British derby on the program for this new day of Euro-2021, Friday June 18.
Qualified for the finals of the Euro for the first time since 1996, Scotland find England in the pool at Wembley.
As 25 years ago, during the European Championship played that year in England precisely.
At the time, the English, future semi-finalists, won 2-0 with a goal from Alan Shearer, a penalty kicked out by David Seaman and a splendid goal signed by Paul Gascoigne.
This is the last time that the two selections have crossed in international competition until today, Scotland having missed all the major meetings since the 1998 World Cup. For their return to the fore, Steve's men Clarke are entitled to a special reunion with their old rival.
More than football
Since their first clash on November 30, 1972 and a 0-0 in Glasgow, the two countries have met 114 times.
It is the most often played international match in the history of football.
It is also "the oldest rivalry in international football," said the Scottish national team on social networks.
Tomorrow night, another chapter in the oldest international fixture in world football will be written.
🏴🏴 # EURO2020 |
#SCO pic.twitter.com/atisP6g1I5
- Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) June 17, 2021
This derby has more often turned in favor of the Three Lions, who lead 48 wins against 41 for their opponents.
The last Scottish success dates back to 1999. In 30 years, Scotland has won only three times.
What irritate the "Tartan Army", nickname of the Scottish supporters.
Because as Henry Winter, journalist for The Times, at the BBC, underlines it, "it is not question only of football" in this match, but "of years and years of history".
Relations between England and Scotland have been divisive for centuries.
Between the two, there is a heavy liability of antagonisms which spill over into football.
After the past wars of independence, the recent rise of nationalist and independence parties in Scotland has rekindled tensions, against the backdrop of a divisive Brexit.
Call for calm
For the Tartan Army, nothing is tastier than beating the English, or, failing that, laughing at their setbacks.
Sanitary measures require, there will be only 22,500 spectators in the stands at Wembley on Friday.
But fans from Scotland attending the game are planning to make their voices heard.
They have already proudly marched through the streets of London on Thursday.
We've issued a message to @England supporters ahead of tomorrow's # EURO2020 fixture against Scotland at @wembleystadium:
- The FA (@FA) June 17, 2021
Sensing this growing tension around this derby, the English Football Federation called on everyone, in a press release, to respect and behave well.
"Football is about celebrating pride and passion, not shouting insults or discrimination," she insists.
Not easy, however, to curb this skillfully maintained rivalry.
John McGinn, the Scottish midfielder, did not hide his annoyance, Wednesday at a press conference, vis-à-vis the English media "who would like to believe that the gap is huge" between the two teams.
"It's up to us to prove that this is wrong," he announced.
Common rivalry, different goals
The still intense antagonism between England and Scotland should not obscure the goals of each.
Building on their victory against the Croatian vice-world champions (1-0), Gareth Southgate and his players share first place in Group B with the Czech Republic.
If they win at Wembley again, the door to the round of 16 will open.
Scotland bit the dust against the Czechs in their first match at Hampden Park (0-2).
She needs to bounce back to keep the hope of passing the first round, a performance that she has never achieved in her history at the Euro as in the World Cup.
The task promises to be complicated, but taking the easy route is not in the DNA of the national team according to Steve Clarke.
The coach hopes that in the face of adversity his men will lift their heads and go for the result they need.
"The hard way, Scottish," as he puts it.
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