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ECQ: Scotland shock Spain

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 Scotland 2 - 0 Spain It was another raucous at Hampden Park as Scotland stunned Spain. Scott McTominay scored a double as the home side took control of their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. The Manchester United midfielder, who also netted twice in Saturday's 3-0 victory over Cyprus, fired in the opener at Hampden Park after just seven minutes. This sent the Scotland crowd into an absolute frenzy. Spain looked for an immediate response. Dani Ceballos threaded a pass through to Mikel Oyarzabal but he could not get the ball under control and it rolled out. Scotland were then inches from a second in the 15th minute. John McGinn saw Stuart Armstrong on the edge of the box. However, his shot went just wide of the post. Ryan Christie and Lyndon Dykes also went close as Spain struggled to make their mark against Steve Clarke's side that looked a different level to the side that missed out on qualification to the World Cup. 🏁 HALF TIME AT HAMPDEN PARK!! @SEFutbol goes to the l

Scotland: Celtic progress to Scottish Cup Final

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Celtic 3 - 3 Aberdeen Celtic won 6-5 on penalties Celtic clinched victory on penalties in a thrilling match at Hampden Park, securing their spot in the Scottish Cup final and leaving Aberdeen fans devastated. The game was a nail-biting affair, with both teams showcasing their skill in a tense shootout. Joe Hart, Celtic's goalkeeper, had the opportunity to seal the win with his team's fifth penalty, but his shot hit the post, keeping the game on a knife-edge. Yet, Hart redeemed himself by saving Killian Phillips' penalty, securing Celtic's victory. Now, Celtic awaits the outcome of the match between Hearts and Rangers next month, as they aim to claim the prestigious Scottish Cup for a record-breaking 42nd time. The match itself was nothing short of extraordinary, with Aberdeen delivering two late equalisers to keep the contest alive. Angus MacDonald's header in the 119th minute seemed to complete a remarkable comeback after his earlier mistake had led to Celtic&

News: UK and Republic of Ireland announced as Euro 2028 hosts

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UEFA has confirmed that the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland will host the 2028 European Championships . The joint bid was unopposed after Turkey withdrew to focus on a bid with Italy for Euro 2032, which was also confirmed at a meeting in Switzerland. Check out this video from  FAI TV - YouTube The UK and Ireland focused on Euro 2028, with UEFA's approval, after they had previously cancelled a plan to be Europe's preferred candidate for the 2030 World Cup. London's Wembley Stadium and Glasgow's Hampden Park hosted games at Euro 2020. Wembley hosted the final after what proved to be a hugely controversial day where there were reports of carnage and hooliganism outside the stadium.  Matches at Euro 2028 are set to be held at 10 different grounds, including Wembley and Hampden Park alongside Cardiff's Principality Stadium and Dublin's Aviva Stadium. Belfast's Casement Park and Everton's Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, the former unbuilt while the

World Cup qualifying: Scotland 3 - 2 Israel

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A later winner from Scott McTominay sparked incredible scenes at Hampden Park to keep Scotland on course for the World Cup qualifying play-offs. The Manchester United midfielder bundled in his first goal for his national team after Eran Zahavi's free-kick and a Munas Dabbur finish twice had the visitors ahead in a thrilling contest. You can watch the highlights in the video below. What did Steve Clarke say? The Scotland manager told media outlets: "I told them at half-time - if you do want to lose the game, you're doing it in the perfect fashion. "The talk at half-time was really just - we have to play it our way. We have to play with more tempo, a little bit more ambition, control the game better and we did that from the start of the second half more or less to the 96th minute. We got our reward." The Hampden roar The scenes in the ground after the winning goal were incredible and many Scotland fans celebrated like they had won the World Cup. Who can blame th

