I'd have almost certainly payed a LOT more attention to this tournament than I did IOTL! As it was, I only really remember watching one match from that tournament, Croatia vs Turkey in the QFs, where both scored right at the end of extra time! Shame we lose that ITTL, but, again, totally worth it!

Anyway, I see you've mixed the QF draw up a little bit here; Scotland, England, Netherlands and Spain to reach the semis.
 
Chapter 83: Getting Closer
Quick note before I start, I would like to apologise regarding the fixture lists in the last update as I made an utter pig's ear of who plays who and sorry if you had predictions down. This is the correct list as follows:
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Scotland vs Germany

Croatia vs Portugal

Netherlands vs England

Spain vs Portugal
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Sorry for this cockup from me, but with that out of the way, let's start now:

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Chapter 83
Getting Closer

June 19th, 2008, in Glasgow; Hampden Park was rocking. After Scotland won their group, the hosts and holders were in the last eight and their opponents would be a much-fancied German side and while the host nation may have been underdogs against the Germans, the partisan home crowd wasn't going to let their side fall to the Germans no matter what with the prize of winning this game being a Semi-Final at Murrayfield in Edinburgh. Even in their dressing room as the Scotland players were getting ready, they could hear the crowd having a big sing along with Loch Lomond, 500 Miles and the official tournament song, One Lion Rampant and everyone in that room didn't speak as they listened to the sound outside. Walter Smith had a little grin appear on his lips as they drank in the sound and by the time one song was finished and the crowd roared in delight that the teams were to come out soon, he looked over at his players to give one final speech.

"Hear that lads?" He said to his players. "They're singing for you. If we can't win with that crowd behind us, then we've got no chance. The Germans are going to be shaking when they walk out there. Surely they can't focus when playing against that."

The door to their dressing room opened and a pudgy looking SFA official revealed himself and motioned them to come out. As the Scotland players walked out onto the field with their German counterparts walking alongside them, there was about 7000 German fans in the ground with many hundred UEFA guests now associated with many international games while the vast majority of everyone else was a fired-up Tartan Army who would enjoy being the underdogs here. Smith was right; if the players didn't take this atmosphere for granted then they were in trouble. Scotland would fire from right out of the gates and the fans would cheer whenever a Scottish player got on the ball and jeer when a German player had the ball.

James Morrison would in the eighth minute make with the first shot on target in which he would make a volley from near the halfway line and that German goalkeeper Jens Lehmann would have to make a dive up into the top right corner of the net to punch the ball out for a corner kick for Scotland. An excellent start it looked like Germany were rather rattled by the atmosphere and all that was missing was a Scotland goal to set the place alight. Kris Commons would take the corner out from the left corner flag, and he swung it near into the box in which among the many players trying to get it, Gary Caldwell would leap the highest and banged in the ball with his head sending it into the bottom right corner and the roar from the Hampden crowd really said it all. Scotland had taken an early lead!

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Caldwell celebrates getting the opening goal over Germany in the Quarter-final
No German wanted to go behind so soon and losing a goal to a bad bit of defending, and up in the stands watching was the Germany manager Joachim Low who had been suspended in the last game Germany had played with Wales in which he had been sent to the stands and taking his place to guide the team would be his assistant Hans-Dieter Flick who had the difficult task of not only trying to get back in this game but put a stop to this cauldron of an atmosphere that was making it hellish for the German players. Not that any German woes would be of any Scot's concern, but such things would look nervy when in the seventeenth minute, Alan Hutton had to pull off a tackle on Klose that was on the edge of the penalty box and while he managed to successfully stop him, all eyes turned towards the referee thinking he was about to point for a penalty and the German fans roared for action.

To the relief of the Tartan Army, the Swedish referee waved play on as Scotland tried to push the Germans back though that all being said, the previously confident Scottish crowd were while still making a right din were now looking slightly uncomfortable the more the Germans slowly built their way into the game. No Scot would want to admit it, but Germany did look like a angry animal that was wanting to punish the plucky Scots. Smack bang on the twenty-fourth minute, German captain Ballack would blast the ball over at the goal and it would avoid the grasp of Craig Gordon but instead would crash on the crossbar to bounce up and land behind the goal. It was a wonderful chance to equalise for Germany and all signs looked to be good for them as ever since Scotland's opening goal; the hosts hadn't really troubled the Germans that much and that the best chances were all coming from the Germans. It really was a question of 'if' but when Germany would score and many nervous looks around Hampden Park and for most Scots watching the game live wherever they were fearing the worst might happen.

Scotland though would try and counter the problem in the thirty-second minute when McFadden managed to weave his way past Lahm and Metzelder and tried to score from the corner and though it might've looked like a good shot, the ball would be easily saved by Lehmann and Scotland really needed to find a goal from somewhere soon and hopefully not being scored from the other end. McLeish looked over at the big scoreboard saying that it was reading that it was now the thirty-eighth minute of the game and if they were to keep it a 1-0 going in a halftime then he would rally the players round for a final push for the second half, though with how well the Germans were pushing them back, that didn't look like it was going to happen...

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Ballack after his shot hits the crossbar
Then in the forty-second minute, the Germans win a corner in which is taken and Craig Gordon punches away outside of his box and Darren Barr helps in trying to clear it for a throw-in, but the ball lands by the feet of Klose who would try his luck and score and he would strike with a powerful shot that went through all of the Scottish defence in the box and the ball would slam into the roof of the net to reduce the crowd to stunned silence and raise the joy for the Germans there. It was a sucker punch for the Tartan Army for this to happen but perhaps given the way the Germans had played; it was inevitable that the Germans would score their long-awaited equaliser. Not only was it game on but the German machine now looked set to add more to their tally.

Walter Smith had his head in his hand; this was the last thing he would've wanted before halftime, and anyone would tell that that to lose a goal before the break when you were leading through most of the game is a pain as he knew that that any gameplan he had to tell his players in the changing room had to be thrown out the window over what had happened. Scotland now began to play more defensive as the Germans try to pile more pressure on the Scottish backline and fears of the Germans to add a torrid of goals into the Scottish net in the closing stages of the game seemed to be the only outcome and when three minutes of added time are shown left to play, it seems more than enough for Germany to turn the game around in a short space before time.

Despite all this, Scotland would hold their nerve and managed to keep the score level at halftime and Hampden's atmosphere starts to feel very tense as the Tartan Army know how lucky they were to sneak out of that one but with the momentum now clearly with the Germans, no one feels that Scotland even with the home advantage can somehow win this game, let alone try to go all the way. Walter Smith stands there by the steps of Hampden as he watches the players trot off down the tunnel looking either tried or weary after the game they have just played and there was still another forty-five minutes or more yet to follow. Now, Smith has to try and find out what to do to help make his players believe they can do this. They surely can't lose at the stage of their own tournament on home soil...?

