Neil Cameron: Russia far from first choice but fingers crossed we get there

It’s actually pretty gripping stuff with the tension cranked up by the almost constant presence of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) which used to be called the KGB. Yeah, those guys.

The film crew have been pulled over more often than Mel Gibson by the local cops, and under the instruction of the FSB, are questioned for no real reason, have passports confiscated and are separated from their handlers.

It’s intimidation, pure and simple, in what laughingly calls itself a free country. And this is where a World Cup is going to take place next summer. It’s not as if the secret service is hardly the only contentious issue.

The stadiums are miles apart and when I say miles, it is 1455miles between two host cities, St Petersburg and Sochi in the south. The hope is fans won’t be asked to travel these huge distances between matches but as it’s FIFA in charge, you can bet your last rouble that it could easily happen.

Vladimir Putin’s Russia should never have been awarded the World Cup. They are not the most welcoming to outsiders. I’ve been to Moscow, a fascinating city it has to be said, but the only smiles you get are from the girls who are offering more than a friendly look.

The rise of the Far Right is a serious concern. So, too, the football hooligans over there who have quite openly boasted about righting rival fans in the streets, as they did in France last year.

We’ve gone from the Copacabana to the Kremlin in four years. 

And yet for all of this, I so dearly want Scotland to be in the draw which takes place, of course, in the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow on December 1. I want to watch my country in a World Cup before the bliss of senility comes.

And if we win on Thursday night, I honestly think we’ll get there. If we beat Slovakia, we’ll win in Slovenia. Call me mad, and many do, but I’m convinced by this – and then comes the play-off. There are too many ifs and buts right now to say for certain who would be in there along with Scotland. We wouldn’t want Portugal or Italy. But I’d take Northern Ireland, Wales, Iceland or Bosnia over two legs.

Of course, all of the above could beat us – anyone can beat us – but our brave lads would have a chance. And right now I’ll take having a chance given where we have come from.

I am not Gordon Strachan’s biggest fan. 

I honestly believe that had he picked the Celtic players earlier in the campaign then we would be a couple of points better off.

However, what I will say is if you talk to the players off the record, to a man they will back the manager who they all seem to really like and respect. In international football that’s more than half the battle.

And to be fair to Strachan, he has never given up and that confidence and belief has rubbed off on his players. If he can get us there, then legendary status is assured.

I hope he starts both John McGinn and Callum McGregor tomorrow, with James Morrison in there beside them. With James Forrest and Matt Phillips on the wings, and Leigh Griffiths in the middle, we will create opportunities. There is a lot of energy in there.

This isn’t the greatest Scotland team ever; however, they have a bit of a bounce about them, are a tight group and nobody is cheating anyone. They are good guys who want to do well for their country.

Scott Brown, despite what his detractors say will be a miss, as will Stuart Armstrong, but we can’t turn two players being injured into one of our hard luck stories. Indeed, McGinn and McGregor are more than able replacements.

Slovakia are a good team, they only need to draw, but an early goal for the our boys will get Hampden behind them and when that happens, anything can happen.

It’s been too long. The year 1998 seems almost another era, certainly in terms of football, and while none of us would probably pick Russia as the country in which to announce Scotland’s return to the world stage, wouldn’t it just be nice to get there?

AND ANOTHER THING

IT is difficult not to fear for Kilmarnock.

The crowds are almost as low as morale down at Rugby Park after several seasons of poor football and bad results.

Ayrshire has been hit harder the most in recent times by big companies, such as Jonny Walker, closing down. 

When that happens, sponsors and the ordinary fan tend to drop going to the football as the bills pile up.

Covering Kilmarnock in the 1990s was a joy. They had some great players such as Paul Wright, who scored the goal which won the 1997 Scottish Cup, and crowds were pretty healthy, even if the stadium was always too big. 

Now Kilmarnock, one of our oldest clubs, feel like an afterthought.
The next manager has to be the right one or they will go down and this club, of all in the Premiership, cannot afford relegation.

They are in one hell of a mess.