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| Scotland v Northern Ireland: International friendly – live! | Scotland v Northern Ireland: International friendly – live! |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| 7.50pm GMT19:50 | |
| And we’re off! Scotland get the ball rolling. The ball’s lumped forward, and quite quickly lost. Then regained, and passed around the back awhile. Scotland’s players are getting a feel of the ball. Northern Ireland haven’t really touched it yet. | |
| 7.48pm GMT19:48 | |
| The teams are out! Fireworks! Unnecessary loud music! Passionate renditions of the national anthems! Northern Ireland’s God Save The Queen is given the bird by the Hampden crowd, who are much more into the Scottish number Awflourascawlin (© Stanley Baxter). Both teams are in their away strips, rugby union style. The Irish sport a two-tone blue number, while Scotland are in their Fifth Earl of Rosebery primrose-yellow and rose-pink affair. Lovely kits both. But before we kick off, there’s a minute’s applause in loving memory of one of Scotland’s true greats, Dave Mackay, who passed away three weeks ago. Five foot eight, and still a giant. | |
| 7.21pm GMT19:21 | |
| Introducing ... Bournemouth striker Matt Ritchie, who wins his first cap for Scotland, supporting Steven Fletcher up front ... Derby County defender Craig Forsyth, making his first start for the Scots in his second match ... 19-year-old Manchester United defender Paddy McNair, turning out for Northern Ireland for the very first time. | |
| 7.15pm GMT19:15 | 7.15pm GMT19:15 |
| Cast and crew | Cast and crew |
| Scotland: Gordon, Whittaker, Forsyth, Greer, Martin, McArthur, D Fletcher, Ritchie, S Fletcher, Maloney, Anya.Subs: McGregor, Marshall, Russell, Brown, Naismith, May, Robertson, Rhodes, Berra, Hutton, Bannan, Reynolds, Morrison, Forrest. | Scotland: Gordon, Whittaker, Forsyth, Greer, Martin, McArthur, D Fletcher, Ritchie, S Fletcher, Maloney, Anya.Subs: McGregor, Marshall, Russell, Brown, Naismith, May, Robertson, Rhodes, Berra, Hutton, Bannan, Reynolds, Morrison, Forrest. |
| Northern Ireland: McGovern, D Lafferty, Evans, Baird, Dallas, Reeves, Norwood, McNair, Hughes, Magennis, Grigg.Subs: Mannus, C McLaughlin, McCullough, Davis, McKay, K Lafferty, Brunt, R McLaughlin, McCourt, Ward, Cathcart, Hodson. | Northern Ireland: McGovern, D Lafferty, Evans, Baird, Dallas, Reeves, Norwood, McNair, Hughes, Magennis, Grigg.Subs: Mannus, C McLaughlin, McCullough, Davis, McKay, K Lafferty, Brunt, R McLaughlin, McCourt, Ward, Cathcart, Hodson. |
| Referee and erstwhile England captain nemesis: Martin Atkinson (England). | Referee and erstwhile England captain nemesis: Martin Atkinson (England). |
| 6.45pm GMT18:45 | 6.45pm GMT18:45 |
| It’s the 95th meeting between the oldest and fourth oldest international teams in the world. The first match, in 1884, saw Scotland beat Ireland, as the IFA’s representative team was then known, 5-0 in Ballynafeigh, Belfast. William Harrower of Queen’s Park and James Gossland of Rangers both scored twice, John Goudie of erstwhile Paisley outfit Abercorn bagged the other. The 94th match, in 2011, was also won by Scotland, 3-0 over Northern Ireland, Kenny Miller, James McArthur and Kris Commons doing the business in the Carling Nations Trophy at the Aviva in Dublin. And Scotland have had the rampant lion’s share of wins in between times, too. Still, Northern Ireland won the last match that really mattered, a 2-0 victory at Windsor Park in December 1983, on their way to winning the last-ever Home International Championship, Norman Whiteside and Sammy McIlroy the heroes. So it’s swings and roundabouts. | It’s the 95th meeting between the oldest and fourth oldest international teams in the world. The first match, in 1884, saw Scotland beat Ireland, as the IFA’s representative team was then known, 5-0 in Ballynafeigh, Belfast. William Harrower of Queen’s Park and James Gossland of Rangers both scored twice, John Goudie of erstwhile Paisley outfit Abercorn bagged the other. The 94th match, in 2011, was also won by Scotland, 3-0 over Northern Ireland, Kenny Miller, James McArthur and Kris Commons doing the business in the Carling Nations Trophy at the Aviva in Dublin. And Scotland have had the rampant lion’s share of wins in between times, too. Still, Northern Ireland won the last match that really mattered, a 2-0 victory at Windsor Park in December 1983, on their way to winning the last-ever Home International Championship, Norman Whiteside and Sammy McIlroy the heroes. So it’s swings and roundabouts. |
| A local derby with a rich history; by definition, tonight’s match should be a seismic stramash. But this isn’t an ITV Sport production from the mid 1980s, so let’s be honest with each other. Scotland and Northern Ireland both have more important matters on their minds: upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Gibraltar and Finland. Not quite as romantic, maybe, but the Scots haven’t qualified for a major tournament since 1998, the Irish haven’t made one since 1986, and both are going well in their respective groups. Prioritisation is inevitable. Which doesn’t mean this won’t be competitive: both countries have pride at stake, will want to add a positive new chapter to that 131-year-old history book, are high on confidence, and are desirous of getting back into the groove, just in time for those crucial qualifiers. Tonight’s game just might not reach the blood and thunder levels of the old Home Internationals, is all. So there we go, miserably managing expectations. Now the Scots and Irish know what it feels like to follow a team coached by Roy Hodgson. | A local derby with a rich history; by definition, tonight’s match should be a seismic stramash. But this isn’t an ITV Sport production from the mid 1980s, so let’s be honest with each other. Scotland and Northern Ireland both have more important matters on their minds: upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Gibraltar and Finland. Not quite as romantic, maybe, but the Scots haven’t qualified for a major tournament since 1998, the Irish haven’t made one since 1986, and both are going well in their respective groups. Prioritisation is inevitable. Which doesn’t mean this won’t be competitive: both countries have pride at stake, will want to add a positive new chapter to that 131-year-old history book, are high on confidence, and are desirous of getting back into the groove, just in time for those crucial qualifiers. Tonight’s game just might not reach the blood and thunder levels of the old Home Internationals, is all. So there we go, miserably managing expectations. Now the Scots and Irish know what it feels like to follow a team coached by Roy Hodgson. |
| Kick off: 7.45pm. | Kick off: 7.45pm. |