Saturday was a big day for sport, and what different emotions were aroused by two results in two different sports. In the afternoon Scotland continued to 'live the dream' by beating the Ukraine 3-1. Scotland's renaissance has been something of a fairy tale - who could have believed that these are much the same players that plied their trade under the hapless Berti Vogts? Once again we were outplayed for periods of the match, but there's a self-belief an a confidence in this current squad that makes almost anything possible. No world superstars, no Prima Donnas .. just an honest bunch of journeymen professionals who work their socks off for each other. They deserve everything they've achieved so far - no-one gave them a hope in hell of qualifying for next year's Euro championships, yet here we are: just two games and a tantalising four points away from one of the most amazing achievements in Scottish sporting history. As long suffering Scots supporters we've been here before - the long road of our sporting travails is littered with too many 'glorious failures' to mention. I still think we will find it tough to qualify - even if we were to pick up all three points in Georgia (and that's no certainty after the loss of a number of influential players) we could still be faced with having to take at least a point off Italy in our final game at Hampden. There's still a huge challenge ahead, and ultimately we might not quite get there, but at least it's in the players' own hands (or feet) now. They know what they've got to do - and what a lift it would give the nation if they were able to achieve it.
Meanwhile, across 'Le Pond' our neighbours England were grinding out a dour victory over France in the Rugby World Cup semi-final. As usual, the victory was based on a grimly determined pack and the trusty boot of Mr Wilkinson - dire to watch and just so predictable. Enjoyable to watch it was not, yet when you listened and watched news reports following the match - 'Magnifique', 'bulldog spirit' 'tremendous performance', etc. etc. - you could be forgiven for believing that you had actually been watching a different game! And it is supposed to be a game, about providing enjoyment for players and supporters alike. But when you see the set faces of England's modern gladiators before and during the game - fierce, determined,'focused' and 'in the zone' - you see a group of men who are not playing sport for enjoyment or to provide entertainment but who are on the field with one single-minded purpose only - to win.
Win of course they did, and as far as they and their legion of coaches, advisers, motivators, etc are concerned it's the result, not the performance, that matters so their tactics are justified. Seeing and listening to their jubilant followers too, it seems the end justifies the means. It's a pity - England have some exciting backs who are rarely seen to effect when the team plays in this style. Sadly this boring, grinding, monotonous style has been rewarded with victory and England are in the final once again.
Will they open up and play an expansive, flowing, running game fit to grace a World Cup Final? No, I don't think so either!
This has been a RWC of upsets, so it's hard to predict the outcome of the semi-final between South Africa and Argentina tonight - but I'll bet as a spectacle and as entertainment it will be a hell of a lot better than the England's semi.
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