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Klose celebrates his goal that brings Germany level

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Much like how the Scots roared into the start of the first half, the Germans are the ones on the front foot during the opening of the second half in which they start to play a strong teamwork plan as they pass the ball around and that the poor Scottish players can't seem to get a foot on the ball and the Germans seem to have this game in the bag. Murrayfield is like a morgue and most of the noise is coming from the now inspired German supporters who feel that a goal is coming. Klose tries to score a second for Germany in the forty-ninth minute when he chips the ball over Kris Broadfoot and the ball curls downwards towards goal though Craig Gordon has to leap up to grab the ball and quickly kick it up the field hoping for one of his teammates can do something.

That all said, frustrations start to show for Scotland in which Barry Ferguson gets a booking in the fifty-sixth minute in which he made a rather rash tackle on Schweinsteiger and not gives him a yellow card but also a free kick for the Germans there and then. Ballack takes the kick and Gordon has to once again punch away the ball but accidently this time into the path of Podolski who attempts to fire a volley on the rebound but unfortunately for him, he skies the ball far over the crossbar. Scotland have been let off the hook here, but the game has all been Germany so far and the Tartan Army can only fear for the worse. Surely there's no way back now?

In the sixty-fourth minute, the Germans hold most of the possession and that alone doesn't make for good reading for the hosts and holder of the trophy. Walter Smith then yells out at his players to take a risk and do whatever they can to score, possibly not the best idea but with Scotland looking pretty much stuck without ideas, it might be their only chance at glory. In that minute from some fifty yards away from the box, McFadden has the ball and he looks ahead to see a large gap between two German players with the chance to try his luck and with one fine volley of a shot, the ball goes screaming through the air and curls towards the top right of the crossbar and despite the German keeper getting a hand on it, it's not enough as the ball scrapes off his glove and the ball goes in. Cue bedlam.

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McFadden before scoring his screamer of a goal

McFadden has scored a goal that has come out of nowhere for Scotland and the famous Hampden roar is at full power as the Tartan Army are delighted that they have managed to pull off something from out of the blue that puts them 2-1 in front. The Germans are left thunderstruck that after everything going their way that this has happened, and they have to get themselves back into the game and the only being heard if the cry of thousands of Scotland fans roaring their team on for victory. Suddenly after everything that has happened in this game so far with the Germans pressing Scotland so much, they now have something to hold on to and maybe could progress to the Semi-finals. To the amazement of everyone else, the Germans don't seem to respond well to going behind again and while they are still holding good chunks of the ball during play, they aren't really causing many problems for Scotland who look more than happy to simply defend until the final whistle.

There is one moment of madness in the seventy-third minute when Steven Fletcher races forward towards the box and many in Hampden rise to their feet thinking another unlikely goal is coming, however he is stopped by Ballack who snatchers the ball of Fletcher and quickly punts it up the field for a teammate to get it. What a chance though for Scotland to get a shock third. The last fifteen minutes of the game turn into a masterclass performance for Scotland defence wise as Scotland now opt for a 5-4-1 formation to make sure all their players start defending for their lives and for everyone concerned, it is the longest fifteen minutes anyone would like to experience, though if your German then it is a short fifteen minutes that's for sure. Even the atmosphere in Hampden is tense with a range of emotions being shown in that tartan clad crowd with some biting their fingernails, some hold onto their drinks or the edge of their seats tightly and some just can't bear to watch.

The crowd tries to sing a rousing performance of 'Flower of Scotland' to give their team a little bit more energy as they can all see that the team are defending for their lives and look shattered. Ninety minutes are nearly up, and a groan follows by many that another five minutes of time are to be added and fear then sets in the fourth minute of added time when just outside the box, Germany wins a freekick and Klose goes up to take it with this being the absolute last chance for Germany to drag this game into extra time. The stadium is on the verge of boiling over as Klose gets of a shower of abuse from the terraces as he waits for the referee to blow his whistle to kick. Then when it goes off, he runs up and curls the ball over a Scottish wall and Craig Gordon as he attempts to go backwards suddenly stumbles onto his back and like the vacuum, the noise disappears as the ball comes down. Then the ball hits the crossbar and lands on the roof of the net and that is all that is all that is needed is that is the last kick of the game. Scotland are through!

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Scotland celebrate after beating Germany at Euro 2008

Wild celebrations follow as Scotland fans enjoy the moment that that are in the semi-finals and the Germans look utterly despair ridden to lose like this. Many Scots will have wonderful memories that night (those that didn't get utterly drunk that is unlike others) of where they were when they defeated Germany and now the idea of defending their honour on home soil looks to be a more promising one. as just a day later, they find out that they will face a rematch semi-final with fellow group opponents Portugal after they defeated Croatia 3-1 on penalties after the game ended 1-1. One thing that many of the Tartan Army wouldn't want to admit that Scotland in the end were one thing that night...lucky.

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Two days after Scotland secured a place in the last four, it was time for England's turn, and they would head to Cardiff to face the Dutch for a place in the Semi-Finals. For the citizens of the Welsh capital, the arrival of thousands of England fans making their way to the Cardiff City Stadium for their tie with the Netherlands saw the city holding their breath for fears of hooligans out to cause trouble. Though the Dutch had brought along a large number of their own supporters to Cardiff as well as being backed by the locals, they were overwhelmed by the vast numbers of English supporters in the city who unfortunately weren't letting the locals forget about how Wales had fallen in the group stage and how they ahd such a strong home advtange and yet they flopped. There would be problems before the match in which even though the England ticket allocation had been sold out some time ago, many had made the journey north hoping to get in but ultimately never getting the chance to get in and combined this with the drink some of them had that day, it led to brawls taking place which the police had their hands full in keeping order. Not the best start that England would've wanted.

As the teams lined up for the anthems with England manager Glenn Hoddle shaking hands with his Dutch counterpart, Marco Van Basten, he took the chance to admire the stadium and had heard of the history of the England team coming to Wales and more often than not having a good track record of victories in the Principality though the main difference being that they weren't playing a team in red, but orange and that the Netherlands were a different kettle of fish compared to the Welsh so he knew that it wasn't going to be easy. Then came the anthems and while the England national side had since now used Jerusalem as their anthem due to God Save the Queen being jeered and whistled whenever England played either Wales or Scotland and hoped it would put an end to such scenes...it was sadly being jeered by the number of so-called 'neutral' Welsh supporters in the stand who were all clearly hoping for England to lose and it was not the sort of thing Hoddle wanted to see.

It had sadly been something that had always happened when England had been playing in Scotland as it was clear that the locals wanted England to go all the way and here would be no exception. Ironically such things had actually spurred on the England team to go for it and this Dutch team, while a decent side, could be there for the taken despite manging to be winners in a group of death featuring France, Romania and Italy. However the start of the game looked quite a ropey one for England as the Dutch seemed determined to win and didn't give the English team much of a chance to get a foot on the ball and this would go on right until the twelve minute of the game in which the Dutch won a corner that by then had seen the Dutch have already two shots on target while in contrast England hadn't even had a single shot on target. Kuyt fired from the corner, and it looked then that Wes Brown managed to clear it off his knee but instead the ball would carelessly bounce up into the air and into the path of Van Nistelrooy and wasted no time to take a volley shot that saw the ball race through the air, past the gloves of David James and into the back of the net. The best possible start for the Dutch and the worst for the English.

