SCOTLAND'S attempts to reach the finals of a major football tournament are reminiscent of the spider which mesmerised Robert the Bruce, and the struggle resumes at Tynecastle tomorrow.
While the spider succeeded in its task at the seventh attempt, Scotland's men have failed in as many World Cup and European Championship ventures since France in 1998. Nor have the women's team fared any better, but a victory over the Republic of Ireland will put them on track to qualify for Euro 2013.
Tomorrow's match against Ireland is, admits Anna Signeul, the national coach, a make-or-break one for her side in Group 4. France will win the group, having taken maximum points from their five matches and are expected to make it six-in-a-row against Wales tonight. Israel are destined to finish last, having lost all their five games.
That leaves Scotland, Ireland and Wales fighting for a play-off place. Ireland lead the way, with six points from three games, two ahead of the other two countries. If Wales lose to France, and Scotland win at Tynecastle, Signeul's side will move into second place.
Scotland, who started their campaign with a brilliant 6-1 win in Israel, but drew 2-2 with Wales at Tynecastle before going down 2-0 to France in Le Havre on Saturday night, are the second-highest ranked team in Group 4. Yet both Ireland and Wales have been major beneficiaries of the recently established English Super League, which has given their leading players an unexpected opportunity to play in a semi-professional environment.
By contrast, while Kim Little and the injured Jenny Beattie play for Arsenal in the ESL, most of the Scotland players are amateurs with Glasgow City and Celtic.
Saturday's loss to France, who beat England 3-0 on the way to winning the Cyprus Cup, was as good as Signeul's side could have expected against perhaps the best team in Europe. "It sounds silly to say it," said the coach, "but I thought we played very well and it gives us great confidence for the Ireland game."
Should Scotland leapfrog Ireland and Wales tomorrow night, they then have a home match against Israel on June 16 which should furnish a further three points. On the same day, Ireland entertain Wales, so the group could be looking much more positive for the Scots.
The return game against Ireland is on June 21, and that one, too, will have a huge bearing on who qualifies for the play-offs. Scotland's last two games are in September, away to Wales and against France at Tynecastle – by which time the former may be out of play-off contention and France will almost certainly have tied up the group.
n Scotland v Ireland at Tynecastle kicks off at 7pm. Tickets available at the gate, priced £5 and £2.
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