Scotland (National Football)

The scenes above could be a thing of the past for many Scottish fans after the Scottish Football Association announced a £60 million pound deal with Sky that will see no Scottish national team games on free TV till 2014.

The magical results over France were all part of a brilliant campaign that restored pride in football in this country and it's a terrible shame that many will miss out on future such results.

The SFA say that the money will be used to develop young players but most are livid with the deal that cuts out Scots unable to afford Sky Sports.

ITV paid mega bucks for England's games but the BBC has decided that F1 is more important and worth £200 million.

The 700,000 Sky Sports subscribers in Scotland is a minority in a population of five million and I'm very disappointed in the SFA's decision.

It's not all bad news in Scotland though.

Scotland remain 16th in the new FIFA world rankings and that is definitely something for the country to be proud of and I, for one, can't wait for the World Cup campaign.

Even if I do have to walk to the pub to watch it!

Elsewhere in the news has been many peoples attempts to put down the Old Firm (Rangers and Celtic) as clubs that simply aren't that big.

Well 110,000 fans to fill the two stadiums in a city of little over half a million people is proof of their size in my eyes. They are huge clubs with world wide fan bases.

Plain and simple.

Other comments have included how poorly they would perform in the English Premier League. Another unjustified attack on Scottish football.

Put Rangers and Celtic in England with the money that all English clubs are earning and you'd have a total transformation.

The two Glasgow sides have more scope to make money in such situations than 90 percent of the EPL and both clubs would grow overnight if such a situation arose.

To look and make predictions based on the current squads is subjective at best.

We'd be able to attract the best in the world!

Finally I'd like to thank the SFA for finally paying our match officials in line with other small European leagues.

To think officials in Norway were earning more was embarrassing to say the least.

The Scottish season kicks off this weekend and don't be shy to take a look.

I promise every team plays better football than Rangers and I'm a true blue!

Inverness Caledonian Thistle were only founded 14 years ago as Caledonian Thistle but are already well established in the Scottish Premier League.

The Highland club who's record attendance is only 7,753 at their Tulloch Caledonian Stadium were represented by Romanian International Marius Niculae at Euro 2008.

Niculae is well travelled and played for the likes of Sporting Lisbon and Dinamo Bucharest before ending up in the Scottish Highlands upon leaving FSV Mainz in 2007.

13 goals in 32 caps for Romania shows a quality not often seen in the far north of Scotland and he's attracting interest from clubs across Europe. Hopefully Thistle manager Craig Brewster can hang his prized asset for at least another season.

Now to the question of whether Inverness were the smallest club represented at Euro 2008?

Inverness joined the Third Division of the Scottish football league in 1994 and took only 10 years to reach the SPL.

There great fighting spirit (often seen in their climb up the leagues) has earned them a giant killing reputation and niether Rangers or Celtic fancy trips to Inverness.

Last season Inverness Caley Thistle took another step forward by beating Celtic 3-2, after being down 2-0.

The trophy cabinet at Tulloch is a little bear with a Bells Challenge Cup, a First and third Division title along with numerous local trophies.

They are however a great side and a real reason to love the beautiful game. They may be one of the smallest clubs in Scotland's top flight but they are certainly feared opposition and are fast becoming every ones favourite underdog.

A new club on the up or a small club punching above their weight?

I'll leave that up to you but surely the smallest club represented at Euro 2008, Inverness Caledonian Thistle.

It took a record four hours 48 minutes for the boy from Majorca to steal the crown from the Swiss king. In the end he stood tall in what may be considered the greatest Wimbledon final ever, if not at least within the past twenty years.

Roger Federer came in to the All England club with a 65-game grass win streak in tact and first loss at Wimbledon since 2002 when he lost to Mario Ancic in the first round. He and Rafa Nadal had met in six previous finals, with the Swiss master losing only at Rolland Garros; however, for this final not even rain could save him, though it came it close.

The 22-year-old Spaniard came in to Wimbledon fresh from his victory on the clay courts at the French Open, in which he defeated Federer in the final. Both gentlemen cruised through to the final round of the tournament, Roger expressing his typical domination of the grass courts and Rafa dispatching opponents just as easily.

The final was tipped to be one for the ages, after Federer’s third defeat at Rolland Garros and stumbles in minor tournaments previously this year. No longer was Nadal considered a long shot to usurp the title; however, the title was not his for the taking, as Federer was seeking to become the first player since 1880 to win in six consecutive years.

The final started in Nadal’s favor, he went 6-4 and 6-4 in the first two sets, breaking Federer’s serve three times. The third set stood at 4-5, 30 all with Nadal serving before the rain hit, halting the match for 81 minutes.