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The Dutch celebrate their opening goal
Hoddle leaned had his head in his hand as he saw that goal screaming in and the wall of stunned silence from the England fans really said it all. The Three Lions had to find a way back in this game but it didn't look all that good for them as the Dutch had their tails up and were looking to score a second and nearly did in the 18th minute when Kuyt went on the volley and the ball looked set to be hitting the roof of the net but only slammed on the crossbar to give England a big let off and as Hoddle looked up at the stands filled with England fans were now shouting abuse at him and the players; a world away from the goodwill he had gotten for seeing the Three Lions winning the World Cup a few years ago. Strange how things can change in a few short years though deep down, many had to admit that the 'golden generation' England once had was no longer the team they once were. The first signs that England might not be quite out of this game yet would come about in the twenty-third minute when Rooney managed to weave his way through that Dutch backline and looked as though he was going to pull off a Maradona as he ran like a madman towards the goal.

Instead, however Van der Sar would have to dive towards his left to knock the ball out to safety to deny England the equaliser. Still a long way to go but nonetheless it was a better performance than that sluggish start earlier. A booking would happen in the twenty-eighth minute when John Terry tackled de Jong and saw him getting a yellow card for his troubles and the Dutch a free kick, thankfully the kick in question would fly way over the bar. By the thirty-fifth minute, the game was starting to open up and while the Dutch still looked very dangerous looking to score a second, England were now asking questions with Rooney and Theo Walcott both attacking the goal hoping to get their team back into the game with Walcott's shot hitting the post in the thirty-third minute.

By the thirty-eighth minute, the England fans were starting to find their voice again and the Dutch were looking rather wary that England could score before half time despite the Netherlands doing all they could to get a second goal. Then just five minutes later and with the Dutch backline having put up a good performance in keeping England out, the English would win a corner kick and Ashley Young fired it from the left corner and the ball went curling through the air in which many in the box tried to jump and get their head onto it which in the end only Wayne Rooney could get his head onto it. As one would expect from the star English player, he sent that ball into the bottom right of the net in which der Sar despite bending into the direction of the shot could do nothing to stop the ball going in and the heart-breaking situation for the Dutch followed in which it had only kicked in that the English had got back on level terms.

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Wayne Rooney scores to put England back on level with the Dutch

An explosion of white and red (and perhaps the beer shower from many fan zones around the country) from the English fans followed as St George Cross flags could be seen flying around the ground and that wasn't including the roar of delighted England fans happy to seem back in the game and no happier than any Englishman in that ground was Hoddle who punched the air in triumph that things were looking up for England once again. As the final minutes of the first half rolled along, Hoddle was left wondering that due to how flustered the Netherlands seemed to look that he did consider the prospect that rather than hold onto that score line going into half time that maybe the English could add more woe for the Dutch by getting another goal.

However, that thought was shot down pretty fast when just in the first minute of three minutes of added time that Van Nistelrooy fired a shot on to the England goal that hit the crossbar and a sigh of relief followed that the Dutch nearly ruined England's joy there. Finally, the whistle blew for halftime and an uncertain atmosphere around the ground could be felt as both players headed to the tunnel with neither knowing who was feeling happier about how the game had gone. The Dutch had played the best for the most part, yet they had ruined a few good chances to increase their lead and that England goal was a sucker punch. In turn, the English knew that they hadn't been all that good during the early parts of the game and that goal was very much welcomed regardless of if they had deserved it or not; the Welsh supporters there thought of the later. Regardless everyone waited for what the second half might entail...

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No one knew how the second half should progress or who the winner was going to be, but the feeling that supporters and pundits alike all believed that whoever scored next would win the game and given how tight the start of the second half began it was looking to be one of those games in that it would be a low scoring match. Then again it only added to a growing tension in the ground. Other than the odd throw in or offside moment, it was proving to be a fairly uneventful half up until the sixty-second minute in which the Dutch suddenly found themselves running on the counter and charging towards the England goal with Van Nistelrooy leading the way. As he neared the England penalty box, he side-footed the ball over to Kuyt who found himself unmarked and the temptation to score was there for him was there, but instead he lobbed the ball over at Nistelrooy who proceeded to slam the ball into the roof of the net and was again the tables had been turned in which the English now had their hearts broken and the Dutch were delighted.

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Dutch players celebrate taking the lead again on England

Hoddle shook his head in disbelieve, their poor defence was costing them and now they looked set to make an exit from the tournament much to the delight of the Cardiff locals and the Dutch fans there, the latter hoping to make amends from their humiliating loss to England at Euro '96 which saw their own early exit. England tried desperately to get back into the game as they did anything they could to get another goal but this time however the Netherlands weren't going to let the Three Lions try and get through and seemed happier to hold back and keep the score at 2-1. Wayne Rooney though wasn't going to give up no matter what and in the seventy-third minute, he pulled off England's best chance in that second half when the ball hit the post and a groan followed from the English supporters fearing that it was all going to end in tears for England in Cardiff.

Despite the Dutch putting on a strong performance in their defence, it could only last for so long that with only ten minutes to go until full time, England began to push the Dutch back and suddenly the tables were being turned again in this crazy game that could go either way and England now looked the more likely to score. It's unknown just where on earth the English players found the determination to fight back but the England fans didn't care. It could be said that the Dutch and themselves to blame themselves for it for they seemed to have all their players trying to play in an ultra-defence fashion that seemed to invite the England players to try and have a shot on target and maybe get a goal that would drag the game into extra time, a scenario that no Dutch player wanted.

Then in the eighty-seventh minute with England having gotten a free kick some twenty yards away from the box, the ball would fly through the air and in the middle of a confusion and congested scene, de Jong would shove over Walcott in the box and many in orange had their eyes wide in horror as the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the spot - penalty for England! It was quite a soft challenge that looked accidental as the Dutch players tried to reason with the Slovakian referee but seemed unmoved by their protest and to add more to the Dutch's woe, de Jong would get a yellow card for that incident. England's penalty scorer Steven Gerrard would step up to take it and the Liverpool player knew that this was perhaps the only chance England were going to half if they wanted to stay in the tournament. The referee blew his whistle and Gerrard sent the keeper the wrong way...

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Gerrard before taking the penalty
...But his shot hit the post and bounced out of play! The roar that greeted it from both the Dutch and Welsh alike was almost as big as if one for scoring a goal and Gerrard seemed frozen to the spot and looked like a man who wanted the ground to swallow him whole. The gut punch of the moment was so great for the English players that they had almost forgot the Dutch trying to keep the game flowing and run up the other end to try and put in a quickfire third goal for the Dutch that would kill this game off though thanks to some desperate defending from some of the England players, that third killer goal for the Dutch would never take place though neither did the equaliser for England and with that, the Dutch held on to secure victory to move onto the last four and dump England out of the tournament.

