Words | Tom Caldon Scotland 2-2 England
Griffiths 87',90' Oxlade-Chamberlain 70'
Kane 90+3'
Russia 2018 Fifa World Cup Qualifying Group F | Saturday 10th June 2017
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As thousands of England fans descended on Glasgow Central in June, the hostilities of this historic rivalry immediately manifested in trivial fashion. The 40p charge to use the train station toilets was a rule diligently enforced. "It's the same for all of us" sniggered one smug attendant as the swathes queued in single file.
By midday both sets of supporters lined the streets and filled the pubs surrounding Sauchiehall Street. Glasgow Royal Concert Hall was the ticket collection point for England supporters; a hospitable enclave in an uninviting city. Its smart architecture and convivial atmosphere juxtaposed the angst which permeated through the neighbouring pubs.
In Lauder's on Renfield Street the locals and travelling English interspersed. Fifty years on from Scotland's 3-2 victory over the reigning World Champions at Wembley and forty years on from another Scotland win which inspired an iconic pitch invasion, the anniversaries invoked a nervousness among the English. Pessimistic premonitions hung in the air.
England are no longer world-beaters, but Scotland have not reached a major tournament since 1998 and their qualification for the 2018 World Cup hangs in the balance. The Scottish chants and taunts did not represent a belief that their team would beat England for the first time since 1999, rather they were borne out of disdain towards the travelling supporters and their perceived arrogance. Kick-off wasn't far away and the amicable chit-chat had ceased.
After a short train journey from Glasgow Central to Queen's Park, England fans were contained and filmed. Dog handlers lined the periphery and officers on horseback led the escort from station to stadium. Overhead, a police helicopter hovered, recorded, and observed. While risk groups were present, the mass of people also comprised older supporters, women, and children in replica shirts. It was horrible and Orwellian, but it is seemingly something everyone must endure at some point if they are to watch a game of football in 2017.
As the players walked out of the tunnel and trod the red carpet laid across the turf, the home crowd jumped and lifted a mosaic of St Andrew's Cross; hoping that one lion could roar louder than three and knowing that they too must play their part.
A chorus of boos drowned out 'God Save The Queen'; a disrespectful act for which the Scottish FA will inevitably be fined. As the English players postured, pushed out their chests, and tried to avoid eye contact with the cameraman who crept along the touchline, they appeared disgruntled and disturbed by the jeers which absorbed them.
The volume of 'Flower of Scotland' was astounding. So soon after tarnishing the English anthem, the home supporters impeccably observed a minute's silence in remembrance of the victims of the Manchester bombings in May. The boundaries seemed malleable.
From Scotland's last fixture, the 1-0 home defeat of Slovenia, manager Gordon Strachan replaced Norwich captain Russell Martin with Christophe Berra in defence and James Forrest made way for Ikechi Anya in midfield. Kieran Tierney retained his position at right-back despite breaking his jaw and losing two teeth on this ground during the Scottish Cup Final two weeks ago.
In the opposing dugout, England manager Gareth Southgate made five changes from the XI who beat Lithuania 2-0 at Wembley in March. Chris Smalling and Gary Cahill deputised for Michael Keane and John Stones at the heart of defence, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Raheem Sterling made way for Jake Livermore and Marcus Rashford, Meanwhile, Captain Harry Kane replaced Jermain Defoe in attack.
In the opening minutes, cantankerous captain Scott Brown left Dele Alli in a heap with a robust challenge; showing shades of Vinnie Jones versus Steve McMahon in the 1988 FA Cup Final and setting the tone for a fractious encounter.
After Leigh Griffiths had an early sighter from the edge of the box easily fielded by Joe Hart, England gained the upper hand. First, a quick one-two between Ryan Bertrand and Adam Lallana enabled the Liverpool midfielder to cross just behind Kane. The striker failed to connect with an attempted back-heel.
On thirty minutes, Craig Gordon erratically ventured out of his area only to head Eric Dier's lofted pass straight to Kane. The forward's astute lob was steered off the line by Tierney. Once Rashford seized upon the rebound, Gordon rectified his error with an outstretched left boot which diverted the Manchester United youngster's shot behind; an effort destined for the bottom right corner.
By half-time it was unclear whether the visitors' possession was symptomatic of their superior ball-retention or the home side's pragmatic approach. Either way, England's domination seemed relatively sterile.