ECQ: Scotland off to a winning start

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Scotland 3 - 0 Cyprus A late double from Scott McTominay secured Scotland a comfortable winning start to their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign at home to Cyprus. John McGinn's close-range finish was a reward for a dominant first-half display. Substitute McTominay then eased increased nervousness around Hampden Park with a clinical 87th-minute finish. The Manchester United midfielder added his second moments later. Steve Clarke had billed it as a must-win game against Group A's lowest seeds and it was job done in that sense. However, despite their first winning start to a Euros qualifying campaign since 2006, they know that improvement will be needed as Spain visit on Tuesday. Yes, sir, I can boogie The dawn of a new qualifying campaign brought the Tartan Army to Hampden Park full of optimism. The atmosphere was amazing at times and brought back memories of some other incredible nights in Glasgow. Check out this video below. What are the fans saying? Darren McThomas has been

Euro 2024 preview: Can Scotland do more than just boogie

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"Yes sir, I can boogie..." Can Scotland achieve what they've never done before by advancing from the group stage in a major tournament? After successfully qualifying from a challenging group that included Spain and Norway, hopes were high for such an achievement. However, Steve Clarke’s team then endured a run of seven games without a win (before a hard-fought victory against Gibraltar). While defeats to France, England, the Netherlands, and Spain were expected, losing to Northern Ireland was more concerning. For the first time in a while, the team appeared deflated. This dip in confidence might not be entirely detrimental. Overconfident Scots often struggle. In 1978, the team left for the World Cup amid great fanfare but failed to deliver. Clarke has assembled a capable side that should believe they can finish above Hungary and Switzerland, though they still lag behind the group’s standout team, Germany, in terms of overall ability. ECQ: Scotland shock Spain (eur

Scotland: Celtic thrash Aberdeen and reach League Cup Final

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Celtic 6 - 0 Aberdeen Daizen Maeda delivered an outstanding performance at Hampden, scoring a hat-trick as Celtic stormed into the Scottish League Cup final with a commanding 6-0 victory, halting Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin's unbeaten season start in dramatic style. Author - Sean M The match began with pre-kick-off pyrotechnics filling the national stadium with smoke, causing a 13-minute delay. Once the view cleared, Brendan Rodgers' team dazzled with a display of sharp, attacking football. Celtic’s momentum started early when Cameron Carter-Vickers powered in a header from Arne Engels' corner. Just three minutes later, the brilliant Maeda sped past defenders to set up his fellow Japan international Kyogo Furuhashi, who confidently drove in Celtic's second goal. Rodgers' side, still undefeated after 13 domestic games this season, added a third before half-time. Nicolas Kuhn split the defence with a sublime pass, allowing Maeda to net his first goal of the eveni

International Friendly: Scotland squander two-goal lead against Finland

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Scotland 2 - 2 Finland Scotland head off to Euro 2024 in a disappointing fashion after squandering a two-goal lead to draw with Finland at Hampden Park. An own goal from Arttu Hoskonen lifted spirits following a subdued start before Lawrence Shankland nodded home, ramping up the celebrations. The Tartan Army's party was put on hold when Benjamin Kallman pulled one back, and an 85th-minute penalty - awarded by the video assistant referee (VAR) - was slotted home by Oliver Antman. All eyes now turn to Munich as Scotland prepares for the daunting yet exhilarating task of taking on Germany, one of the tournament favourites, in their own backyard next Friday. You can watch the highlights of the match in the video below. The footage is from the Premier Sports YouTube account.  The second half came to life after a poor first 45 minutes. The second half was much better. Hoskonen's own goal might have been a touch lucky, but Shankland's headed finish rounded off the type of

