As a football fan, I will pretty much watch any game on telly, regardless of which teams are playing. That’s how you get a feel for how good and how poor different leagues, teams and players are in comparison to what your own team is. For me, it gives an opportunity to fantasize about who would be a good fit in claret and amber, or who wouldn’t, as well as giving rise to having “another team”.
At international level, I have to admit I am rather ambivalent. At the moment I am anyway. Obviously as a Scot, I am patriotic and always enjoy seeing the Tartan Army entertained by the national team. Under Levein though, I just don’t feel it. Last night’s win over Denmark was a good result, but it will only be worth something if it can be replicated in the games that matter. I’m in no way a gloom and doom merchant, but I’d be content with glorious failure to qualify for Euro 2012 as is the norm, but to do that, there needs to be some battling performances from Levein’s picks.
Instead of taking in the win at Hampden last night, my travels allowed me to experience a must win game for Northern Ireland as somewhat of a neutral. Friends and regular blog readers will know that I am marrying in to a Northern Irish family. When Big Rab told me he’d acquired tickets for their game against the Faroes in the week Elaine and myself were over, I knew I could get my fix of live football, albeit at the expense of missing a glorious win over Hearts and the impending defeat of St Mirren.
The drive from Larne to Belfast wasn’t too long, but the ever greying and darkening sky suggested that this muggy August night would also be a slippery one. After inhaling a magnificent Chicken Burger from the highly recommended Supreme takeaway, Robert, Steven and I made the short, wet walk to Windsor Park. For an international ground, Linfield’s stadium was very similar to those in the SPL. Temporary seating was in place behind one of the goals and also to the front of the Main south stand. Sat in the North stand, 2 rows back, it was clear that the grey sky was not going to be our friend for the night. As our seats were uncovered by the overhang of the top tier, a soaking would surely ensue.
Similar to Fir Park in size, Windsor too boasts an awful PA system. The tannoy guy made a valiant effort at naming the Faroese players, but was charged with a much tougher task of leading the crowd in a sing song. Printed on page 33 of the programme were alternative words to “We Didn’t Start The Fire”, which the announcer was pleading with the fans to burst out with as before the game and at half time. Whether it was out of embarrassment or in light of the English (Not UK) Riots, the fans were not having it. The song was played once and never again, with no one in our block singing along.
Instead, their voices were saved mainly for chants of “We’re not Brazil, We’re Northern Ireland” and “Greenandwhitearmy!”. The early lead Norn Iron took through Aaron Hughes, was all they could really sing about in the first half, although a couple of penalty decisions in their favour could have changed that, as could national hero Healy, if he hadn’t struck the post.
For a part time team, the Faroes didn’t lie down, and could have drawn level on a few occasions. Camp in goal for the home team almost let a corner slip in to his net just before half time, and shortly after, he breathed a sigh of relief when a clearance cannoned off a Faroese forward. Worthington’s men were starting to look edgy until the introduction of Niall McGinn.
In the lead up to the game, much had been said about the inclusion of Celtic players in the Northern Irish set up. Having a slight grasp of the political issues involved in the country, sectarian ignorance seems to be set aside in these instances. It’s true that both McGinn and Pat McCourt have received unpleasant post for their inclusion in Worthington’s squads, but when you have talented players in your ranks, it was proved last night that your background shouldn’t and doesn’t matter.
Within minutes of his introduction, McGinn had made a vital contribution. A long ball form the back sent him scurrying up the right wing. A look up and a pass to the onrushing Davis was all that was needed, as his first time side footer crashed in to the goal from all of 25 yards. It’s not often that I will be in attendance at a game and applaud a player that I would normally be vilifying, but in this instance, all I could do was get to my feet. Having seen Davis score a similar goal v the Well at Ibrox last season, I was now in a position to accept that he is a class act. In a Northern Ireland shirt anyway.
I didn’t expect I would have to do it again. Twice more in fact. For the first half, the enigma that is Paddy McCourt looked like uninterested. He and Johnny Evans on the left looked bereft of ideas, as more often than not, McCourt would pass and not move, or cut inside and stop. In the second half, he was a completely different player, almost epitomising the frustration that Celtic fans have with him.
His stats at Celtic show 10 goals in 30 appearances in 3 seasons. A goal every 3 games, and spectacular goals at that. Whether it’s his fitness (at times he looked to be blowing out his arse) or his attitude that finds him in and out of the squad, only Lennon knows. But his impact in the final 20 minutes of this game was unreal. His first goal for his country on his first start for his country came from a great piece of play. McGinn again strode up the wing, playing in Davis. A look left and a perfect pass picked out Paddy. He slalomed in to the box with ease, playing a neat 1-2 with Evans on the byline, before picking his spot at the far post. 3-0 and the Green and White Army burst in to life with various songs with McCourt’s name inserted.
A capacity crowd in Belfast, cheering a Celtic player to the roof. Who’d have thunk it? And who’d have thought they would do it again, but even louder? His second of the night, is honestly one of the best goals I have ever witnessed. Almost a carbon copy of the first, he dropped his shoulder and swivelled his hips all the way in to the box before chipping the goalie, like you can only do in FIFA, from about 10 yards. Magnificent.
The Derry Pele, Messi in disguise, whatever you want to call him, McCourt’s name is probably still echoing around Windsor Park this morning. If ever a gloss needed to be put on a 4-0 win, that was it. It could be argued that the result and performance wasn’t that impressive, given the quality of opposition, but a 4-0 win is a 4-0 win and gives a bit f spark before their next qualifiers against Serbia and Estonia. 2 points off second place with a game in hand, it’s up to the Ulstermen to make the most of it.
By the end of the match, the three of us were sodden, but delighted by the result and the quality of goals we had seen. Heading back to Larne in the dark, the aroma of our chippy still in the car, I had enjoyed being somewhat of a neutral. For once, I had sort of been supporting the same team as Robert and that team had won. A good night all round.
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