Today I'm going back five years to 2016 and England's World Cup Qualifier against the "auld enemy" at Wembley.
For reasons that are beyond me, the two sides forsook their traditional colours for this game. England at least played in white shirts but this was combined with white shorts and red socks rather than the more usual dark blue shorts and white socks. Scotland however went bonkers and played in garish pink shirts with black shorts and socks. I guess it was just one consequence of the "Freedom" craved by William Wallace? A horrible kit irrespective.
Following a nervous start by Gareth Southgate's England against Gordon Strachan's Scotland side who were playing on the front foot, England finally found their feet in the 23rd minute with a headed goal from Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge. It was their first real attack of the game and was Sturridge's 8th goal for England in 25 appearances and he would go on to make only one further appearance for his country. Scotland then rallied and put England under huge pressure missing a couple of decent chances. England went in 1-0 up at the break but it was somewhat undeserved. Five minutes after half time and England scored the crucial second goal with another header from another Liverpool player, this time Adam Lallana, only his second for his country. Scottish heads went down and, on the hour mark, England made the result safe with a decisive third. It was yet another header, this time from Chelsea's Gary Cahill from a corner. 3-0 to England and no reflection on the performances of the two teams on the night. England looked poor and Scotland missed a hatful of chances. Still, I'd take that every day of the week!
England finished top of the Qualifying Group unbeaten with a record of 8 wins and 2 draws from their 10 matches. Second place should have provided a Play-Off opportunity and indeed it did so for eight of the nine teams finishing second in the European Qualification Groups. Sadly for Slovakia however, who came second in England's group, their record of six wins and four defeats was the worst of the nine second placed teams and as a result they missed out on the Play-Offs altogether. Even more sadly for Scotland, who lost two fewer games than Slovakia, they finished third in the Group on goal difference with their 3-0 defeat in Slovakia doing all the damage.
CRB Match No. 2125
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