UEFA Champions League - The Scottish Verdict
Created | Updated Jan 29, 2007
Scotland is a country proud of it's sporting heritage. Wednesday, August 27, 2003, will go down as one of the best nights in Scottish football for many a year.
It was on this night when both Celtic and Rangers qualified for the prestigious Champions League competition. For the first time, two clubs from Scotland will be represented in the most important club competition European football has to offer.
HOPE AND EXPECTANCY
Like in most stories, there is two sides to the tale. Such a tale here, that is reality, however it would have proven difficult for a scriptwriter to pen.
Hope is perhaps the best word to describe the mood of Rangers. They were level 1-1 with FC Copenhagen of Denmark from a tense first leg at Ibrox. While the mood in the camp appeared to be one of optimism, a distraction from the mission in hand came in the unwelcome news that captain Barry Ferguson was preparing to play what turned out to be his final game for the club before a move to Blackburn.
With stories raging through the media up here, it sometimes deflected from the fact that Alex McLeish's men had to score after conceding the 'away goal' in the first leg.
Meanwhile, back in Glasgow, Celtic had all but ensured their qualification after a 4-0 win against MTK Hungaria in the first leg of their qualifying round.
The return leg in Glasgow was simply a case of going through the motions, although it gave over 40,000 fans the chance to stage an inpromptu celebration of returning to football's top table.
It wasn't entirely party atmosphere, but it could be said though that it didn't matter - the job had been done two weeks earlier.
CONTRAST OF EMOTIONS
Despite Rangers' game kicking off 40 minutes before the action at Parkhead commencing, there was still such a dramatic feel to the night. Rangers survived pressure from the Danes, and had some chances of their own before a dramatic final ten minutes. Firstly, Mikael Arteta, an elegant and high quality midfield maestro, converted a penalty. Within four minutes, the scores were tied.
Alas, with just minutes of regulation time remaining, Shota Arveladze scored an instinctive striker's goal to send the Blue half of Glasgow into raptures.
Meanwhile back in Glasgow, tabs were being kept on the unfolding drama in Copenhagen, while the small matter of a match was going on inside Celtic Park.
Chris Sutton made the most of his starting chance while he serves a Scottish Premier League suspension, by scoring the only goal of a fairly lifeless contest to put the green and white half into celebrations, albeit celebrations already guaranteed from a fortnight earlier.
THE DAY AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE
The following day in the millionaires haven in Monaco, the draw was made for the opening stages of the competition. Celtic were grouped with Anderlecht, Lyon, and Bayern Munich, while Rangers were drawn against Stuttgart (who Celtic eliminated in the UEFA Cup last season), Panathinaikos of Greece, and another club with some European experience.......Manchester United - cue the biggest licking of lips ever seen across both sides of the border simultaneously.
There have been a number of games which have in the last year or so earned the title 'Battle of Britain.' For the first time in years, the champions of both Scotland and England will face each other in a competitive match. Scottish-English club friendlies are always exciting and intruiging, although seldomly do big teams from both countries face each other when the importance of the match is significant - this is one such occasion.
REACTION
Since the draw was made, there has been the inevitable press hype, running into overdrive with reaction to both of the draws. Inevitably, Rangers double-header with Manchester United has had the Scottish media machine almost into meltdown with build-up to the 'Battle of Britain' although after Celtic's matches with Liverpool and Blackburn last season, one can safely say that it has given the British football followers a taste of what lies ahead.
Cliches are a horrible thing at times, but Wonderful Wonderful Copenhagen has led to a Battle of Britain, with Glorious Glorious Glasgow becoming what you may say, is a tag to what has given Celtic two dates each with Bayern Munich, Lyon and Anderlecht.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS
For both, it really is a case of hope. It is hard to say who got the harder draw, although from a footballing sense, while two battles between Scotland and England's national champions may whet the appetite for the purist, whether Rangers can succeed there may hold the key to whether they can qualify for the knockout stages. Away trips to Germany and Greece may not be to one's liking in the autumn and early winter, however if Rangers can get three wins from the four games outside the double Anglo battle, it can be argued they would hope to qualify along with Manchester United for the second round for the first time in the revamped European Cup.
Celtic can say the same about their matches with Bayern Munich, and their pending trips to Belgium and France. A trip to Germany on Matchday 1 may not have been top of Martin O'Neill's wishlist, but it should provide a fascinating midfield battle with Lennon, Petrov and Lambert against German superstars Ballack and Deisler and England international, Owen Hargreaves.
