Glorious in defeat,

England v Scotland, 17-Nov-99

Mark Daly


England 0
Scotland 1 Hutchison

Scottish armies have retreated from England before - Flodden's few survivors dragging themselves home, the Jacobites turning back at Derby (possibly with a now familiar, sense of victory having been snatched away) - but none can have been as triumphant in defeat as those who broke for the Border yesterday.

Yesterday, a nation awoke with the harsh realisation that it would have to make alternative holiday arrangements for next year.

Yes, Scotland were out of Euro 2000. England, after two lacklustre performances, held on by the skin of their teeth to reach next year's event in the Netherlands and Belgium.

That, surely, would be enough to stifle any Scottish humour or enthusiasm on the long road back from Wembley.

Not so.

After Wednesday's final whistle at the last match to be played under Wembley's twin towers, the 7,000 Scotland fans were in no mood to mourn. In fact it took police more than an hour to usher the vociferous Tartan Army out of the stadium and into the ensuing gloom.

But, for some reason or other, the Scots were still celebrating yesterday afternoon. For instance, the 2:35 from London Euston to Glasgow Central did not, by any stretch of the imagination, resemble a sombre affair. Instead, on a train three quarters populated by the Tartan Army's foot soldiers beating the retreat, the atmosphere was one of vibrant enthusiasm, where Scots anthems drowned out any rail announcements.

"Yes, we lost, but we played them off the park," said Tom Ward, 26, a resource manager from Irvine. "Beating England at Wembley in the last game to be played there was something that we will always remember."

The atmosphere on the train was even appreciated by the overworked Virgin staff, who struggled to cope with the vast amount of empty lager cans and bottles being left for them.

Not even the intelligently cheeky, if slightly offensive, chants about what a certain England midfielder's wife does in the privacy of her own home could dampen the mood.

A Virgin staff member said: "Scots fans are always well behaved, even in defeat, except maybe they occasionally get rowdy when we run out of booze to serve them with."

If each Scot was entirely honest they would probably admit that they didn't really expect to get past England in the play-offs, and after Saturday's Hampden debacle the chances had looked even slimmer.

But still they travelled in vast numbers and for 52 minutes were only a goal from forcing England into extra time and writing a new chapter in Scottish football history.

"The Scotland goal was the best moment of my life," said Angus Reid, 26, a Scot living in England. "I've seen Scotland all over the world but scoring that goal at Wembley was like nothing I have ever experienced. Definitely one to tell the grandchildren."

Having the compliment of drowning out the away team's national anthem returned, only spurred the Scotland contingent, as well as the Scottish players, on to greater heights.

Greig Fisher, 24, from Irvine, a member of the Tartan Army who has followed the team all over the world, said the English fans had been embarrassed by the legions of Scots.

He said: "Even after the game when we were leaving the stadium the English fans were applauding us for the fans' performance.

"Irrespective of the fact that we were put out, we can at least say we've been to Wembley's last ever game and completely outplayed and outsang them."

But criticism was levelled at the policing of the game, with some Scottish fans claiming that security had not been up to the same standard as the first leg at Hampden.

"There was no segregation on the way to the game," said Mr Fisher. "There was not a cop to be seen until we got to the stadium and by that time it was too late and we had already been attacked by one English nutter."

• Scotland On Sunday 18/11/99