It had been the first time that the Three Lions had lost on Welsh soil since 1984 while up in Wrexham and far longer since they last lost in Cardiff and even though it not been to a Welsh team they had lost to, the Welsh locals weren't going to let that play on their mind as they would end up taking great delight at England's failure and perhaps more so up in Scotland knowing that at the very least they wouldn't have to face the nightmarish and ultimate humiliation scenario for Scottish football of an England team playing in a final at Hampden Park and winning it with Scotland perhaps not there. However, that scenario would have played out didn't matter as England were out and in the wake of that defeat, much anger of the English press would be aimed at Gerrard who would get the most stick over his missed penalty.

Sadly, for him much anti-Scouse bias would emerge from some quarters from fans and even members of the press alike over the following weeks even if few wanted to admit that the Dutch was a better team. Such was how bad it was that Gerrard would admit in a 2019 interview that he almost quit playing for the national team, and it would be another example of why some on Merseyside would state 'Scouse not English'. For Glenn Hoddle however, it was the end of the road for him as his long spell as England manager had come to an end and from the high of winning the World Cup to making his final act as England manager at Euro 2008 but who would be able to fill his boots? For now though up in Scotland, the party would go on...

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And that's that! So yeah, once again, sorry for the cockup with the fixture list but now that has been sorted out. So, the Scotland game remains mostly the same as in the old TL though with England the result is a defeat for them as looking back on it, I think I should have toned them down a bit and considering this is when that England team started to go on the decline it is quite plausible, they would have come up short here even though TTL England is better than OTL for sure. And if you're Dutch then yes, the team get a bit more luck here compared to what happened with them IOTL.

So then, here is the correct (haha!) fixture list for the last four:
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Scotland vs Portugal

Netherlands vs Spain
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So who will win and why? Hope you enjoy this update, and will Scotland be heading to Hampden for a grand final? Find out next time!
 
Scotland do beat Portugal here this time, but Spain are too much for them in the final.

Also, with no Berti Vogts to put the SFA off appointing a foreign manager ITTL, might they be tempted to do so after this tournament when Smith goes? For example, if they went for him, I can easily see Giovanni Trapattoni chosing Scotland over Ireland here...
 
Chapter 84: One Game to Go
Chapter 84
One Game to Go

Thanks to Scotland getting into the semi-final on home soil, Scottish nationalism seemed to be reaching a crescendo providing if Scotland get past their semi-final opponents Portugal in which the prize at the end was a final at Hampden Park to not only defend their crown on home soil but repeat the glory the national team had done exactly forty years ago in Rome. The country seemed to believe that anything was possible and that they could conquer anyone or anything that stood in their way, though neither wanted to admit that they had been lucky with Germany and instead much of a jubilant Tartan Army instead decided more to mock the English over their defeat to the Dutch in the Quarter-final and that the nightmare scenario of England not only making it to the final at Hampden but winning it, on Scottish soil no less, would no longer be the case. Nonetheless, many local press and media had pretty much speculated that with such home support that Scotland would be in the final and they would defend the trophy with the game having something of an edge to it in which the Scots wanted revenge on the Portuguese after they defeated them in that semi-final during the last World Cup and revenge would be one best served cold according to the Scots.

The fact that Scotland had already defeated Portugal just a few days before in the group stage was oddly swept under the rug, so any revenge mission seemed to be coming more from Portugal in truth. To give an idea how mental the atmosphere was in Murrayfield Stadium, whipped up thanks to a now jingoistic Scottish press, was that if it had a roof, it would've likely been blasted off to go as far as the moon by the atmosphere the Tartan Army was generating as the feeling of winning the tournament on home soil did seem like a possibility and this didn't go unnoticed by Walter Smith who hoped that his players could use this feeling to their advantage and the powerful rendition of Flower of Scotland sung by the crowd during the anthems was one to raise the hairs on the back of any Scot listening. However, no everyone was totally happy of the location of the game, and it wasn't down to it being a rugby stadium but that given how well Scotland had done while playing all their games at Hampden, some felt that they'd lose an advantage that would work in their favour to go all the way though it seems that there had been a good reason for this.

It was indeed planned, somewhat unfairly to some, that if Scotland would win their group in which they did, then they would end up playing all their games at Hampden Park which included a possible final there. When this plan was noted by some foreign observers, they pointed out that it gave the Scots an unfair advantage so as compromise it was decided that the two Semi-Final games would be played at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium and Cardiff's City Stadium, and it was something of an irony as some members of the Tartan Army had often argued that England's successes in 1966 and 1996 was down to the fact that they played all their games at Wembley Stadium which had ended up helping them along the way and yet here in 2008 Scotland was planning to do the exact same format on those two occasions would've made those who complained about that previous fact look like utter hypocrites so that was that. Regardless though, the nation awaited with the Tartan Army and even a varity of Scottish celebrities seen in the VIP boxes at Murrayfield, high expectations of glory in Edinburgh.

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Murrayfield Stadium many hours prior to kick off with the Semi-Final between Scotland and Portugal
Thankfully for all concerned, Scotland started right from the off as McFadden went on for an ambitious volley in the third minute that had to be saved by Portuguese keeper Ricardo who had to leap up into the air to get a hand on it to punch it away. Scotland carry on pressing the Iberian team back into their own half which was perhaps helped by the partisan crowd willing to make life hellish for Portugal who by the seventh minute hadn't really had the chance to go forward to get a goal. Then in that minute too, the Scots would win a free kick thanks to Pepe making a tackle on Michael Stewart and it would be Kenny Miller that would take the kick some ten yards outside the 'D' and he faced a Portuguese wall now standing hoping to stop him taking this free kick.

When the whistle blows, he curls it over the wall towards the top right corner of the goal in which Ricardo just can't get his hands on to it and the roar of the crowd really says it all - Scotland are in front in the semi-final after less than ten minutes! No one is happier than Walter Smith who, despite his age, tries to leap for joy from the Scottish dugout as his hopes of the team using the home support for their advantage has paid off handsomely and the fears of losing that advantage by not playing at Hampden Park seem to vanish. Now it's all about trying to find that second goal and put this game to bed, though it would turn out to be easier said than done as that opening goal from Scotland would actually spur Portugal on to come fighting and started to push the Scots back.

Portugal's first attempt on goal comes in the thirteenth minute when Gomes cuts through the Scottish defence and fires the ball into the bottom left corner, though it would be saved by Craig Gordon in the nick of time. The supporters may have been doing all they could to cheer on their team to victory, but slowly and surely Portugal were hoping to slow down the game for Scotland and wear them out. In the seventeenth minute, Portugal would strike again this time by Ronaldo who's shot just went a whisker over the crossbar and out for a goal kick; another warning shot for the Scots that the game was far from over. Scotland though tried to keep pressing forward in the other direction making it quite an 'end-to-end' game and shortly after Ronaldo's shot, Darren Fletcher would try breaking forward by going solo despite McFadden on his left urging him to kick the ball over to him.