After a brief warm-up the players resumed play, however the rain dampened more than the fans: the tide seemed to have switched after the rain delay. Federer began to play more inspired, like the player that he is capable of being. He pushed the third set to a tiebreak, coming back from his pre-rain deficit, and played his typical style of dominating tennis winning 7-6 (7-5).

Federer retained his form in the fourth set, once again pushing Nadal to a tiebreak where he held off two championship points to take the set 7-6 (10-8). Each game went on serve until the fifth set when Rafa broke Roger’s serve for the fourth time out of 13 chances in the match.

It was the last break that proved to be Federer’s undoing (as well as the fact that he completed only one break point). Despite his best efforts he could not hold back the Majorcan, after 16 games in the last set Nadal collapsed to the grass in the near dark at 9:16 p.m. after winning the fifth set 9-7.

Until this match Federer had been able to contend to reporters that despite his failures on clay, he still held dominance on every other surface. Now, after his defeat to Nadal, his dominance over the game is in question, as is his number one overall ranking in the world.

Over the past five years that he has won the All England Club Cup, Federer has made tennis exceedingly boring to watch for the casual fan. Bill Simmons, in his “The Sports Guy” column for ESPN the Magazine, explains, quite well, how this dominance has taken the game away from the spotlight.

He states that in a sport like tennis, which is dominated by precision and accuracy that is attainable through practice and equipment, the type of dominance that Federer has achieved is not surprising. No longer are there players like Bjorn Borg, Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe battling each other and swapping majors; rather, Roger’s competition has solely been Nadal, who has denied him the Grand Slam by the narrowest of margins.

Simmons explained that though Federer’s dominance can be likened to the dominance Tiger Woods has held over the golf world, it is not the same. Golf is a sport that is dependent on luck, course conditions and weather as well as player skill, which makes the kind of dominance Tiger has had unfathomable.

However, with the training that Roger goes through and the advances in technology of tennis rackets, the type of dominance that he has held is completely imaginable and has instead created a game that is predictable and no longer attractive to the common viewer.

If the game truly has become such that the common sports fan is no longer willing to watch the game then unfortunately many people will have missed one of the best tennis matches of all time.

The fact that the match extended over several hours due to rain delays, and the actual play went well over four hours and still ranks among the highest in initial U.S. television ratings proves that a changing of the guard is what is needed to revolutionize the sport.

Those who stuck around and watched the match were treated to a beautiful match between two of the most talented young (Federer is still only 26, Nadal 22) tennis players in the world.

I hope that with the dethroning of Roger Federer as the reigning tennis king will open the game to other young players and usher in a new era of play. The rise of young players such as James Blake, Novak Djokovic and even Andy Murray of Scotland, who could become the first British player to win at Wimbledon since Fred Perry in 1936.

Perhaps, if parity becomes the norm and new stars are born with each tournament, men’s tennis can become more than just a sport to watch in between commercials

I'm sitting by the computer with suitcases filling around me. This is my last day, and indeed last article, from beautiful Africa.

Ten great years have past since my family moved to South Africa from Scotland at the back end of the 1998 World Cup but the time is right to move closer to the football I love and the career I chase.

Funnily enough, my final days in a country have once again been spent in front of a television, watching another major tournament.

We're just about half way through Euro 2008 (in matches if not stages) and I think it's fair to say it hasn't let us down.

I'll start in group A, where hosts Switzerland have already been ousted and star studded Portugal lead the way.

I don't want to say too much about the fact Switzerland and Austria both qualified for this tournament automatically, being hosts of this event. It's the only way for small countries to get a slice of the pie and with Scotland always a potential joint host, I'd be silly to criticise.

I think it's clear though that such a move has it's consequences and Euro 2008 is definitely missing another competitive side. Maybe a system where they're is a major host (and that country qualifies) and they make use of a neighbouring countries infrastructure?

One point from what I suspect will be six games for the two host countries is definitely a situation I believe that could use some looking into!

Portugal are through to the quarter finals but I wouldn't say they look like world beaters and certainly haven't impressed like the Dutch. They are though, more than capable of winning this tournament.

The battle for second is a touchy subject. The Czech Republic have been a little disappointing but should have too much for Turkey in the deciding game. Turkey showed their character in fighting back from 1-0 down against hosts Switzerland to win 2-1 and their fans will expect a win.

Sadly, it may well have done them more damage than good. A hard win on a heavy pitch won't have done their legs any favours.

So Portugal and the Czech Republic to emerge out of group A. You wouldn't have many outside Switzerland and Turkey too surprised by that.

