Scotland v Austria

SCOTLAND v AUSTRIA / EUROPEAN QUALIFIERS / FIFA 2022 WORLD CUP
MORE OF
THE SAME
Liam Palmer aims to enjoy that qualification
feeling in consecutive years
12
By David McCarthy, Daily Record
Scotland have found their
pathway to the greatest show
on earth blocked on each of the
last five times they have walked it.
This time, Liam Palmer believes, can be
different. This time, he reckons, can be
our time.
The Sheffield Wednesday right-back’s
confidence stems from the togetherness
he has witnessed in Steve Clarke’s
squad when Scotland’s backs were
against the wall in the European
Championship play-off final in Belgrade
in November last year.
Clarke’s men travelled to Serbia as
underdogs, played superbly for 89
minutes and were seconds away from
the country’s first major finals since
1998 before it was cruelly whipped
away from them in the final seconds. Yet
still they refused to yield, battled through
extra-time and won it in that never-tobe-forgotten
shootout.
Palmer, who has seven caps to his
name, kicked every ball from the bench
that night but each and every member
of the squad joined in celebrations
that lasted long into the night and
the defender, who can also play wingback,
is convinced that the bond created
by the players that evening can help
them not only succeed at the Euros, but
help the Scots qualify for next year’s
World Cup.
The journey to Qatar starts tonight
against Austria at Hampden, then heads
for Israel on Sunday before returning to
the National Stadium for a clash with
the Faroe Islands next Wednesday.
Three games and nine points that will
have a pivotal say on whether Clarke’s
men are back at the big party at the
sixth attempt, having failed to make it
every time since France ‘98.
“Playing at a World Cup is something
that you dream about as a kid,” said the
HAMPDEN PARK / THURSDAY, 25 MARCH 2021