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Kenny Miller runs off to celebrate his opening goal for Scotland

Fletcher was, rather foolishly, thinking of himself in that moment of being the hero and he would try a weak shot on target that was comfortably saved by Ricardo and McFadden raised his hands up in the air and gave him teammate a baffled look of frustration that a great chance to go 2-0 up had been wasted. By the twenty-fifth minute, even with that madcap support behind them, Scotland's frantic and brilliant attacking football seemed to have vanished as the team now looked like they had used up all that energy as Portugal could smell a chance to strike back soon. Walter Smith groaned as he watched his team making slack passes that were being intercepted by Portugal as it was now dawning on him that the weakness in his team, being that they would go out all guns blazing, seemed to have been dying out and this would see Portugal try and punish the Scots. Hardly the best plan for any team that didn't have the stamina levels.

Then in the twenty-eighth minute, Ronaldo would charge down on the right flank before slipping it up to Gomes who thumped it up into the top right of the net and it seemed that Portugal had gone level at last...however many Scots would breathe a sigh of relief when it was found out that the linesman had his flag up for offside and Scotland's slender lead would remain though it must be said that from a modern VAR perspective it did have a good case to examine it and check if it was onside. Nonetheless though, it was encouraging for the small three thousand Portuguese supporters in Murrayfield hoping for a goal while the majority of Scottish fans were left on the edge of the seats and prayed half time would come soon enough in order for them to regroup.

However, it wasn't all that bad as in the thirty-fifth minute, Scotland did enjoy a bit of play as they slowed the game down for Portugal and began to pass the ball around trying to get forward and it would be Gavin Rae that set Miller loose letting him charge up on the counter in the centre and the Tartan Army rose to their feet thinking a goal was near. However much to their disappointment, he would be brought down just on the outside of the box by Carvalho and the crowd roared for a penalty or at least a booking, but to their dismay, the Swiss referee waved for play on and Miller and many of the Scottish support in the ground were left stunned of what seemed to be a bit of bad refereeing in which while it was never a penalty, the fact that there wasn't a card or free kick given was strange.

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Ronaldo in the semi-final at Euro 2008
Portugal would get a corner kick in the thirty-ninth minute and Deco would leap up in the box high than the others to header that goal down into the bottom left, but to his dismay and perhaps the joy of the Tartan Army, the ball would hit the post and bounce into the direction of Barry Ferguson who quickly thumped the ball up the field far away as possible to avoid Portugal attacking on the rebound. That being said, that didn't make any blind bit of difference as Portugal were going into the end of the first half to find that vital goal to bring them level with the Tartan Army trying to make life had for the Portuguese with perhaps Ronaldo getting most of the dog's abuse from the crowd in which he was being treated as something akin to a pantomime villain.

In the end after a nail-biting finale in which had the Scots trapped in their own half for the final five minutes of that half and Portugal doing all the attacking, whistle blew for halftime and much of the Tartan Army could breathe a sigh of relief while the Portuguese could only kick themselves for not using that advantage, they had towards the end of the first half to their advantage. Although Scotland still held the lead, one would make a strong bet that Portugal would not only score in the second half but maybe even go on to get a few more and win the game. For now, Walter Smith had to kick his players into shape though given how exhausted they looked when they walked off at the end of the half, he had to wonder where were they going to find the extra energy needed?

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"Come on lads! They're there for the taking! You're making it easier for them!" Those were just some of the words that Smith had been yelling at his players for what had started as a promising start in the first half which had ended up being a lacklustre performance that had nearly saw the Scot's lead fall apart had it not been for a linesman's flag, bad choices by players on the field and a lot of luck that happened to be on their side. There was no doubt that things had to improve for the team as they went out for the second half though as Smith looked over at the Portugal bench who could see that their opponents were well up for it. No way were they going to make this easy for the host nation that was for sure.

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A look of apprehension on members of the Tartan Army during the game says it all
To be fair though, Scotland did actually start of quite well though admittedly nowhere near the performance that they had shown in the first half but still optimistic nonetheless which just seeing the team play a bit more positively was very much welcomed by the Tartan Army at large and they would get a free kick in the fifty-third minute as Kenny Miller stepped up to take it yet again though this time unlike that wonderful effort from before however, he would instead send the ball flying way over and a great chance for Scotland to increase their slender lead came to nothing. Scotland's wasteful shots on goal would surely come to haunt them as despite having more of the ball than Portugal at the start of the second half, it is the men in red that have the better chance of scoring and it seems only a matter of time before they do.

The game is now into the sixty-seventh minute and despite what many might think, Scotland have actually managed to starved off Portugal's attacks very well and there is suddenly a hopeful thought running through the veins of those around Murrayfield that despite not being the best team throughout this game, Scotland might just be able to do it...that is until a minute later when Ronaldo curls in a stunning shot that Craig Gordon has to run out to punch it away only in his horror to have Gomez on his left charge in and slam the ball home on the rebound and the worse has happened for the hosts is that Portugal have finally gotten back into this game, though some would say it was only a matter of time before they did and one could only feel the sense of defilation around Murrayfield.

The hearts of the Tartan Army are crushed and without wasting more time, Portugal go in for the kill once again as they attempt to find another goal or two in order to kill this game off and sink the Scots and Gomez nearly adds to his tally in the seventy-first minute when he volleys the ball towards the Scottish goal, and it is only thanks to the crossbar that the score remains level. The hosts by this point look now to be on the ropes. From what can be seen here, Walter Smith knows that there is no way his team can get a goal back now with their heads and hopes going down and that the best case for the Scots is drag this game is into extra-time and hope for a new plan. Portugal might not have scored after that equaliser, but they were flying and looking more likely to score again.

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Gomez before scoring the goal that brings Portugal back into the game
The Murrayfield crowd, despite no longer being the crowd that was on a high at the start of the game, try all they could by chanting and cheering the Scotland team on as much as possible, but the host nation is looking rattled and shell-shocked and even some had looks of panic as they would glance over at Smith motioning to him as what they should do. The manager's response was not to let them score or risk anything by throwing everything forward in case Portugal were going to get a late winner. By the eighty-sixth minute, Portugal have been causing terror upon the hapless Scots and in the minute, Deco had a chance to win the game as he slipped the ball into the bottom left in which Craig Gordon had to come out again to save it. The Scottish keeper was really to one force of nature that was keeping his team in it.

Finally after what can be a battering for the Scots and a positive yet frustrated one for Portugal for not winning the game in the final moments, extra-time is looming after the game ends 1-1 and the large crowd seem oddly subduded after what has happened as even some of them deep down would hate to admit that victory for Scotland looks to be a million miles away at this point. As the teams take time to prepare themselves for the next half hour ahead, Walter Smith has the look a frustrated man who feels like everything he has tried to help his side win the game is looking more likely about to come to nothing and begins to yell at the players.