After the interval, Scotland preserving their clean sheet and Brown staying on the pitch for the remaining forty-five minutes appeared to be two equally unlikely outcomes. A pair of Livermore shots troubled the home rear-guard. Gordon needlessly shovelled the first over the bar and vacantly watched the second ricochet off Andrew Robertson and strike the base of the post.
An hour had elapsed when the hosts created their first genuine chance. Armstrong's channel ball sent Griffiths on his way. With Smalling in pursuit, the former Hibs striker rolled enticingly into the path of Robertson. With the full-back's goal-scoring prowess, Hamdpen audibly held its breath. The pressure proved too great. The ball flew wide and the token chance had gone.
Southgate's team finally broke the deadlock after seventy minutes. Substitute Oxlade-Chamberlain serendipitously stepped past Brown and glided towards the penalty spot, proceeding to unleash a left foot shot. A combination of Stuart Armstrong and the beaming sun which peered over the roof of The West End left Gordon unsighted. The Celtic keeper could only react by swiping quite comically into his own net.
Crosses into the box proved Scotland's Achilles heel at Wembley in November and England sought to double their lead via the same route in the eightieth minute. Once again, Oxlade-Chamberlain galloped in front on The South Stand before chipping towards Lallana at the back post. With an abundance of time and space the midfielder headed harmlessly over. The hosts had been given a reprieve.
As desperation deepened, Scotland became more direct. Gordon's long goal kick deceived Cahill who swivelled to inadvertently boot the chest of substitute Ryan Fraser. With Griffiths standing over the free-kick, Hart completely conceded the right side of his goal, tentatively peeking round the eight man wall which comprised six England players and two Scotland decoys.
When Griffiths curled up over the wall and into the bottom right corner of Hart's net, euphoric cries cascaded from the upper echelons of Hampden. Griffiths' equaliser and jubilant forward roll felt like a climactic moment. How unaware we were of the drama to follow.
Robertson's wedge forward was met by an ungainly header from Smalling, and the capricious Livermore slipped at the sight of the loose ball. Chris Martin - vaguely in the vicinity of Livermore's tumble - threw himself to the floor. The theatrics belonged back at the Royal Concert Hall, nonetheless, referee Paolo Tagliavento awarded another free-kick.
From an almost identical position, Griffiths glared ominously before whipping over the wall and just inside the bottom left corner. Hart was hapless this time; his positioning was satisfactory
but the set-piece was perfect. The rippling net inspired a truly deafening noise which shook Hampden to its foundations. McCalliog, Dalglish, and now Griffiths.
As England poured forward in the dying embers, Martin was ironically penalised for an innocuous tussle with Kane. Once Gordon flapped Dier's free-kick to safety, Armstrong broke away, three on one. In this scenario, at whatever level, the best teams put the game beyond all doubt. Somehow, the Celtic midfielder passed straight to Kyle Walker.
Following a short pass to Sterling, a cross was sent towards Kane. The Spurs striker evaded Charlie Mulgrew, capitalised on Gordon's hesitancy, and calmly volleyed in from a mere five yards. The visiting supporters had their own dose of late joy.
In the lead up to the fixture, Ewan Murray argued in The Guardian that "Scotland v England means much more north of the border" and "evidence that a sense of significance works both ways is increasingly difficult to find; off the field, at least." The celebrations after Kane's goal were not just cathartic. The Auld Enemy would not accept defeat. As England fans leapt ecstatically in the South-West corner of a ground named after an Englishman, a Westminster parliamentarian who died fighting for the Roundheads in the English Civil War, it became clear once more that the paths of these two footballing nations will always be entwined.
Teams (Player Ratings in Bold)
Scotland
Gordon - 4, Berra - 6, Mulgrew - 5, Tierney - 6.5, Anya - 6 (Martin 81' - 6), Morrison - 6, (McArthur 45' - 6), Brown - 6.5, Robertson - 7, Snodgrass - 6.5, (Fraser 67' - 6.5), Armstrong - 7, Griffiths - 8
England
Hart - 4, Walker - 6.5, Smalling - 5.5, Cahill - 6, Bertrand - 6.5, Livermore - 5.5, (Defoe 90+2') Dier - 6, Rashford - 6, (Oxlade-Chamberlain 65' - 6.5) Alli - 6 (Sterling 84' - 6) Lallana - 7 Kane - 7.5
Referee: Paolo Tagliavento
Attendance: 48,520 (4,761 away fans)
Photo 2 belongs to The BBC and Photo 5 belongs to The Daily Mirror
