Scotland fans won't see Argentina striker Lionel Messi at Hampden

The Scottish Football Association have pulled out of the proposed November friendly against Argentina at Hampden.

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith canvassed supporters on the viability of the match but negative reaction has led to the idea being dropped.

It would have cost around £1m to stage resulting in increased ticket prices.

"Despite support for the idea, people said there were issues around paying a premium price for a midweek match at that time of yea... Read more »

SFA chief executive Gordon Smith wants views on prices

The Scottish Football Association is asking the Tartan Army if they are prepared to pay top ticket prices to bring Argentina to Hampden.

A match scheduled for 19 November is under discussion between the SFA and agents for the Argentine FA.

Top price for a competitive Scotland match is £35 while the cost of a ticket for Northern Ireland's friendly visit to Hampden in August is £20.

Ticket prices for the visit of Argentina would be hi... Read more »

Wales and Scotland plan Euro bid

Scots eye Euro 2012 rescue plan

Czech Republic 3-1 Scotland

Motherwell striker Ross McCormack is one of five uncapped players in George Burley's Scotland squad to face the Czech Republic in Prague on 30 May.

Rangers pair Kevin Thomson and Steven Whittaker, Hearts defender Christophe Berra and West Brom midfielder James Morrison could win their first caps.

But Celtic midfielder Scott Brown has been left out as he requires a small operation at the end of the season.

Captain Barry Ferguson is being rested because of a troublesome ankle injury.

"Barry has been struggling for the last few months with an ankle problem and, because of the amount of games he's played, I thought it was important to allow that to settle down," said Burley.

Rangers team-mates Allan McGregor, Lee McCulloch and veteran David Weir are also not included in the squad for the friendly.

We have 16 players who are 26 and und... Read more »

Furious Scotland fans have criticised the Scottish Football Association after hundreds of Tartan Army fans missed the start of the match against Croatia.

Only two kiosks were opened outside the ground to allow fans to collect pre-paid tickets, causing large queues to build up before kick-off.

Many fans were still waiting outside when Croatia scored the opening goal.

A spokesman for Hampden Park, who issue tickets for the SFA, said lessons had been learned from the chaotic scenes.

The problem was apparently caused by tickets not being posted to fans over the Easter weekend, meaning many people were forced to collect them before the game.

Supporters who had not bought tickets in advance were also able to buy tickets from the kiosks.

Police and stewards eventually decided to allow some fans - who were still standing in the queue 20 minutes after the match had started - into the ground without tickets.

However, some were forced to watch the match from the west s... Read more »

Monday, 24 Mar 2008

Scotland National Team Coach George Burley today confirmed that the Scotland A Squad will play Tennent’s International Challenge Matches against the Czech Republic and Northern Ireland later this year.

The match against the Czechs – currently 6th in the FIFA Rankings – will take place on Friday 30 May 2008 in Prague. We will then welcome Northern Ireland to Hampden on Wednesday 20 August 2008.

Both matches will be excellent tests for the team as we continue to build towards the 2010 World Cup Qualifying Campaign. Details about tickets for both matches will be made available in due course.

George Burley is hoping Wednesday's match against Croatia can help go a long way to help prepare for the first World Cup qualifier in September.

The Scotland boss has two more games before taking on Macedonia and feels Croatia will provide a stern test.

"Croatia are an excellent side and one of the world's top-ranked nations," said Burley.

"It'll be a tough game, but it's about getting a feel of the squad and working to get it right for September."

Burley will fine tune his line-up with friendly matches against the Czech Republic in Prague on 30 May and Northern Ireland at Hampden Park on 20 August.

"That gives us a tough away game and then a home game before our World Cup qualifiers start against Macedonia in Skopje," he said.
Scotland's support for friendlies is among the best anywhwere

"But, on Wednesday, I'm looking for a good performance - that's always been the key - and, if we perform right, we could get a good result.

"We had a good training s... Read more »

Scotland manager George Burley has given call-ups to Hearts defender Christophe Berra and Hibernian striker Steven Fletcher in his first squad.

Sunderland's Russell Anderson has also been recalled for the friendly match at home to Croatia on Wednesday 26 March.

Rangers' veteran defender David Weir has been left out because of his club's busy domestic schedule.

"I think with a friendly game we can give him a little break and look at other players," said Burley.

Interview: Scotland manager George Burley

Weir won his 61st cap in the Euro 2008 qualifier against Italy in November.

And Burley indicated that there was every chance of the 37-year-old adding to that tally.

"It is fairly clear with the amount of games Davie has played this season and his age, he has done incredibly well," said the manager.

"But to ask him to play another game (w... Read more »