Whether they hold the trophy aloft on 19 July or not – and even the most optimistic fan would wager that it’s probably a “not” – Scotland has already won the World Cup. An estimated 30,000 fans have travelled to Boston to watch the country’s first two matches – and it was on nobody’s bingo card that the city’s inhabitants would fall so hard for them.
For a tiny nation (Scotland’s population is just under 5.5 million, almost half the size of London’s, never mind England’s, which stands at 58.6 million), its supporters pack a mighty punch. Known as the “Tartan Army”, their love of the game, the homeland and the randan (party) is second to none.
Never has a nation better exemplified the ethos of “it’s not the winning, but the taking part that counts”. In the words of one supporter: “That’s how we roll. We dinnae wreck the joint, we dinnae beat folk up. We’re there tae have a laugh and watch our team get beat eventually.”
Shorts
They know they won’t win. But this is the first time Scotland has qualified for the World Cup in 28 years. Supporters have moved heaven and earth to be there. Sunday’s inaugural game against Haiti – which they won 1-0 – was the first time Scotland had scored in a World Cup for 36 years. Of course, they’re going to bring their A-game. As the Tartan Army never tire of singing: “No Scotland, no party.”