Group B like group A, wasn't exactly hard to predict but I suppose it isn't over till the fat lady sings.

Croatia's thrilling 2-1 victory over Germany was a surprise to many but not to me. I struggled to understand why people had Germany among their favourites for the tournament.

Austria can't wait for a bite at their German neighbours after their display against the Croats. I wouldn't bet on an Austrian result though.

I'm just saying I wouldn't bet on Germany winning Euro 2008 either!

We often see players playing against the country of their birth these days, usually though, they're playing for an adopted nation as they were never in the reckoning for a call up to their own national team.

It is sad though to see Poland starved of a talent like Lukas Podolski. I'm not sure of the whole story and therefore won't go into the subject in detail.

I just hope it's not a case of wanting to play for a more successful country than your country of birth! 

Podolski for all I know, may be as Polish as Andy Goram was Scottish. That though is another story.

Croatia and Germany will see the quarter finals at least.

Before the tournament started there was only one group worth talking about and in a way it's lived up to it's billing but in two others, it's been so disappointing!

Group C pits world champions Italy against World Cup runners up France, the magnificent Dutch and the more than capable Romanians.

Holland have been on fire as they thrashed Italy 3-0 and France 4-1. The Dutch are it's said playing total football and you'd be hard pressed to disagree!

They are though perennial underachievers, and I'm just not sure they'll win this tournament. Their attacking skill and potential is probably unmatched in the competition but at the back they are relying heavily on Edwin Van der Sar.

The back line may have performed well up until now but they must win three of the next four games to lift the trophy. Giovanni Van Bronckhorst has played well but in my opinion, I don't think he's a defender.

Andre Ooijer was left out the last two European Championship squads by Frank Rijkaard and Dick Advocaat. I wonder why? There must be a question mark about his ability at this level.

Khalid Boulahrouz is in my humble opinion "dodgy" and with the likes of Mario Melchiot and Wilfred Bouma in reserve, it wouldn't get any better.

I'd love to see the Netherlands win EURO 2008, especially the way they are playing. I just think they are vulnerable and will at some stage slip up. Whether they can grind it out though, remains to be seen.

Italy and France's capitulations at the hands of Holland and they're inability to beat Romania have left them staring down the barrel.

A draw between the world cup finalists and a narrow loss for Romania against Holland, would see the Romanians advance with just two points!

Who'd have predicted that!

Now there's something I would bet on, Holland and Romania to advance!

Finally we move on to group D, where defending Champions Greece are defending no more!

Funnily enough, because they can't defend!

In fact, they couldn't score either and with the Russians only narrowly beating the Greeks 1-0 last night, I'd say it'll be bye bye to them too.

Sweden have surprised a few people but why? Sweden are Sweden and always there!

Spain are like the Portuguese and the Dutch. Always amongst the favourites and always out pretty early!

This year though they've joined the above mentioned in the quarter finals already, thanks among others to Valencia's David Villa, who's late late winner last night against Sweden (2-1) was his fourth goal in just two games.

So Spain and Sweden to advance from group D but who'll win the whole thing?

It would be easy to say Spain, Portugal or Holland so I'll say that!

Just don't count out my conquering heroes, Croatia!

When I missed the last Open Mic on racism in sport, I vowed to get involved with the next topic.

So when the Open Mic e-mail came through yesterday, inviting me to comment on the greatest sporting achievements, I couldn't wait to get started!

I feel that the Open Mic series gives an even more personal touch to Bleacher Report and it's important to choose a topic you're proud of.

Back in 1966, England were World Champions, but in 1967 it was very much Scotland's year!

The Scots travelled to Wembley on April 15 to face an English side who were undefeated in 19 games.

Denis Law open the scoring in front of a crowd of marginally under 100,000. Bobby Lennox doubled the lead before Jack Charlton pulled one back for the home side late on.

Scotland though, withstood the pressure and scored again through Jim McCalliog. I've seen this goal many times, and the smooth one-twos followed by the fine finish were worthy of winning any game, and is still regarded highly amongst Scotland's greatest goals.

World Cup Final hero Geoff Hurst scored a minute later, but Scotland were to hang on and crown themselves "World Champions!"

Just over a month later on the 25th of May, Glasgow Celtic walked out onto the pitch at Portugal's National Stadium in Lisbon to face Italy's Internazionale (Inter Milan).

The occasion was the European Cup Final.

Celtic went behind early on after an Alessandro Mazzola penalty in the seventh minute. The Scots, however, dominated the rest of the match. Tommy Gemmell levelled the tie in the 63rd minute before a Steve Chalmers deflection won the game for Celtic in the 83rd minute.

Celtic were the European Champions!

