Ross MacDonald

Whits the goalie dain Tom??!! WHATS THE GOALIE DOIN?!!!

[Jagiellonia Białystok @Jagiellonia1920]

Correct WiFi password 🛜

#RANJAG #UEL

[Hazel Stewart @HazelStewart09]

I’ve followed Scotland since I was 15 years old. I’ve travelled to all three games here in America and, like thousands of other members of the Tartan Army, I’ve lived every kick of the ball. The Tartan Army have put in the performances, brought the creativity and backed the team relentlessly. That’s why this isn’t about two defeats. It’s about recognising a pattern we’ve now seen for far too long.

The biggest question isn’t whether Scotland have reached the knockout stages. It’s whether we actually deserve to.

Against Haiti, yes, we won, but a deflected John McGinn goal was all we had to show for it. This was our chance to announce ourselves back on the World Cup stage. Instead, we laboured, created very little and never really put Haiti under sustained pressure. Winning matters, but performances matter too.

Against Morocco, we once again paid the price for poor defending. We gave ourselves a mountain to climb and although Morocco looked vulnerable in the second half, Scotland never adapted. We remained disjointed, failed to take advantage when the game was there to be rescued and ultimately paid the price.

Then came Brazil.

Nobody expected Scotland to dominate Brazil. But there is a difference between respecting the opposition and fearing them. Scotland looked like a team waiting for something to happen rather than trying to make something happen.

The biggest frustration for me was the lack of adventure. Why wasn’t Ben Gannon-Doak starting? Against the world’s best teams, pace and unpredictability are exactly what you need. Instead, we reverted to caution.

It also felt like our biggest players disappeared. Scott McTominay and John McGinn have carried Scotland for years, but they struggled to influence the biggest games when we needed them most.

And that’s what concerns me.

This feels remarkably similar to Euro 2024. Two years later we’re having exactly the same conversation. The same tactical approach. The same lack of creativity. The same inability to turn possession into genuine chances.

People will point to qualification and say, “We got here.”

They’re right.

But qualification papered over cracks that were already visible.

Even during qualifying there were warning signs. The performances weren’t consistently convincing. We relied on moments rather than sustained quality. Yes, there were outstanding performances, particularly against Denmark, but too often results masked deeper issues.

At major tournaments that simply isn’t enough.

There’s another uncomfortable conversation we have to have.

This is an ageing Scotland squad. We’ve remained heavily reliant on the same core of players for years. These players deserve enormous respect for ending Scotland’s long wait for tournaments, but international football moves quickly.

Every player has an expiry date at the highest level. Some of our core players now look a yard slower against elite opposition, and that matters.

Steve Clarke deserves huge credit for transforming Scotland’s fortunes and leading us back to major tournaments.

But with a new four-year contract comes a new challenge.

Can he evolve?

Can he trust younger players sooner?

Can he refresh a squad that now looks in need of fresh energy?

Because if we continue with the same personnel and the same tactical approach, we’ll be having this exact conversation again after the next tournament.

The Nations League in September gives Scotland an opportunity to reset.

To introduce younger players.

To challenge established names.

To build a team that isn’t simply grateful to be there, but genuinely believes it belongs there.

Scotland has made enormous progress.

But qualification cannot be the destination.

It has to be the starting point.

[Ross MacDonald @RossMacd87]

@20MinuteTims Is it not just about meeting the homegrown rules for Europe?

[Ross MacDonald @RossMacd87]

@ScotlandNT Team selection was a joke as per

[M @1872MB]

Mcinnes on Wednesday night

[Ross MacDonald @RossMacd87]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[Calmac 4️⃣2️⃣ 🍀 @CaptainCalmac42]

Time to roll out these belters the day they appointed him 😭😭

[Ross MacDonald @RossMacd87]

Was their go fund me a success then? 🤣

[STV News @STVNews]

Breaking: Rangers are to part ways with manager Philippe Clement following the team's defeat to St Mirren. https://t.co/eSXnX6MowQ

[Ross MacDonald @RossMacd87]

The GB telling other fans how to behave is a brass neck 🤣

[RJM67 🇵🇸 @RJMCeltic67]

North Curve message @NCCeltic

[𝕁𝕠𝕙𝕟𝕟𝕪 ❎ 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 @johnnyXscotland]

Anybody know how much the Leipzig squad cost? Asking for an Aberdeen fan.

[SPFL Mediawatch @SPFLWatch]

Ok?

[Ross MacDonald @RossMacd87]

@ScotlandNT @RyanGauld Maybe start showing these clips to Steve Clarke??

[Ross MacDonald @RossMacd87]

Someone put Goldberg's theme music over this!!

[Kara @UTDKarra]

This is not a football team this is a Gang, the way they all make room for him to walk & then wait for him until he leads with no words said

You can't tell me nothing Lionel Messi is Lord {Cartel} in Argentina. Garnacho & Martinez please stay safe 😭😭😭

[Ross MacDonald @RossMacd87]

Steve Clark took Ryan Jack to the Euros 🤣

[Major League Soccer @MLS]

Ryan Gauld from the parking lot WHAT 🔥

[Stephen Flynn @StephenFlynnSNP]

The family firm *do not* pay all staff the real living wage.

Do as we say, not as we do.

No wonder Labour are watering down their promises on workers right.

Astonishing.

[Ross MacDonald @RossMacd87]

Pity GCC don't follow their own advice. Have any of them been in the town recently? It's an absolute fucking midden!!

[Glasgow City Council @GlasgowCC]

As this season reaches its conclusion over the next two weekends, we want everyone to be able to celebrate safely, responsibly, & with consideration for others.

Whoever you support; whatever the results – enjoy yourself, but please respect the city🧵(4/4)

[Tim Trivia @TriviaTim]

Tavernier signed for rangers in 2015 when Adam Idah was 14 years old.

Tavernier has played 9 seasons with the huns and is in their hall of fame.

Adam Idah has been in Glasgow for 105 days and they have the same number of league winners medals 😂😂😂

[Scotland’s Coefficient @scotlandscoeff1]

This is wild.

🧨 Troyes🇫🇷 players throwing flares back into the fans in the stands as the match is abandoned 🙈

📉 Troyes fans protesting as they face back-to-back relegations to the third tier of French football

🌚 A reminder that Troyes are one of 13 clubs within the Manchester City football group (CFG)

💰 Troyes' record signing Savio🇧🇷 (€6.5m) has never played for them! He is currently on loan at another CFG club, Girona🇪🇸 and has 16 goals & assists in 32 games in La Liga as Girona sit 3rd

🆕 Savio has now agreed a summer transfer - to Man City 🙃

💶 He is valued at £40m but the fee City will pay has not been disclosed.....

✅ Both Man City & Girona will be allowed to play in the Champions League next season, because CFG owns less than 50% of Girona (47%) - so they are not classed as having the same owners as it's not a majority stake

🤷‍♂️ In completely unrelated matters, the president of the board of Girona🇪🇸, who also owns 16% of the club is Mr Pere Guardiola. Brother of Pep.