"Come on, what'd I tell ye?!" He snaps. "There's thousands of us and only eleven of them here! Dinnae go about losing now or we'll never hear the end of it!" The magic looks set to be crumbling...

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Fletcher towards the end of the second half

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Despite Walter Smith's ranting at the players to get back into the game prior to the start of extra-time, Scotland though put on a very sorry performance at the start of extra time and despite the manager's words on them before hand, the team look utterly shattered and downhearted that they couldn't hold on to their precious lead early on that now Portugal seem to find it all rather easy as they attempt to cut their way through in order to get the goal that would finally put an end to Scotland's hold on the trophy and get their revenge which they can sense seems now almost a certainty. That all being said there is some rare moments of hope for the Scots as in the 98th minute, Fletcher comes close to try and swing the ball on target that gets past the outstretched arms of Ricardo and hits the post, but in cruel fate in which looks like it might go into the net, the ball heads the other way and rolls out for a goal kick.

Scotland seem to limp on with it starting to become apparent that the players would rather take the game to penalties though Portugal are pretty much on fire by this point. At long last in the one hundred and eighth minute, the dam finally breaks as Portugal win a corner kick and from it, Pepe leaps into the air to send the ball home past Craig Gordon and the Bravehearts are now well and truly broken as Portugal now have the lead they wanted and Murrayfield is left in a mournful silence from that moment right up until the final whistle and there will be no host nation in the final as Portugal will play in their second final and the Scottish players are left looking utterly devastated at what has happened as they could only watch the Portuguese players walking over to where the majority of Portugal supporters have been situated to celebrate with them with Murrayfield quickly emptying in utter despair and many things happen that evening.

The jingoist Scottish press that had gotten the nation so hyped up going into this game would see their efforts backfire in which sadly, the good name of the Tartan Army would be ruined somewhat as on the streets of Glasgow, there was a minor riot taking place and one poor Spanish person who just so happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time would get attacked by some youths mistaking him to be Portuguese and many would blame the media for acting no better than what the English press were infamous for doing at major tournaments and some would even blame the SFA for moving the game to Murrayfield and not staying at Hampden in which the team would have still had that advantage and might've won instead but alas, there were so many 'what if' moments.

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Pepe celebrates his extra time winner that helps get Portugal to the final of Euro 2008

As what was expected no matter where Scotland finished, Walter Smith would step down from the manager of the national team in which a career that had a major high four years ago was replaced by a whimper here in Edinburgh and the question over who would take over the national team would be something that many would speculate on for the rest of the summer. Nonetheless however, Scotland and Wales had both proven to be excellent hosts with many of the stadiums, upgraded or new, all finding use for the future unlike other stadiums around the world that would've been considered to be white elephants and it proved how well Scotland and Wales had performed as co-hosts in which the legacy left on from the tournament would be a good one for both nations despite neither winning anything.

So much so of how well both nations had pulled off the tournament was that England would be inspired and made a pact with the other Home Nations to host a World Cup in the future after seeing the pattern of the upcoming World Cup, most likely for the 2018 World Cup. For now though, the British teams now looked over towards South Africa in which the very first World Cup would take place in Africa and the hope that at least one of them would be able to achieve glory down there. Haste ye back.

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Final results of the knockout stage at Euro 2008

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And there we are, 2008 is over and believe it or not, it is not only the anniversary of when I first did the original ATPF TL back in 2018(?), but also as the time of writing this, it happens to be my birthday today so here is my gift for all of you here! So yes, Scotland go out in the last four and I did consider having them reach the final but I felt making things a little bit less idealist for them would be better so thus, Portugal reach the final but as you see, lose out to Spain who win much like OTL, though poor Portugal of the 2000's are pretty much like the Dutch team of the 1970's ITTL, reach two finals yet win nothing. And yes, I'm aware about that interview recently with Ronaldo so that was a little bit awkward writing him here.

The aftermath of the Semi-final is pretty much like OTL Euro 96 exit for England though perhaps a little less violent as before but that's not saying much, in truth Euro 2008 is like what OTL Euro 96 is for England ITTL. Anyway, it's off to South Africa next and things will be very different here in terms of what group stage each are in as I have noticed in the old TL that rankings were a little bit wrong, so I'll have to fix that here. Anyway, hope you enjoyed this update and tell me what has been your favourite tournament ITTL so far and/or what are you looking forward to next and what would TTL version of you be like here? Please comment and until then, catch you all later!
 
Happy Birthday!

As fo my favourite bit of this TL so far, there are a few too many candidates for me to chose from to say for sure, but I will say that your take on Euro 2000 was very original and pretty amusing!
 
Not the first, but happy birthday!

My favourite part, as I'm sure I've told you before, is your unparalleled, unbelievable attention to detail. If I were to write anything similarly in-depth as this, it would be a full-time job with little to no spare time. No clue how you manage it. I'm impressed.
 
Happy Birthday!

As fo my favourite bit of this TL so far, there are a few too many candidates for me to chose from to say for sure, but I will say that your take on Euro 2000 was very original and pretty amusing!
Thank you, interested by Euro 2000 is the one you seem to like, how amusing do you mean? :)
Not the first, but happy birthday!

My favourite part, as I'm sure I've told you before, is your unparalleled, unbelievable attention to detail. If I were to write anything similarly in-depth as this, it would be a full-time job with little to no spare time. No clue how you manage it. I'm impressed.
Thank you, in fact, the original one I did was actually more detailed with each group game individually written so instead I combined them together. Plus I am passionate about writing alternate history or just wanting to write fictional stories in general, such as the Alton Towers one I've just started which you can read in the sig below.

Guess the trick is just have a big imagination and always write it out as best you can and it'll all take off from there. Crazy that we aren't done yet with the TL as the original ended at 2018 and now we have 2021 and 2022 to do next so that'll be new. Jeez, never ending lost you have to say.
 
Thank you, interested by Euro 2000 is the one you seem to like, how amusing do you mean? :)
Well I think it was probably because it was the first time you'd done the tournament and so we didn't really know what to expect from it. And the way you worked Scotland and that win over England into the tournament was pretty clever, as was the use of the picture of Brown and Keegan with the flags!
 
Happy Birthday!
Just want to let you know that these works have been some of my favorite content on this website. The World Cup is starting tomorrow, you excited? Should be interesting to watch (aside from the horrible shit and slave labor used to get this World Cup running in Qatar.)
 
Happy Birthday!
Just want to let you know that these works have been some of my favorite content on this website. The World Cup is starting tomorrow, you excited? Should be interesting to watch (aside from the horrible shit and slave labor used to get this World Cup running in Qatar.)
Thank you, really appreciate hearing that from you, what have been your favourite tournaments here so far and I wonder how TTL version of you would have followed the WC here? ;)

But for this 2022 WC, sadly for once I have no stomach for it, makes me sick about everything about and the FIFA president's hypocrisy rant earlier on was the final straw for me. At least I can tell you that when we get to TTL'S 2022 WC, it'll be a more happier affair taking place in Australia as IMO that's where it should've been hosted.
 