The side dubbed the Lisbon Lions were all born within 30 miles of Celtic's Parkhead stadium and are, I believe, still the only side to have won the European Cup/Champions League with 11 domestic (in this case Scottish) players.

Quite a feat that in the modern era is likely to go unmatched for years to come.

Inter Milan's goal was also peppered with 39 shots in an Italian master class in defending that went painfully and very publicly wrong!

The Scots also became the first British side to lift the Cup, and although England have had many successes in the same tournament over the years, Celtic will always be the first British name on the trophy.

So in football terms, 1967 was Scotland's year.

Scotland's greatest footballing achievement!

The bid to hold this year's championships is sensationally back on for Euro 2012.

As UEFA confirmed that Ukraine/Poland was having trouble, they surprisingly announced that if it isn't on track by August, bids are back on.

Ireland and Scotland were sensationally paired and bid for the Euro 2008 games but Austria/Switzerland beats them off.

In 2002, there was fallout, but now could we rejoin and possibly host 2012?

The main reasons Ireland/Scotland failed in 2002 were due to the lack of guaranteed surveying in Ireland and all of Scotland's stadiums in Glasgow.

The UEFA unfairly viewed England's 96 year as the UK's benefit, so Scotland somehow got an advantage from hosting nothing.

When you look at those issues, they can be resolved.

Croke Park in Dublin is now open to football unlike in 2002 when it was strictly GAA. Work has begun on the New 50,000 Lansdowne Road and Thurles Stadium can hold 53,000.

Scotland have already come out and said they would be open to redevelop stadiums outside Glasgow if it meant success. Both governments would be 100% behind it.

They have looked into the possibility of a single bid, but their government must ask itself, why spend so much extra money when Ireland can provide three stadia and make more money?

Although we dramatically failed last time, the people of Ireland and Scotland deserve another chance.

Their fan's are among the most passionate in world of football and deserve a chance to share the "craic" with Europe's elite.

As Dustin the Turkish said, "Give us another chance, we're sorry for River dance."

Just substitute Euro 2012 into River dance and we might just do it.

As I sit here typing, the opening game of the European Championships 2008 is underway, but to be honest, I'm not that bothered.

In a further revelation, I'll surprise you by admitting I'm not too sure who's actually playing! One of the host teams (Austria or Switzerland) against the Czech Republic, I think.

So why am I, an avid football writer and fan, just not that interested?

I suppose the first reason would be the non-appearance of my beloved Scotland. That isn't much of an excuse, though, considering I haven't had that privilege since France 98!

Maybe it was the disappointment of our qualifying campaign, narrowly missing out to the giants of France and Italy. A little bit of me still feels we deserve to be there, but as I always say, the table never lies.

One thing that does annoy me is the participation of two host countries among the 16 team field.

What's especially annoying is that neither team, in my humble opinion, would have qualified, had they needed to!

I know it's tradition that the hosts don't have to qualify, but in such a "small' event, it does have an effect.

My last reason for not being glued to the telly is simple, I'll miss England!

Honestly, why would I support any other country if they're not playing England?

Okay, okay, before the hate mail starts, I actually enjoy watching England play. Not to support them, but to see some of my favourite players cutting their teeth at international level.

It's great to see Dean Ashton, Phil Jagielka and the likes, pulling on their England jerseys.

Sadly, most of the team are like the majority of top footballers these days.

Overpaid, arrogant moaners.

I don't want to watch a tournament full of primadonnas!

Come on Croatia, come on the Czechs! Remind the world what football is all about.

Football is a team game. You can have all the money you want, but you can't win on your own! Any Greek will tell you that!

Okay, so maybe I am interested! I suppose it's "rant over" then...

So it's official, the rags to riches story of Gretna F.C. has entered its final chapter. The former SPL side are on the brink of extinction and that will end a fairytale six years.

The club were only voted into the Scottish League in 2002 and through the money of wealthy benefactor Brooks Mileson, they rose through the leagues. Gretna claimed three successive league titles and a runner-up place in the Scottish Cup.

They claimed every title they could before gaining promotion to the SPL. They fought for every point and were a determined eleven but still found themselves last when the worst possible scenario hit.

Mileson withdrew his financial support and Gretna declared administration.

Already marooned to the foot of the SPL table, a further points deduction then confirmed the club's fate.

Unable to pay both their on- and off-field staff, mass redundancies followed as the club battled bravely against the threat of extinction.

Their meteoric rise through Scottish football was coming back to haunt them, as the realisation that they had been punching above their weight for far too long was resulting in disastrous consequences.

