ANOTHER DISMIL SCOTTISH FOOTBALL FAILURE - THIS TIME BY THE LADIES
Scotland ’s women were humiliated in the rarefied heights of European Championship football tonight as England proved a class above in Utrecht.
Different sexes, but it was the same old story for Scotland at major events as Anna Signeul’s squad were found wanting in key areas, not least defence.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the team’s patron, looked on from the main stand of the Galgenwaard Stadion on her 47th birthday.
A group of Scotland fans even presented her with a cake before kick-off, but by the end of this drubbing the thought of sharing a bath of blancmange with Boris Johnson on her big day must have sounded more appealing.
Euro favourites England are ranked fifth in the planet and finished third at the World Cup in 2015 while the Scots, listed at 21 by FIFA , were playing their first major tournament.
The gulf in class was exposed as Arsenal striker Jodie Taylor helped herself to a hat-trick before Auld Enemy coach Mark Sampson showed sympathy for the Scots by taking her off after an hour.
Birmingham midfielder Ellen also scored and was replaced before Jordan Nobbs added a fifth. A header from Toni Duggan completed the drubbing late on.
The Scots must win against Portugal in Rotterdam on Sunday night if they hope to march into the last eight from Group D but on this evidence it looks a tall order.
The Scots can point to the absence through injury of Jen Beattie, Lizzie Arnot and Kim Little, arguably the one world-class player the Scots possess. Hayley Lauder also missed out through injury, but there was no excuse for the manner in which the Scots lost their goals.
The hype and build up to the match persuaded many to tune in and support the ladies however like me I saw the wrting on the wall at 3-0 and switched over to Netflix.
With most of the Scotttish team part time and the English on full time contracts this is not a level playing field and the SFA has a fruitless job in persuading the public to support women's football at International level.