Just as the men’s side is on the crest of a wave of positivity and enthusiasm, so the Scotland women’s national team seems to have hit a brick wall.
After years of steady improvement, both in terms of their play and results, under Anna Signeul and Shelley Kerr, and the ground-breaking first ever qualifications for the European Championship and World Cup finals, the women look to have gone backwards in the past few months.
They failed to qualify for Euro 2022, losing home and away to rivals Finland and Portugal, and limped to third place in the qualifying group, and the campaign to reach Australia and New Zealand 2023 has been less than convincing.
It took stoppage time goals to earn a narrow win and a draw at home to Hungary and Ukraine respectively, and on Tuesday night the Scots were ripped apart by Spain, falling to a record-equalling 8-0 humiliation.
FULL TIME | Spain 8-0 Scotland.#SWNT pic.twitter.com/P5ROsUEZ2I
— Scotland National Team (@ScotlandNT) November 30, 2021
The squad has been reshuffled a little with some younger players being given their opportunity, but the core of the team remains with the more experienced performers still there, and we should be expecting more of them.
Pedro Martinez Losa was unveiled amidst great excitement in the summer, but in truth, he and the team have failed to deliver, and he will have a lot of thinking to do before the group resumes next April. It does so with a trip to Ukraine and if that ends badly, even a play-off place might be beyond the Scots.
As the women were being dismantled by Spain in Seville, much nearer to home, Cove Rangers were romping to a convincing victory over Rangers B to set up a first ever semi-final appearance in the SPFL Trust Trophy.
TADHAL DO @SeFutbolFem ⚽️
Spain get another goal! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/IFsvITRCMM
— BBC ALBA (@bbcalba) November 30, 2021
With home advantage in the last four against Queen of the South, Paul Hartley’s men will fancy their chances, and it would be a magnificent achievement to reach a final at this stage in the club’s development.
Given their current lofty position at the summit of League One, and the fine unbeaten run the side is on, winning next week’s Scottish Cup replay at Palmerston is by no means out of the question either. That would set them up nicely for a fitting end to what has been a memorable year for the club.
It would also be a nice tribute to Cove’s former vice-chairman Gordon Hutcheon, who sadly passed away suddenly last week.
I had known Gordon since my early days in broadcasting at Northsound, and he was a lovely guy, a true gentleman. I know how much it would have meant to him to see the club flourish in the way that it is.
Midweek also saw a welcome, and much needed, return to winning ways for the Dons.
It was a strong first half showing against Livingston, and the team eased to the victory. As much as anything, the clean sheet – just a third of the season – was a major plus, and with a run of matches against bottom six sides to come, there is another opportunity to finally get the campaign up and running.
A brilliant golfer who took the sport to a new level
The news that Tiger Woods’ illustrious career is all but an end did not come as a major surprise. Such were the injuries he suffered in a car crash earlier this year, it was always likely that even he would be forced to admit defeat.
Woods’ behaviour off the course was at times reprehensible, but no-one can deny his brilliance as a golfer, and his presence at any tournament elevated that event.
I first encountered that at St Andrews in 1995. He was still an amateur at that Open Championship, but already had a huge entourage, and he oozed charisma as he addressed the media.
"As far as playing at the PGA TOUR level, I don't know when that's going to happen… I'm able to participate in the sport of golf. To what level, I do not know yet." @TigerWoods on his future in golf. pic.twitter.com/xEEx4OvuH3
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) November 30, 2021
The world of golf will move on, perhaps it already has given how little he has played in recent years, but he did bow out in some style; his win at the 2019 Masters was one of the most remarkable sporting achievements I have witnessed.
As a part-time player, he will now never match Jack Nicklaus’ total of 18 majors, in fact, I would be surprised if anyone does surpass the Golden Bear’s record; if someone was going to, Woods was that man.