Football agency consultant Paul Davies was all set to prepare a bid to intervene in Gretna's inevitable fate. However, the offer was doomed when the Scottish Football League voted to demote Gretna to the Third Division.

SFL chief executive David Longmuir claimed the proposed business plan was "fundamentally flawed" and offered no guarantee of paying off the club's football debts.

Soon after administrator David Elliot placed their stadium, Raydale Park, up for sale to non-footballing parties.

Then the final few words of the Gretna tale were uttered to the SPL as a spokesman confirmed, "I have this morning received intimation from the Gretna FC administrator of their resignation from the Scottish Football League with immediate effect."

Game Over.

ENGLAND

In summation, we had the tightest title race in 40 years, which concluded with tropical rain coming down in Wigan.

Ryan Giggs, who Ferguson said is exceptional in the wet weather, was brought on to wrap up the spoils and that he did.

For Chelsea, Drogba's knee and Terry's arm are falling to pieces. Chelsea fans had better keep their fingers crossed, for Anelka is not going to carry the line like Drogba come the European Cup Final.

John Terry will pay in old age for his bravery in youth, continuing to play but having so many injections in order to do so. There will be a price. Who is going to stop that man lining up in Moscow?

The relegation battle was far more interesting than the title race. Have Sunderland set the model for survival? Frenzied buying before and during the season, then pray to the big man upstairs you get something right? Birmingham and Reading went down because they didn't spend enough.

England's financial power is clear. Recently in the top 20 earners of players in Europe, Kaka made the list. Darren Bent also made it in the top 20 best paid players in Europe. He is paid more than any other Serie A player.

FRANCE 

All goes to the wire, as Lyon scrape 1-0 victory over Nancy courtesy of an own goal which may cost Nancy a Champions League place.

Laurent Blanc has been very good in his first season as manager of Bordeaux, but he should not be this close to Lyon with one game to go. Lyon are dying and an exodus is expected. What a sham of a season, but they yet could do the double, which has never been done before in their history.

ITALY

As I said in the last roundup, Inter's match with Sienna was not so cut and dried. Their 2-2 draw takes the league down to the final game of the season. Oh Materazzi, what did you do? Mancini, bye bye...

It is all so exciting. It is between two teams for the title, Roma and Inter, and two teams battling to stay up, Catania and Parma. The last round has Roma at Catania and Parma play Inter.

My beloved Napoli took down Milan 3-1, which in turn saw Fiorentina move up into the Champions League spot. Oh Milan, what have you done? Uefa Cup is not the place to be.

Napoli, in its first season back after years in the wilderness, now sit in eighth. In two years time, the big boys will have to make room for us at the table of spoils. Congrats to all.

SPAIN

Oh Barca, Barca, Barca...not good enough.

Real Zaragoza are now in the bottom three after a 2-2 draw with Madrid, Zaragoza have got to win away from home to Mallorca, but having only one win away this season, it does not look good. Mallorca are within a point of a Uefa Cup place and have La Liga's top goal scorer to boot.

Four teams, including Zaragoza, are contesting the final relegation place. Any one of them that wins their final match stays up. How can this be? They are all playing each other and it all depends on goal difference via their head-to-head against one another.

SCOTLAND

Celtic beat Hibs and keep the heat on Rangers. What a run Celtic are on. Maybe it is covered up by what Rangers are doing, but it is a great run of victories.

Rangers, who beat Dundee United at Ibrox in a controversial match, won 3-1 in the end. They are now a point behind Celtic with three games to play. Celtic play one more game. For Rangers, St Mirren at Love Street will be tricky, as well as Aberdeen at Pittordrie on the last game of the season.

I must say the SPL need not take anymore beatings over the fixture debate, they have been astute and forward-thinking when coming up with a solution and have had a bad press here in Scotland.

Rangers should have presented a viable solution to the end of the season themselves, one that took in all parties' needs as well as their own. 

But yes, it is the week that sees Scotland have a team in the UEFA Cup Final once more! We hosted Sevilla at Hampden last year and now we have a team in it ourselves.

Kudos to Rangers, no matter the style of victory, the result counts more. The colossus leagues of Serie A, EPL and La Liga have no representatives in the final, but the small nation of Scotland does.

I do not settle on this alone. Let's win it and beat those Russians. I wish you the best of luck Rangers and that from a Celtic fan is really something.

Zenit are in the Golden age? Many say they peaked maybe two seasons back in terms of exciting playing style. Like Rangers, they will sit back and counter. How is this going to be? Could it be the worst final since Red Star and Real Madrid? Who cares?

Come on Rangers, and as a Celtic fan I can only say that line if I also put the next line in...come on Scotland, ha ha.

Alby Jnr