da cassino： Unless there is a minor miracle at Wembley on Friday night, another generation of Scotland players will miss out on playing at the World Cup Finals.
da betcris： Russia 2018 looks like becoming another distant tournament as 20 years passes without Scotland at the biggest stage of the international game.
The World Cup in France saw Celtic’s biggest ever contingent of players. Fresh from stopping ten-in-a-row Craig Brown relied heavily on the Hoops connection for his squad.
Best pals Simon Donnelly and Jackie McNamara were on duty, midfielders Paul Lambert and Craig Burley were in place, Darren Jackson started in the opening match against Brazil, Tom Boyd scored an own goal with Johnathan Gould a back up keeper after Andy Goram had a change of mind. Tosh McKinlay was also in the squad, despite being understudy to Stephane Mahe at club level
Former Celt’s Derek Whyte and John Collins were also included.
The decline in Scottish international football since 1998 has been sharp, with the list of internationals from Celtic highlighting the issue.
With all respect to the players listed in this article, it’s unlikely that many of them would have been capped in another era. Typically the team is playing in a 4-5-1 formation to dig in for a draw or face saving defeat.
Hold on tight to view the post ’98 Celtic & Scotland XI…
DAVID MARSHALL
It’s 14 years on since his night in the Nou Camp, with the local Bhoy making a great career for himself in England.
He had some unfortunate early international experiences but is now well established as Gordon Strachan’s first choice – holding off the challenge from Craig Gordon and Allan McGregor. Credit to Gordon Strachan for having faith in Marshall after dropping him from at in favour of Artur Boruc.
Marshall is a tried and tested Premier League keeper, he excelled for Cardiff City and is impressing with Hull City as they look to retain their top flight status.
MARK WILSON
Earned a solitary full cap appearing as a substitute in the short lived Carling Nations Cup against Northern Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in 2011.
Wilson was a regular under-age international but failed to bridge the gap into the full squad. In most circumstances a move to Celtic should have kicked off his international career, but too many injuries got in the way.
Season 2010/11 was the best season of his Celtic career, replacing Phil Bardsley in a 3-0 win shortly before he scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 Scottish Cup replay against Rangers.
STEPHEN MCMANUS
A late developer at Celtic, his international debut came a year later when he replaced Robbie Neilson in a match against Georgia.
McManus was a good, steady centre-half at Celtic who took his chance when it finally appeared. However, the chance to play alongside Bobo Balde or Johan Mjallby would have been invaluable.
His club career was heavily linked to Gordon Strachan but his cap days were over by the time Strachan took on the Scotland job. He has 26 caps, scoring two international goals.
GARY CALDWELL
Was already an international when he joined Celtic on a Bosman deal from Hibs, Berti Vogts gave the defender his first cap in a 5-0 loss away to France in 2002.
Caldwell did get his revenge on the French when he scored the only goal of the game, as a typical bus parking exercise by Walter Smith pulled off a surprise 1-0 win.
He played alongside many different central defensive partners during the worst of international times, picking up 55 caps with a total of two goals scored.
DANNY FOX
One of the most bizarre international careers, highlighting a brief and bizarre Celtic career.
Tony Mowbray described Fox’s left foot as a wand when he was signed on a £1.5m deal from Coventry in 2009. He had a disastrous debut away to Wales shortly after joining Celtic but was recalled by Craig Levein three years later for the last of his four caps.
Fox has proven to be a decent Championship level defender but wouldn’t have got close to a Scotland cap in any of the World Cup Finals squads.
PAUL HARTLEY
Was a late developer but his international career kicked off under Walter Smith.
A debut away to Italy in the San Siro is quite an introduction to the international scene. Typical of Scotland players, his international career coincided with restricting his attacking instincts and evolving into a holding midfielder.
His Scotland career continued after switching from Hearts to Celtic. In total he picked up 25 international caps.
SCOTT BROWN
Back at the centre of attention, the Hoops captain successfully handled the step up from U21 matches to playing at full international level and the switch from Hibs to Celtic.
Like Caldwell, he has played through a number of failed campaigns in an international career that is now in its twelfth season.
There has been some high spots, some dominating, impressive displays but like many others he hasn’t been able to break out of the cycle of decline.
BARRY ROBSON
His career was coming towards a peak when he collected his first Scotland cap as a Dundee United player against South Africa in 2007.
After the dynamic start to his Celtic career, he forced his way into the Scotland side under George Burley and Craig Levein.
Like Hartley, his progression to full international football seemed to coincide with taking on a more physical and defensive aspect to his game and he earned 17 caps in total.
KRIS COMMONS
Was picked up when playing for Derby County, becoming one of a number of English born players who uncovered their Scottish connections well into his club career.
His performances with Scotland earned him a move to Celtic where he was a major force in the side that won five titles.
With a young family and the increasing demands of the international scene, he retired from Scotland duty after collecting 12 caps.
SHAUN MALONEY
Has enjoyed a strong international career, looking at home on that stage through a fluctuating club career that has criss-crossed Scotland and England and included a brief stint in North America.
Like Stephen McManus, Maloney’s club career really took off under Gordon Strachan but that relationship currently seems to be strained.
During the failed campaign for Euro 16, Maloney was one of Scotland’s top performers. He has picked up 47 caps and scored seven times.
CRAIG BEATTIE
Yet another of the ‘Strachan gang’ whose Celtic career accelerated when the current Scotland boss took over from Martin O’Neill.
His explosive pace proved to be too explosive with hamstring injuries blighting his career at the worst possible times.
All seven of his caps were came over a two year stint with the highlight being a last minute winner against Georgia at Hampden in the Euro 2008 campaign.