In Lyon, Henrik Larsson returns to the scene where his career almost came to an abrupt conclusion. Is it really four years since the night he suffered that sickening injury.
Lyon say they will give Larsson a special welcome, and while Larsson will undoubtedly accept any honours bestowed on him with typical grace, he will be set out to score goals that help Celtic into the next round. Lyon are of course dangerous, with French internatioanls Sidney Govou and Gergory Coupet among their number, while former Bayern Munich star and Brazilian international Giovani Elber has joined the French club.
Anderlecht are obviously a decent side, and have players more than capable of giving teams problems, however if Celtic win both games against them, and get something from at least one of the Lyon matches, qualification could be more of a reality if they can attain a result from one of the Bayern Munich matches.
While Celtic have been idle in the transfer market, with Michael Gray their only signing so far this summer from Sunderland on loan, Rangers have strengthened their squad with former Middlesbrough star Emerson joining the club, along with Porto's Nuno Capucho, Zurab Kizinishvilli from Dundee, and Blackburn's Egil Ostenstadt.
Celtic have no new faces, although the emergence of promising youngsters like Liam Miller and Shaun Maloney who has performed admirably in the absence of Chris Sutton have given Celtic an added alternative, and a welcome one at that.
It should be remembered that since the European Cup was re-invented as the Champions League in 1993, no Scottish club has managed to get through the group stages, although Rangers came close in 1993(when they almost got to the Final), and in 1999, while Celitc narrowly missed out in 2001 - their one and only Champions League campaign to date.
THE LAST WORD - FOR NOW
So, two go in, but will both go through? After years of despair, there has been some hope recently with Celtic going to the UEFA Cup final last season. Can they keep up the momentum and can Rangers finally crack it in this competition?
Celtic and Rangers may find their hopes of progress boosted by the fact that there will be only one group stage in this year's competition. The second group phase, which had been in operation since the 1999/2000 season has been phased out.
Whether this is a positive step for Scotland's two biggest clubs, one can only hope, however there will never be a better opportunity for Celtic and Rangers to finally make progress in the daddy of football competitions in the European continent.
It was on this night when both Celtic and Rangers qualified for the prestigious Champions League competition. For the first time, two clubs from Scotland will be represented in the most important club competition European football has to offer.
HOPE AND EXPECTANCY
Like in most stories, there is two sides to the tale. Such a tale here, that is reality, however it would have proven difficult for a scriptwriter to pen.
Hope is perhaps the best word to describe the mood of Rangers. They were level 1-1 with FC Copenhagen of Denmark from a tense first leg at Ibrox. While the mood in the camp appeared to be one of optimism, a distraction from the mission in hand came in the unwelcome news that captain Barry Ferguson was preparing to play what turned out to be his final game for the club before a move to Blackburn.
With stories raging through the media up here, it sometimes deflected from the fact that Alex McLeish's men had to score after conceding the 'away goal' in the first leg.
Meanwhile, back in Glasgow, Celtic had all but ensured their qualification after a 4-0 win against MTK Hungaria in the first leg of their qualifying round.
The return leg in Glasgow was simply a case of going through the motions, although it gave over 40,000 fans the chance to stage an inpromptu celebration of returning to football's top table.
It wasn't entirely party atmosphere, but it could be said though that it didn't matter - the job had been done two weeks earlier.
CONTRAST OF EMOTIONS
Despite Rangers' game kicking off 40 minutes before the action at Parkhead commencing, there was still such a dramatic feel to the night. Rangers survived pressure from the Danes, and had some chances of their own before a dramatic final ten minutes. Firstly, Mikael Arteta, an elegant and high quality midfield maestro, converted a penalty. Within four minutes, the scores were tied.
Alas, with just minutes of regulation time remaining, Shota Arveladze scored an instinctive striker's goal to send the Blue half of Glasgow into raptures.
Meanwhile back in Glasgow, tabs were being kept on the unfolding drama in Copenhagen, while the small matter of a match was going on inside Celtic Park.
Chris Sutton made the most of his starting chance while he serves a Scottish Premier League suspension, by scoring the only goal of a fairly lifeless contest to put the green and white half into celebrations, albeit celebrations already guaranteed from a fortnight earlier.
