With Scotland, of course, being at the World Cup, Ibrox Noise does have a little bit of a quandary. Ever since 2008 and the Loch Lomond incident essentially pried Rangers players from the national side, Ibrox Noise has unfortunately not been able to relate to our national team. We had always fully supported Scotland in every endeavour because, A, it is our country and, B, there was strong Rangers representation in there. Our club and our country together, working well. But Rangers and Scotland bedfellows again after Loch Lomond. Of course, there are Celtic players there too, naturally, but on a national level that does not matter in the same way.
The Origins Of The Rift
But in 2008, George Burley and the national team’s castigation of Rangers players led to a toxic relationship with the national team. That relationship has continued for years and years. Lee McCulloch himself saw it coming and retired from the national team before he was even ready. He quit the national side entirely, knowing Rangers players were being slammed and shut out of the SFA. There have been misgivings and toxicity between the two ever since. Who could ever forget Ian Black being booed as he came on at Easter Road against Australia back in 2012. Sure, he was an ex-Hearts player coming on at Easter Road but that’s absolutely irrelevant. The Tartan Army and Scotland have not seen eye to eye with Rangers for a very long time. The toxicity levels have been appalling. Those kinds of wounds never heal.
Steve Clarke’s Different Approach
However, in his defence, Steve Clarke, while he does stay loyal to his general choices of players, is giving Rangers players a proper chance. John Souttar, Liam Kelly and Finlay Curtis got the initial call up to be part of the World Cup. Finlay Curtis, of course, was shining with Kilmarnock, but he is a Rangers player and will play a big part next season. Shankland had already been called up but, of course, at that point was still a Hearts player. He is now, of course, a Rangers player and, as a Rangers player, started against Curaçao. Which sees Rangers and Scotland bedfellows again.
Rangers Back In The Fold
That felt like a further nod from Clarke at trying to thaw the ice with Rangers players, it is so important for Rangers to be part of the national side. We want a solid footprint in the national side whereby Ibrox Noise can feel we actually relate to our national team. As Scotland and as Rangers. That is to say Rangers should always be part of Scotland. It has always been the case since the dawn of time until 2012. That was when we were pushed out fully. Of course, 2008 certainly saw the start of it, as we mentioned earlier. The Loch Lomond incident was a big part of Rangers’ deterioration with the national side. But Rangers’ troubles in 2012 certainly saw it amplified massively. Rangers players simply were not being used by any manager of the national regime.
Steven Naismith involvement
There’s also Steven Naismith. Whether Rangers supporters like it or not after his conduct in 2012, he is still a big Rangers fan and is a huge part of the national setup under Steve Clarke. He made bad mistakes back then. Even though most fans haven’t forgiven him, it’s well known he’s a good guy with a big heart and wishes it had been different.
A New Era For Scotland And Rangers
Things are clearly now changing.Rangers and Scotland bedfellows again. Rangers could well have had five players this summer had Connor Barron got the call in place of Billy Gilmour’s untimely injury. That of course didn’t materialise. But we certainly have four, and that is a nice thing to see because we do want to see our players being well represented by Scotland. We know that not every Rangers fan agrees with this. It is a big split and a big division among Rangers fans when it comes to supporting the national side. At the end of the day Rangers come first. But Scotland is a big deal and we want our club to be involved there. Especially at a world cup.