England and Scotland are separated by only 96 miles of border but, as play ended in the Euro 2008 qualification rounds, the difference in attitude among soccer fans on either side of the line is light years apart.
The Scots fell at the last hurdle, a controversial 2-1 loss to Italy that robbed them of qualification after a 12-game series that included two famous 1-0 wins over France. The term most commonly used to describe this latest near miss was Glorious Failure. And some comfort can be taken in that.
Initially disappointed at the final whistle of their last game, Scottish fans soon found themselves lifting their heads and smiling again, realizing that an exciting rebirth in Scottish soccer was unfolding before their disbelieving eyes.
Manager Alex McLeish, building on a stout program begun by Walter Smith, forged a group of promising individuals into a strong unit, earning universal praise for taking a small nation so close to the summit of European soccer.
Players like Alan Hutton and James McFadden or goalie Craig Gordon, have emerged from the qualifying round with soaring reputations and there's renewed interest from top clubs in Britain and Europe about what Scottish players have to offer.
Although England came equally close - one point would have put either side through - the contrast in emotions and expectations couldn't be more distinct. The English, losing at home 3-2 to Croatia, have failed miserably, if the reaction of their fans and media are anything to go by.
Manager Steve McClaren, under a barrage of criticism from Day 1, was fired immediately after and the general sense is that this is a soccer program in serious trouble. It not only needs to find a new manager, it also needs to find players who can cope with the intense pressure of playing for England.
Ironically, the previous manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson, who was also chased out of his job under similar circumstances, has proved again what an astute manager he is by immediately taking unfancied Manchester City into a top five place in the standings.
McClaren had shown himself to be a capable manager before the England job by taking Middlesborough to the UEFA Cup finals. But the England job is steadily proving to be an unmanageable task and anyone who takes on the responsibility as manager will find the burden of expectation from England's ravenous fans to be a crushing load.
The new manager will also have to cope with a player pool that looks to be in need of either a serious clearing out or a fresh approach to drawing the best from the remarkable level of talent available to choose from.
Given that most of the players likely to be selected for England's national team are already well rewarded financially by their clubs, it will take someone with a masterful touch to get the next England squad properly motivated and committed to winning.
Somehow, that manager will have to find a way to match the small-country attitude that has seen teams like Scotland and Croatia build tight, cohesive teams full of committed, selfless players.
But when one considers that the money paid to players by Premiership clubs helps to soften the blow of national team failure, it's a challenging task that no England manager may ever achieve.
North American fans should take heart in the performances of smaller nations like Scotland and Croatia. As soccer remains a minor sport in North America, it's fairer to compare what's going on within the US or Canadian programs with the smaller European nations than with powerhouses like Italy, Spain or Germany.
Americans have always had an ability to extract maximum sporting benefit from lesser resources due to an ability to focus the use of those resources. Add to that the growth in size and quality of MLS soccer and many of the key ingredients are coming together to support this premise:
Both Canada and the United States, a rivalry not unlike Scotland-England, have every reason to be ambitious in the coming years. For Canada, just getting to a second World Cup would be achievement enough in the short term.
But the growing popularity of the game, larger numbers of players to work with and a bigger , soccer-savvy business base to draw financial support from give the United States a clear edge,
Enough of one to justify saying that America will win its first World Cup before England wins its second.
Interesting thought, Ringo. There's no question that the Scots are concerned about negative effects on tourism or social services by having hordes of screaming, mad, English football refugees flooding north.
But a new Hadrian's wall would help stem the flow, to say nothing of the construction jobs it would create.
I'd use cycling as an example of what the US can acheive, when they throw boatlads of money and resources at a sport.
The US based teams were samller, weaker and less well backed than their European counterparts then Lance/Carmichael/Bruneil/USPS/Nike/ Trek came along and added money, technical know how, talent and possibly the most important - a raging desire to win.
7 TDF victories later and even Yankophobic sneering french cycle hacks have come around.
Cycling isn't football but when you yanks really want to do it - you generally do.
Gerrard is a conundrum - great for his club and often poor of his country.
I don't buy that a great player can't be great no matter his team mates.
He is much more used to the tactics of liverpool than the tactics (or lack there of) england employs. Shouldn't be that hard to adjust.
club v country - head vs heart - big paymaster v little paymaster - 60 games/season v 12 games/season
I find it incredulous that an Englishman wouldn't
a) give his balls to wear the three lions
b) apply himself 100% whilst on the pitch.
I find Gerrard's comments about the booing at Toon to be
a) hardly those of an Englishman ashamed of his utter cackness in Euro2008 qualifying
b) those of someone who couldn't really give a toss about the fans and the England loss
These players are never going to be frank and open with a vicious and unforgiving media though so perhaps we'll never know - unless they have someone ghost write a book for them.
Flashman is a nickname derived from my work as a photographer, often in sports but extending into advertising and commerce. My career began at Toronto Blizzard NASL games and has taken me to three World Cups and major sports events across half the globe.
Pro soccer's long absence here in Toronto let me become the fan I used to be, growing up on both sides of the Atlantic, relatives in constant debate about their favorites. I also grew up in an area full of Italian and Portuguese immigrants who were equally expressive.
For the first time, I'm a season-ticket holder,watchi ng the professional game reborn as Toronto FC join MLS. I'll try to explore this perspective, lend my opinion and share some fun stories of my time in the great game.