THE DAY AFTER THE NIGHT BEFORE
The following day in the millionaires haven in Monaco, the draw was made for the opening stages of the competition. Celtic were grouped with Anderlecht, Lyon, and Bayern Munich, while Rangers were drawn against Stuttgart (who Celtic eliminated in the UEFA Cup last season), Panathinaikos of Greece, and another club with some European experience.......Manchester United - cue the biggest licking of lips ever seen across both sides of the border simultaneously.
There have been a number of games which have in the last year or so earned the title 'Battle of Britain.' For the first time in years, the champions of both Scotland and England will face each other in a competitive match. Scottish-English club friendlies are always exciting and intruiging, although seldomly do big teams from both countries face each other when the importance of the match is significant - this is one such occasion.
REACTION
Since the draw was made, there has been the inevitable press hype, running into overdrive with reaction to both of the draws. Inevitably, Rangers double-header with Manchester United has had the Scottish media machine almost into meltdown with build-up to the 'Battle of Britain' although after Celtic's matches with Liverpool and Blackburn last season, one can safely say that it has given the British football followers a taste of what lies ahead.
Cliches are a horrible thing at times, but Wonderful Wonderful Copenhagen has led to a Battle of Britain, with Glorious Glorious Glasgow becoming what you may say, is a tag to what has given Celtic two dates each with Bayern Munich, Lyon and Anderlecht.
CHANCES OF SUCCESS
For both, it really is a case of hope. It is hard to say who got the harder draw, although from a footballing sense, while two battles between Scotland and England's national champions may whet the appetite for the purist, whether Rangers can succeed there may hold the key to whether they can qualify for the knockout stages. Away trips to Germany and Greece may not be to one's liking in the autumn and early winter, however if Rangers can get three wins from the four games outside the double Anglo battle, it can be argued they would hope to qualify along with Manchester United for the second round for the first time in the revamped European Cup.
Celtic can say the same about their matches with Bayern Munich, and their pending trips to Belgium and France. A trip to Germany on Matchday 1 may not have been top of Martin O'Neill's wishlist, but it should provide a fascinating midfield battle with Lennon, Petrov and Lambert against German superstars Ballack and Deisler and England international, Owen Hargreaves.
In Lyon, Henrik Larsson returns to the scene where his career almost came to an abrupt conclusion. Is it really four years since the night he suffered that sickening injury.
Lyon say they will give Larsson a special welcome, and while Larsson will undoubtedly accept any honours bestowed on him with typical grace, he will be set out to score goals that help Celtic into the next round. Lyon are of course dangerous, with French internatioanls Sidney Govou and Gergory Coupet among their number, while former Bayern Munich star and Brazilian international Giovani Elber has joined the French club.
Anderlecht are obviously a decent side, and have players more than capable of giving teams problems, however if Celtic win both games against them, and get something from at least one of the Lyon matches, qualification could be more of a reality if they can attain a result from one of the Bayern Munich matches.
While Celtic have been idle in the transfer market, with Michael Gray their only signing so far this summer from Sunderland on loan, Rangers have strengthened their squad with former Middlesbrough star Emerson joining the club, along with Porto's Nuno Capucho, Zurab Kizinishvilli from Dundee, and Blackburn's Egil Ostenstadt.
Celtic have no new faces, although the emergence of promising youngsters like Liam Miller and Shaun Maloney who has performed admirably in the absence of Chris Sutton have given Celtic an added alternative, and a welcome one at that.
It should be remembered that since the European Cup was re-invented as the Champions League in 1993, no Scottish club has managed to get through the group stages, although Rangers came close in 1993(when they almost got to the Final), and in 1999, while Celitc narrowly missed out in 2001 - their one and only Champions League campaign to date.
THE LAST WORD - FOR NOW
So, two go in, but will both go through? After years of despair, there has been some hope recently with Celtic going to the UEFA Cup final last season. Can they keep up the momentum and can Rangers finally crack it in this competition?
Celtic and Rangers may find their hopes of progress boosted by the fact that there will be only one group stage in this year's competition. The second group phase, which had been in operation since the 1999/2000 season has been phased out.
Whether this is a positive step for Scotland's two biggest clubs, one can only hope, however there will never be a better opportunity for Celtic and Rangers to finally make progress in the daddy of football competitions in the European continent.
