to Spain even with the Spanish not needing anything. A draw would be a good result.
A Scotland draw at Spain would be a miracle in itself.
Where's Snoddy?!
I think Scotland is wearing yellow jerseys and blue shorts.Craig-Mackail Smith should have scored a second as he rounded the keeper and shot into the side netting.
How are you doing, BD and Someone? I agree with Someone that it is almost definite that Scotland will lose in Spain so they will need help from Lithuania.
I think Barry Bannan is starting in place of Snoddy.
I'm well today. Unbelievable weather in Columbus. Might head out enjoy it after this match and save the lawn mowing for the morning.
Allan McGregor did well to tip a shot over the bar, So it wasn't all Scotland in the first half even though they were the better side.
I am mowing the lawn tomorrow on Columbus Day Weekend.
Amazing weather here too in WNY. I had a lovely day out in Niagara on the Lake, a very quaint Britishy town on the other side of the border into Ontario yesterday.
Second half starting.
That is a beautiful town, lovely drive along the river as well.
Scotland get the second half underway in Liechtenstein. They'll be looking for some goals to boost their morale going into Tuesday's crucial match.
The second half is underway
Couldn't have been a nicer day for it, too. Gorgeous drive along the river and then high tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel. Came back with a store of Cadburys, McVities and Branston Pickle as well.
As strange as it may sound, I think this match is more important for the Scots than Tuesday's match in Spain.
Sounds like a great trip,BD. I wish I were there.
I agree - it ensures that Scotland only have to keep up with the Czechs on Tuesday as they'll be a point up.
It is almost like a home match for the Scots with bagpipes and lots of Scottish banners.
Scotland wins today, they're a point up. Easier to go into Spain with a lead than behind.
Shame - Alan Hutton was caught offside when there was a usual break on. On the replay, Hutton was onside!
I am not sure where the offside was.
Some Premiership sides have got to have their eye on this Mackail-Smith chappy. He's lighting it up for Brighton these days.
Great defending by Allan Hutton after a spell of possession by Liechtenstein.
Morrison did well there to hang on to the ball and then feed Bannan. Bannan's been on form for Villa this season. He certainly didn't do sod all for Leeds on loan last season.
The cross by Hutton was caught by Jehle.
It would be really nice for England to have some company in an international tournament for a change.
Just too high for Mackail-Smith there.
The cross was just too high for Naismith. That was a decent chance.
OOH! Bardsley headed just over from the corner.
Bardsley's header just over. Nice corner by Adam.
Miserable weather there.
Oh - a free header there. And then it's given away to Morrison who hits it first time on the volley. Some sloppiness creeping into the Liechtenstein game now.
The Irish will qualify for the playoffs with a draw at home to Armenia on Tuesday.They could qualify for EURO 2012.
The Scots need to continue pressuring Liechenstein, who do not seem to be used to being pressured on the ball.
Hutton was bit of a ball hog on that run.
The Irish looked decent yesterday although LA Galaxy's own Robbie Keane missed a hatfull of chances.
The rain continues to fall in Liechtenstein. The Scots should enjoy these conditions.
Doyle and Long should be the forwards with Keane sitting on the bench.
Interesting to see that the French have left to the last day and a colossal match-up with Bosnia to ensure qualification. Most of the big European sides have cruised it.
Bardsley could have finished better then.
A decent chance as the cross from Bannan was just in front of Bardsley.
I think France should beat Bosnia in Paris. They had a slow start due to the World Cup hangover, but have been in good form recently.
The Scots have a free kick just outside the box, but the free kick from Bannan is headed out,then the lineman flags Bannan offside.
Bannan's free kick is cleared out. Too much hopeful long ball stuff from the Scots. Surely they've got the quality to break down this lot.
Any thoughts about the Rooney red card yesterday? Might that mean a three-match suspension that would have him out of the first group matches next summer?
Naismith is fouled and shows his frustration by pushing a Liechtenstein player.
I read about the red card, but didn't see it. It sounded like stupidity from Roon who could end up missing the group stages this summer.
Stocklasa rightly booked for a harsh tackle on Adam.
Ma. Srocklasa is booked for tons of fouls. Another free kick just outside the box.
Short free kick from Adam to Bardsley, whose shot is blocked out.