Scotland: Celtic win the double

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 Celtic 1 - 0 Rangers Celtic won the double and Rangers ended the season with nohing. Adam Idah emerged as  Celtic's  last-minute hero  under the bright Hampden sun. 🏆⬆️ Relive all the action as Adam Idah's late winner sparked incredible scenes in the @CelticFC end, with the Hoops lifting the @scottishgas Men's Scottish Cup at Hampden Park. This is your Story of the Final. #ScottishCup pic.twitter.com/JV0jpjtaFX — Scottish Gas Scottish Cup (@ScottishCup) May 27, 2024 With the Scottish  Cup's  fate hanging in the balance and the game deadlocked at 0-0, extra-time seemed inevitable. However, Paulo Bernardo, a substitute for Reo Hatate, took control.  As the  Rangers  defence hesitated, Bernardo unleashed a stunning 25-yard strike that baffled goalkeeper Jack Butland with its swerving path. Seizing the opportunity, Republic of Ireland forward Adam Idah sprinted at full speed to reach the deflected ball before Butland could recover. The Norwich City loanee was firs

Scotland, Celtic and Rangers prepare for Glasgow Derby with comfortable victories

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St Mirren 0 - 3 Celtic Celtic secured a convincing 3-0 victory over St Mirren in the Scottish Premiership, maintaining their perfect start to the season with three wins from three games.  The champions were in control from the outset, with Callum McGregor scoring within the first three minutes. Reo Hatate added a second goal before halftime, and Alistair Johnston completed the scoring in the second half, following a strong performance from Nicolas Kuhn. Despite the ongoing transfer saga involving Matt O'Riley, who is close to joining Brighton, Celtic's midfield performed exceptionally well. Paulo Bernardo stepped in for O'Riley, but it was the established players, McGregor and Hatate, who led the charge. Hatate was particularly impressive, creating five chances and showcasing his ability to fill the void left by O'Riley. St Mirren struggled to break through Celtic's relentless pressing and managed only one shot in the first half. Although they showed some impr

Scotland; Celtic champions again

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 Hearts 0 - 2 Celtic Celtic clinched their second successive Scottish Premiership title under Ange Postecoglou as they beat 10-player Hearts 2-0. Despite running away with the title, Celtic didn't have it their own way before they were crowned champions. Joe Hart was made to work inside two minutes from a Lawrence Shankland header, although the assistant referee did flag for offside. It was eventually Kyogo got the title party underway when he knocked the ball in from Reo Hatate's cross after half-time. The Japanese striker was then forced off to be replaced by Hyeon-Gyu Oh who made sure of the victory when he fired in from Aaron Mooy's cross. This win confirmed Celtic's 10th title in 11 seasons, and they can secure a domestic treble if they beat Inverness in the Scottish Cup final on June 3 at Hampden Park. Scotland: Celtic move closer to another Treble (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) More history beckons for Celtic. Celtic can now focus on going for a record poin

Scotland: Celtic move closer to another Treble

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 Celtic 1 - 0 Rangers Celtic booked their place in the 2023 Scottish Cup final after a tense 1-0 win over Rangers. They will Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the first weekend of June as their hunt for another treble continues. Jota was the hero for the Hoops, heading home from inside the six-yard box just three minutes before half-time. A 50/50 split in the crowd meant, there was plenty of colour and noise on either side of Hampden Park. In the opening few minutes of the match, that incredible atmosphere carried on. The opening 10 minutes were a cagey affair. Celtic's backline had to deal with a raft of aerial balls forward, but once Celtic got a hold of the ball their possession and composure followed. Half-chances came and went for either side, but it was Allan McGregor that was the first to be tested on 27 minutes when Alistair Johnston let rip from 20 yards.  WHAT. AN. ATMOSPHERE. 😍 "One of the true great fixtures in the game we love so much...Glasgow does rivalry

Icons: Franz Beckenbauer

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Franz Beckenbauer is a German former professional footballer and manager.  Quick summary of his career During an illustrious career, he was nicknamed "The Emperor" because of his elegant style, dominance and leadership on the field, The first name "Franz" is reminiscent of the Austrian emperors. He is widely regarded to be one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. He was a versatile player who started as a midfielder, Beckenbauer made his name as a central defender. He is often credited with having invented the role of the modern sweeper. Very few players have had that level of impact on the sport.  Club career At club level with Bayern Munich, Beckenbauer won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1967 and three consecutive European Cups from 1974 to 1976. The latter feat made him the first player to win three European Cups as captain of his club. He became team manager and later president of Bayern Munich. After two spells with the New York Cosmos, he

