The oldest football rivalry, on an international level, has become even more exacerbated in recent years by Scotland's renewed demands for independence, as opposed tomorrow - at Euro 2020 - to "Auld Enemy", England.
In the last 149 years the two national teams close to Hadrian's Wall have faced each other 114 times: after the first challenge - in 1873, in Hamilton Crescent, Glasgow - ended in a draw, the clear supremacy of the Three Lions was established, capable of win 48 times (25 losses) in all competitions.
"A special match", in the words of coach Gareth Southgate, who, however, preferred to throw water on the fire on the recent tensions caused by Brexit that have ended up fueling the secessionist desire of Edinburgh. "Against Scotland it can never be a normal match - the words of the English coach -. It is a match that offers different dynamics, which go beyond the strictly sporting aspect. But we will have to be good at concentrating only on the challenges that Scotland faces us. will present in the field ".
The Scotland coach, who must redeem the misstep of the debut against the Czech Republic, also wanted to reduce the comparison to the football perimeter. "It's a game that matters a lot, even for the English, who never want to lose against us - Clarke commented -. But I prefer my players to think that the one against England is one of the two games we have. they remain to win the points necessary to pass, for the first time in our history, the group stage of a European championship ".
"The boys will have to believe in themselves. It will be the first condition to be able to play at a good level - he continued -. Many of them are teammates of the England boys and are used to meeting them on the pitch and meeting them in important matches. so I can't imagine that they can go to this match without believing they can get a good result. "
With a win the British would be sure of the second round, with one round to spare. Also for this reason, despite the recovery of Harry Maguire, Gareth Southgate seems willing to field the same line-up as his debut, with one exception in attack, Jack Grealish for the disappointing Phil Foden.
The convincing debut success against Croatia confirmed the predictions of local bookmakers, which indicate the English among the favorites for the final victory. All the more so tomorrow, again at Wembley, against Scotland, who appeared totally harmless in attack against the Czechs. "But I don't trust them, because I have seen their qualifying matches and I know that they are a good team that knows how to make themselves dangerous - Southgate warned -. It is still too early to say who is the favorite, we are starting to qualify". An exercise in healthy realism while all around - between tabloids and social networks - the enthusiasm around the Three Lions grows.
