Club and Country.

With the current international break in full flow, and the Tartan Army in joyous voice after an excellent 3-1 victory over Lithuania (to be followed by a prestigious visit to Paris and a small match against the best team in the world), it is safe to say club football has not been high priority recently.

Indeed, with newspaper spread after newspaper spread focusing only on the national side, the SPL and Rangers have taken a distinct backseat in coverage priority. Of course, this is not a strictly negative thing to say, given the importance of international football in the grand scheme of things, and the excitement of the lads possibly making a finals for the first time in what will be 10 years. It cannot be denied though, for those who bleed the colours of their club team, in our case Rangers, the break really does interrupt the flow of the domestic season, despite many of us still supporting our country religiously.

That said, there has not been a complete absence of Rangers stories, but they have mostly related to the Scottish players’ input to the national side, such as McCulloch’s abject relief that Saturday’s match did not present him with a booking which would have suspended him for the trip to France, unlike his counterpart and football superstar Thierry Henry. There was also the fact that Boyd scored a very sharp header to send Scotland on their way to that critical three points and to hold onto the second place in the group. On that note, the relationship between Scotland and Rangers is worth exploring.

So let us look at the Rangers’ players and how they fit into the national side as a whole.

First off there is Ferguson, the captain of club and country. Many dispute his ability, suggesting he is simply a very good player and not a special one. Others would portray him as one of the finest Scottish players the game has produced. His relationship with the national side has been a slightly unsmooth one – he does not have as high a cap count as one might expect, with 39 to his name, due to an inordinately high number of calls offs, and questions about his commitment to his country. However, when we witnessed his breathtaking display at Hampden against the best team in the world (who Scotland play again on Wednesday) it became clear that Ferguson is capable of producing his best displays for country AND club.

Then there is McCulloch. A lionheart who gives his all and is very much the Scottish Rino Gattuso. His technical competence is never going to be his greatest asset, and his position for the national side is pretty much assured such is his workrate and grafting. He can also score a goal or two. He is a pest, and every team needs a player like him.

Thirdly is Weir – an old and wise warhorse, Weir marshals McManus and co. just as he does with Cuellar and company. Nothing phases this veteran, and Scotland and Rangers benefit from his wily knowledge and experience. He is a dead cert for the national side, and will be so for as long as he can.


Next up is Boyd – his game is to score goals, and his record for Scotland really is superb. He is only recently a major player for the national team, but his tally is excellent with seven in 11 caps. With this number of goals, can he be dropped?

Last but not least is the emerging Hutton who is not just in the form of his life, but has proven it not to be strict form, but class. He has bloomed wonderfully since Smith became his club boss, and is now firmly first choice for club and country. His two caps for Scotland have been solid and composed, and he is entirely at home at this level now, unlike his hideous display in Spain V Villarreal.

Plus you can add to that tally chaps like Thomson, Whittaker, McGregor, Naismith, Webster and Smith to see just how Scottish the core of Rangers is, and how large the club’s impact on the national side is becoming.

Long may it continue.