Football Daily | Scotland bathes in undiluted bliss as ‘worldies’ and superheroes end World Cup wait

YES SIR, THEY CAN BOOGIE In one of his most searing and celebrated monologues from Trainspotting, Mark Renton articulates the utterly dismal experience of being Scottish. “We’re the lowest of the low,” he rails, “The scum of the [bleep]ing earth! The most wretched, miserable, servile, pathetic trash that was ever shat into civilisation.” While the cynical Edinburgh antihero views his national identity through a relentless lens of abject failure, colonisation, and corrosive self-loathing, his bleak perspective seems entirely irreconcilable with the widespread, ecstatic jubilation that greeted Scotland’s dramatic qualification for their first World Cup finals in 28 years at Hampden Park last night. This collective outpouring of joy suggests a profound national paradox: whatever dim view certain Scots might take of themselves, last night’s triumph was met with almost universal warmth and celebration, making it abundantly clear that fans and observers across the international football community hold them in remarkably high regard. Hampden Park, a stadium where deep-seated national fervour tends not to manifest in life-affirming optimism but a complex, feverish blend of hope, anxiety, and ultimately, familiar despair, suffered a rare overdose of undiluted bliss following Scotland’s thrilling win. So numerous were the highlights worth flagging – from the game itself to the surreal aftermath – that it is difficult to know where to begin. Football Daily was particularly taken with the quite stunning Kenny McLean strike from the halfway line that finally put the game beyond the visitors, followed by a post-match interview in which John McGinn pointed out that his teammate “gets a lot of criticism but doesn’t deserve half of it”. Looking past the tacit implication that exactly half of the flak aimed at McLean is entirely justified, his sensational effort deep in added time was just one of three quite breathtaking goals scored by a Scotland side who, notwithstanding the small matter of a couple of other “worldies” from Scott McTominay and Kieran Tierney, didn’t actually play very well. Even Lawrence Shankland’s one-yard tap-in boasted a certain surreal quality, given the substitute had been completely surrounded by opposition players when Lewis Ferguson whipped in a corner, only to somehow find himself in splendid isolation six inches in front of an empty goal despite not having moved a muscle, when the delivery fizzed towards his right foot. The surrealism continued with the post-match celebrations: even Steve Clarke was seen to crack a grin and bust some moves. A dour Scotsman in whose direction other dour Scotsmen unsmilingly tip their tam-o’-shanters, the gaffer has scarcely demonstrated such outright ebullience. “I’m going to enjoy myself tonight and tomorrow night and the night after that,” he said. “I’ve now got three months where I can just enjoy myself. The lads have got to have a few beers tonight and then head back to their clubs, but I’ve got a little bit of time, so it’s going to be good and it’s going to be a good Christmas in the Clarke household. I promise you.” Beneath the roars of celebration, there was time for poignant reflection. In a post-match interview that would have brought a tear to a glass eye, captain Andy Robertson revealed that the buildup had been a struggle for him because he was overcome with memories of an absent comrade. “I’ve hid it well but today I’ve been in bits,” he explained. “I know the age I’m at this is my last chance of a World Cup and I couldn’t get my mate Diogo Jota out of my head today. We spoke so much together about this World Cup.” Wherever he might be, Robbo’s much-missed friend and former teammate almost certainly won’t be alone in hoping the Scotland skipper does the tournament they both dreamed of proud.   LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE Join Taha Hashim at 5.45pm GMT for red-hot updates on Wolfsburg 2-2 Manchester United in Women’s Bigger Cup, while Scott Murray will be on hand at 8pm for Arsenal 3-2 Real Madrid. QUOTE OF THE DAY “Football has always been an equaliser. Anyone can pick up a ball and play – on a beach, a street, a patch of grass. It’s why the game can belong to anyone. But climate change is changing that. Extreme heat is making it dangerous to play outside” – Beth Mead writes about why she has joined Adapt2Win, a new campaign backed by sports stars calling for investment in climate adaptation. FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS As a 20-year-old student at Leeds University in 1979, I was jettisoned for a year as a foreign language assistant in deepest France to Montbeliard, home of the then legendary FC Sochaux Montbeliard, [Bigger Vase] quarter finalists. As a keen footballer, I joined the local amateur team AS Montbeliard to keep fit, train and play for the season. It didn’t go to plan at first. In true French bureaucracy, I had to complete a registration form with photo, age etc. On the day I was set to make my debut, my trainer approached me, hands around my shoulders: ‘really sorry Steve, you’ve been banned from playing by the local authority.’ ‘Why’, I enquired? ‘On your form you entered current team as Leeds Uni (as in university) and they understand you are a professional playing for Leeds United on a Saturday and then moonlighting for AS Montbeliard’ – seven hours by train from Paris, on the Sunday. I was both flattered and flabbergasted, Uni was rectified, I did even play in a French Cup match, my amateur status proven as I came on as sub, lost the ball and gave away the only goal in a defeat” – Steve Lewis. Given the astonishing achievement of Curaçao (the island, not the drink) qualifying for the GWC despite a population of only 156,000, it would take a very petty man to use that as an excuse to crowbar in a sarcastic comment about former Jamaica manager Steve McClaren, especially as he’s only just resigned. So, let me be that man. I wonder if he used a parasol?” – Noble Francis (and no other very petty readers). I am finding it difficult to decide which facial expression I like best from this incredible week of GWC qualifiers: Troy Parrott realising that he secured himself a lifelong supply of Tin, or Kasper Schmeichel realising he is going to get beaten from the half-way line. Pure gold!” – Yannick Woudstra. Currently working on creating a GWC cocktail whose ingredients include Curaçao with Advocaat, Mexican tequila, a dash of Earl Grey (with raised pinkie) from Blighty, a splash of Schnapps, and some Irn Bru (gawd almighty!). All served in a frosted Norwegian drinking horn, and garnished with a Brazilian coffee bean and the number of your local emergency room. Playoffs will determine if I can add some Chianti and a Guinness head to the concoction. I think I’ll name it The Orange Buffoon” – Mark McFadden. I know much was made about England’s perfect record of playing eight, winning eight and not conceding a goal. I feel Liechtenstein’s perfect record should also be mentioned: Played eight, lost eight, scored none” – Alan Bolsom. Send letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless letter o’ the day winner is … Steve Lewis. Terms and conditions for our competitions can be viewed here.  RECOMMENDED LISTENING Listen up! It’s the latest episode of Football Weekly on the pandemonium at Hampden Park. • This is an extract from our daily football email … Football Daily. To get the full version, just visit this page and follow the instructions.