Scotland: Falkirk progress in Scottish Cup

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 Darvel 1 - 5 Falkirk Darvel could not repeat their Scottish Cup heroics as their memorable afternoon came to an end.  Falkirk defeated their sixth-tier hosts to book a place in the quarter-finals. Highlights below from  Darvel 1-5 Falkirk | Falkirk Break Darvel Hearts | Scottish Cup Fifth Round 2022-23 - YouTube Falkirk got off to a great start. Two goals in two first-half minutes from Gary Oliver and Callumn Morrison put the away side in a commanding position before a PJ Morrison own goal gave the home side hope. However, the floodgates opened after Chris McGowan's red card with Liam Henderson, Aidan Nesbitt and Craig McGuffie scoring late on to put an end to Darvel's fairy tale. Scotland: Darvel cause huge shock (eurosuperfootball.blogspot.com) The visitors' reward is a home tie against Championship side Ayr, with the victor heading to Hampden Park for the semis. Falkirk will fancy their chances in that match. They are now two games from the final. Could another Scot

Scotland: A brief history of Celtic v Rangers

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Celtic and Rangers have played each other over 400 times in major competitions: Rangers have won 166 matches, Celtic have gained 159 wins.  Let's have a look at some memorable moments involving the iconic clubs.  The original version of this article was posted here  Memorable matches and moments involving Celtic and Rangers (differentballs.blogspot.com) The first encounter The first game between Celtic and Rangers was a friendly in 1888. It´s thought that around 2,000 people were in attendance. It is believed that this could have been greater but for the International Exhibition taking place the same day through in the West End. 1967 Scottish League Cup final This may seem like an odd place to start but it was the first trophy in Celtic's best-ever season that finished with being the first British side to win the European Cup. Their first trophy of 66/67 came after a 1-0 win over their nearest rivals at Hampden Park.  Rangers 3 - 2 Celtic. 2002 Scottish Cup final An extraor

Friendly: England triumph over old rivals

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 Scotland 1 - 3 England In a raucous Hampden Park friendly, England continued their modern-day superiority over Scotland.  Scots last won this fixture in 1999, but hopes of a 42nd win appeared ominously faint as Phil Foden's opener silenced the stadium before Jude Bellingham added a second. A shaken Scotland eventually awoke the home crowd as Harry Maguire sent Andy Robertson's cross screeching beyond Aaron Ramsdale. A mesmerizing Bellingham assist enabled Harry Kane to score England's third as a result of England's classy play and intricate movement. Top of their European Championship qualifying group with five wins from five and facing an England team held by Ukraine on Saturday , Steve Clarke spoke before the match about the desire to see how much his team had narrowed the gap between themselves and England. An almost ruthless first half from Gareth Southgate's team offered a sobering reply. After a slick, composed and controlled performance, the visitors des

Scotland: Champions Celtic win on final day

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 Celtic 3-2 St Mirren The last game of the season at Celtic Park ended with three points for the champions. Matt O'Riley, Kyogo Furuhashi and Luis Palma all for the hosts. Mark O'Hara had put St Mirren ahead twice as they threatened to try and spoil the party.  Towards the end of the match, Celtic keeper Joe Hart was substituted and the Celtic goalkeeper looked emotional as he made his way from the field in what is believed to be his final league appearance as a professional footballer. During the trophy celebrations, Hart addressed the supporters. He said: "You guys are absolutely phenomenal. You've made me feel so special. Thank you so much for having me." Celtic make changes, but players impress in an entertaining match. Rodgers made six changes to his starting line-up, and  it's  unlikely that next  Saturday's  Scottish Cup final team against Rangers will look the same. The manager has  mostly depended  on predecessor Ange  Postecoglou's  squad