Jehle did well to tip a volley from Berra around the post.
Morrison fires a bit high.
James Morrison finds row z with that effort.
Yeah - it was just sheer frustration and stupidity on Rooney's part. He was tangling with a Montenegran and as he lost possession, he just kicked out at the player right under the ref's nose.
Now he will miss the group stages. That is the last thing England needed.
A bit of nice bagpiping now in the background. There's not enough of that at football stadia IMHO.
Scotland have dominated, but really need a second goal to settle this match.
That was my thought too, although Fabio said that it might just be a one-match suspension. I thought straight reds were automatic three match bans but maybe it has to be adjudicated.
I agree. I have always enjoyed listening to the bagpipes.
I agree - 2 or 3-0 would put a nice gloss on this match.
Oh - McGregor does well to smother that shot from Niklas Hasler.
MacGregor does well to save from Beck. A warning for the Scots.
Good save by McGregor. Guy walked though some lackadaisical defending.
I'm not sure that I would feel the same way if I were in the stadium standing next to the piper.
Another poor offside decision there from the linesman.
Mackail-Smith was level as the Scots countered through Naismith. He was not offside.
Silly foul there by Hutton and some afters as well. No need for this tension in a match like this.
Kieber, the Austrian born player, is on for Buchel.
I agree. What was Hutton thinking?
That's odd - why would you elect to play for Liechtenstein if you were born in Austria?
Fortunately, it was a horrible free kick from Liechtenstein.
Another goal is needed.
And I like being as far away as possible from the piper.
The Scots are making heavy weather of this one. Someone will be happy to see Celtic boy Forrest coming on for Bannan.
He has played in the lower divisions in Austria, so he was never going to be capped by them.
I agree. Craig Forrest coming on for Bannan will be a popular move with Celtic fans.
How shite do you have to be to not be in the reckoning for Austria?
I prefer Bannan, but he's a bit gassed. Time for fresh legs.
Naismith was offside.
This is a James Forrest; I think Craig is a keeper, no?
Eberle is on for Hanselman.
My mistake. It is James Forrest.Craig was a Candian keeper who played for Ipswich.
Don Cowie is on for Charlie Adam.
So Charlie Adam is replaced by a Player from Evil Cardiff.
One of the best names in world football, Scott Goodwillie, is warming up on the touchline. The Blackburn man could give the Scots a bit of a spark up front.
James Morrison tried to do too much as the ball ran out of play.
I wonder of Liechenstein will have a hard time defending against time.
This is not the time to get complacent in the defensive zone!!!
Useless pass from Cowie.
Great clearance by Jehle that leads to a foul by Berra in a dangerous area.
The Scots stop that one from Beck that looked dangerous for a few seconds.
Naismith heads just over from the cross by Hutton.
Naismith heads one that goes high and wide.
Nice Scottish banners disguised as seats.
Thomas Beck lunges in on Naismith and picks up a yellow.
That was nasty by Beck on Bardsley, who is booked for that challenge. That was frustration by Beck.
Mackail-Smith is offside
Foul by Rechsteiner on Morrison.
That's one damp piper
The bagpipes are at full volume.
Great save by Jehle from a Naismith header.
Pretty awesome header by Naismith knocked aside.
Jehle saves superbly from a Berra header off the corner.
Oh - Berra had a free header there but the keeper did really well. Another corner.
This time a push is called off the corner from Naismith.
Into stoppage time then.
Into stoppage time . There will be three minutes of stoppage time.
Fortunately a Liechenstein attack is stopped for offside.
One minute remaining.
Blow up ref!
Did the commentator just say that "Scotland have a mountain to climb in Dubai?" Is it possible that the tie against Spain is to be played in the Emirates instead of Spain?
That should be it, then.
Big win!
Have a good afternoon gentlemen.
That's it. A vital 0-1 win for Scotland on a night when the result was more important than the performance.
The Scots pull out the win that they so desperately needed through that sole headed effort by Mackail Smith in the first half. It puts them in with a chance on Tuesday.
I'll be back at 6pm for the U.S. friendly match against Honduras. It's being televised on FSC.
We are hoping from a victory by Lithuania over the Czechs on Tuesday. that will be enough for Scotland to qualify for the playoffs.
I will be back for the match this evening. Cheers BD and Someone.
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