Thank you, really appreciate hearing that from you, what have been your favourite tournaments here so far and I wonder how TTL version of you would have followed the WC here? ;)

But for this 2022 WC, sadly for once I have no stomach for it, makes me sick about everything about and the FIFA president's hypocrisy rant earlier on was the final straw for me. At least I can tell you that when we get to TTL'S 2022 WC, it'll be a more happier affair taking place in Australia as IMO that's where it should've been hosted.
That's good to know--at least it's not being held in an area that, in the summer, makes Corpus Christi (my hometown) look like Minnesota in terms of heat. OTOH, the Australia WC will have to take place in November-December, given that it is summer there...
 
That's good to know--at least it's not being held in an area that, in the summer, makes Corpus Christi (my hometown) look like Minnesota in terms of heat. OTOH, the Australia WC will have to take place in November-December, given that it is summer there...
I'm from Sommerville, in Massachusetts, so i'm used to colder weather. I can't imagine being in hot weather like I would be in Texas. I imagine that the stadiums for ATTP's 2022 World Cup will be similar to the ones used in your True World Cup timeline when Australia hosted in 2014.
 
Thank you, really appreciate hearing that from you, what have been your favourite tournaments here so far and I wonder how TTL version of you would have followed the WC here? ;)

But for this 2022 WC, sadly for once I have no stomach for it, makes me sick about everything about and the FIFA president's hypocrisy rant earlier on was the final straw for me. At least I can tell you that when we get to TTL'S 2022 WC, it'll be a more happier affair taking place in Australia as IMO that's where it should've been hosted.
Obviously Euro 1968 and Euro 2004 are highlights for me, but I also loved seeing Northern Ireland win a Euro in 1984. I imagine that TTL version of me would be feeling kinda similar to OTL Mexico fans. We always make it to the knockout rounds, but can't seem to win the World Cup. I know me and my dad would be a lot more enthusiastic whenever Scotland made a tournament. I can imagine we'd have a lot more positive memories of watching Scotland in major tournaments. The best I can say for OTL is seeing us draw with England, but there's also that horrible goal the Czechs scored over the goalie's head...
 
Chapter 85: Escape to Africa - 2010 World Cup
Chapter 85
Escape to Africa


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For the first time, the World Cup was to be hosted on the continent of Africa with South Africa being the lucky country being honoured to host this great event. While this would've seemed exciting to some take football to new places, the stories and controversy surrounding the awarding and voting of South Africa being the host have all been well documented with Morrocco being the actual winning bid yet lost out to South Africa, so much so that following in the aftermath of South Africa winning hosting duties, the Home Nations along with the Republic of Ireland would lead interest in having FIFA member associations vote for future World Cups rather than having certain higher ups vote for it which with hindsight given the wake of bribes and arrests coming out of FIFA, this seemed like a worthwhile proposal. Indeed, in the wake of Scotland and Wales both proving to be excellent hosts for Euro 2008, it was fair to say that British hopes had been boosted that they might be listened to.

To their delight, many other nations followed through with the idea with the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to be the first tournaments to be voted for, though it did seem slightly suspicious that after banging the drum for voting change that England would throw their hat in the ring to bid for hosting the 2018 World Cup. Though then again, if it meant for reform at FIFA which was honestly long overdue then no one was complaining. Nonetheless those for matters to take place later; that summer in 2010 would see all eyes of the planet focused on South Africa as many lucky nations prepared to play for the biggest prize in World football and the UK would send three of its teams out in the hope of glory being England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Wales sadly fell short in qualification while the Republic of Ireland would fail in the play-off in the most dubious of circumstances thanks to a certain handball and would have to sadly silently cheer on the North to do well not that that sooner than later the two would be playing for a united Ireland football side, but especially when it was found that they were to play England in the group stage which also featured Algeria and the United States. When England and Northern Ireland were drawn in the same group, many were licking their lips at not only a winner takes all game in their final group match, but also that the group on paper seemed an easy one from an English perspective and they had good reason to feel confident going into this World Cup having pulled of a stunning qualification campaign that made them one of the favourites to do well in South Africa and now they had to go out there and prove it...

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While England would obviously get much of the interest in the British press, Northern Ireland would quietly mind their own business in qualifying in which they would reach the play-offs to face Russia and unlike their southern counterparts, they would squeeze through to qualify and their new manager, Nigel Worthington, had done a good job to help guide the team to South Africa. Speaking of new managers, the same was said for the Three Lions in which to fill the boots of the now departed Glen Hoddle for England would be Fabio Capello, the first foreign manager to manage the England national side and given the Italian's impressive record with many clubs he had been part of a manager, all signs seemed to point that all that this would be a World Cup to remember for the Three Lions...though as it turned out with some brutal hindsight, not for all the best of reasons.

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England vs USA in their opening group match of the 2010 World Cup
England would take the lead in their opening game with the United States but would end up drawing with the Americans in embarrassing circumstances after a howler of a goalkeeping mistake from English keeper Robert Green and would never hear the end of many jokes across England and from other parts of the world. The Northern Irish in turn wouldn't fare much better in their game in which they would fall behind to Algeria in their opening game and could not see to find the back of the net and it wasn't help than any neutral South African in that stadium was backing their fellow African nation for the victory. It would only be by a penalty in the dying moments of that game from Kyle Lafferty (though others claimed it was a blatant dive by him according to furious Algerian supporters) that would help them hang on for a point and all in all, neither British side had impressed much with only two group games to go.

For England, if anyone expected they would make a better performance this time round was to leave greatly disappointed, or sleepy given how utterly dull the game with Algeria would be. As it turned out, England would play in a dull 0-0 draw with Alegria which now saw their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread while Northern Ireland would be battered by an unexpectedly good American side in which they led at 2-0 for most of the game and Northern Ireland's goal would be nothing more than a mere consolation goal by David Healy near the end. It would provide with one of the more infamous images of that World Cup with furious Northern Irish fans by the tunnel mouth shouting abuse at the players as they went back to the dressing room over how they had spent all that money to get out to South Africa and be treated to this. Certainly not the Green and White Army's finest moment.

The final game between England and Northern Ireland was a repeat of the Euro 2008 encounter though this time with a lot more riding on it as even a draw would likely not be enough to send either team through so a win for either of them would surely be all they needed to get through. England would prove to be the better team as they would get the opening goal in the first half, however Healy would get a goal in the seventy-eighth minute and despite England trying all they could to find a winner as the Ulstermen 'parked-the-bus' on them to hold onto a shock 1-1 draw and it looked as though both would go out with Algeria looking set to sneak through after fighting to another 0-0 draw against the United States.

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Northern Ireland players at the end after their game with England

However, news from the other game featuring the Americans and Algerians would be greeted with joy from the English fans and despair from Northern Ireland supporters as the United States managed to beat the African side in injury time which meant that England would finish in second by only one point and it was hard to take for Northern Ireland. However, in hindsight, it wouldn't be all that bad for Northern Ireland as they did avoid a terrible fate as what happened with England played the Germans in the next round and all the stories coming from the England camp; the rest they say is history. Out of Africa indeed...

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Final results of England and Northern Ireland's group at the 2010 World Cup

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After their European hopes ended on a whimper, Scotland began again to get ready to qualify for the World Cup, like with England, would mark their fiftieth anniversaries of being at the World Cup when they first appeared at a tournament back in 1950 in Brazil and it much like things showed how different things had become for British football, the same could be said for 2010 in South Africa for playing in country that would have seemed unthinkable for those sides decades ago. For Scotland, it was always going to be a tough role to fulfil following Walter Smith leaving the Scotland job after Euro 2008 yet there was a good chance that the SFA might've pulled of a major coup when it was heavily speculated that Giovanni Trapattoni, the Italian coach who had already managed the Italian national team before, was set to take on the Scotland job.

The Tartan Army were excitedly awaiting the news that Trapattoni had been signed on as manager...only for the rug to be pulled from under their feet when it turned out that he had instead been signed by the Republic of Ireland to be their manager. It is unclear how things fell through though some speculate that even with the money that the SFA had taken in following the success of co-hosting a tournament and many past years of raking in the money, it would seem that they were unable to part with the cash that Trapattoni wanted and left in frustration in which the Irish swept in and took him in, much to the embarrassment of the Scots and the SFA would end up in hot water by the fans over this incident. That all said, there was some amusement, or pity depending on who you ask for, as just a year later the Irish would play in that play-off with France and the rest they say, is history.

In the end after looking around for a new manager, the SFA would find their first foreign manger...a Swede by the name of Sven-Göran Eriksson. The appointment of Eriksson was a bit of an eyebrow raiser for the Tartan Army of not knowing what to expect with him despite the fact that he had a successful career as a manager with the likes of Lazio, Roma and Benfica to name a few though curiously had never managed the Swedish national team. Following him leaving Manchester City after a fairly lacklustre time in June 2008, the timing was perfect in which the SFA swept in and took him in to become Scotland's new manager. Even more strange was that prior before Glen Hoddle would get the England job in 2001, Eriksson was very nearly the England manager then and that would end up being an interesting 'what if' theory for many.

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Sven-Göran Eriksson; the new manager of Scotland and given the task of taking Scotland to the World Cup in South Africa
Despite the reluctance of many in the Tartan Army about his appointment, he would quickly endear himself to the Scottish supporters and would complete the task of helping Scotland qualifying for the World Cup and after the great years that seen the team go on something a renaissance that was akin to the Scottish teams of the 1960's, many hoped that Scotland would do one better in South Africa, though when it turned out that they would be placed in a group featuring Honduras, Chile and Spain; the latter being the current European champions and who just happened to win the tournament in Scotland's own backyard and who many had down as one the favourites to lift the World Cup. Not easy to say the least.

To make matters worse, Scotland's opening game in Durban was to be against Spain and many feared that Scotland were going to on the end of royal thrashing that would end their World Cup campaign before it had even started...only thing though was though that never quite happened. Instead, Scotland actually played well against Spain by frustrating them and kept it at 0-0 after the first half had been played. It was in the second half in which the cat would be thrown among the pigeons in which in the fifty-second minute, Steven Naismith would win the hearts of the Tartan Army in which he would fire Scotland in front to break the deadlock and amazingly, the Scots would keep in that way in which they held on to win in a shock 1-0 victory.

For those who had doubted Eriksson beforehand were now surely eating their own words and surely a point in their next game with Chile, who incidentally had won 1-0 in their opening group game against Honduras, would be enough to send the Scots through. At first, it seemed that despite the Scots cutting an unimpressive figure in going forward, they were doing well to get that point though it would be a tetchy game in which half of the Chile team would get booked and Kris Commons for Scotland would get sent off in the thirty-first minute which saw them play with ten men for most of the game. Sadly for them with just fifteen minutes away from full time, Chile would blast in what would be the winning goal that saw the South Americans win the game and suddenly Scotland's hopes of reaching the knockout stage looked doomed.

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Naismith scores for Scotland in the shock 1-0 victory over Spain

For the final group match, Scotland were to play who were by this point the whipping boys of the group, Honduras, in which Scotland knew that they needed to simply not only win but win by a good few goals as the group stage was very tight with both Scotland and Spain on three points and Chile stood at the top on six points looking set to go through and knew that a point would be enough to send them through yet if they lost to Spain and Scotland could better their goal difference then things could turn on its head. What followed in that final group game would be a complete performance from Scotland and one actually their best performance so far and one that was actually better than what was seen that had defeated Spain earlier on the group.

Goals from McFadden, Miller and Naismith would all score in a 3-0 victory over the hapless Honduras team which not only confirmed Scotland's place in the next round, but amazingly enough thanks to Spain winning 2-1 against Chile, all three of those teams would finish six points each however Scotland would stun everyone by finishing top of the group thanks not as conceding many goals as either Spain or Chile and for the latter, this was heart-breaking for they would finish in third place and make an early exit from the World Cup. It was the first time in years that anyone could remember that Scotland had finished at the top of a group, and this only made the full good factor around the team to rise further and considering how England had been in their group, the Tartan Army knew that they had already done better than the Three Lions so far.

With that though, Scotland's task was not done, and they were to yet face more challenges along the way and results like Spain weren't going to happen as often as there were many more teams out there who would not have overlooked Scotland and would treat them with respect as soon enough the knockout stages would begin and now this Scotland team would be put to the test...

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Final results of Scotland's group at the 2010 World Cup

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Well then, bit of a change here in more ways than one; that being that the normal Wednesday updates you get is not the case here as due to other commitments I have to get this update up quickly and that the other is that compared to the old TL, things are different mostly with Scotland. I felt bad of denying Portugal their place at that WC and that they don't get the honour of that game with North Korea in the old TL so that group remains the same though the Swiss are replaced with the Scots here and honestly its quite plausible of how a Scotland team of TTL would have done then.

The England and Northern Ireland group remains the same and yes...we get
that game with England and Germany going about the same way as before though so no real change there. However, Scotland winning that group here and putting Spain into second place does see the knockout stage fixtures look as follows:
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Uruguay vs South Korea

United States vs Ghana

Netherlands vs Slovakia

Brazil vs Spain

Argentina vs Mexico

Germany vs England

Paraguay vs Japan

Scotland vs
Portugal
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So other than the England game, how do you think the other games will go? Please comment and see you all next time! :)
 
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I started reading this and when I got to Fabio replacing Hoddle my first thought was I was gonna ask how Sven's career went pity I'm not that good with the Lottery.
 
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