Tartan Army invades London

**bb1** Wed Aug 14, 2013 2:27 pm

OMG, there's a Scotland-England match tonight, I'd forgotten one of those was being risked again...

Tartan Army invades London Soct2

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tartan-army-masses-in-trafalgar-square-scottish-fans-gather-ahead-of-wembley-clash-with-england-8760818.html

Tartan Army masses in Trafalgar Square: Scottish fans gather ahead of Wembley clash with England

Specialist hooligan spotters from Scotland have been sent to London to monitor football fans massing in Trafalgar Square today.

The team will join up with the Met to watch over the ranks of Scotland supporters in the square ahead of their clash with England at Wembley tonight.

Hundreds gathered in the square eating and drinking in the sunshine before the friendly at 8pm.

The group was in good spirits as the square was transformed into a sea of kilts and Saltire flags.

The Met police said: "We are aware that traditionally Scotland supporters congregate in Trafalgar Square and this will form part of our policing operation."

Scotland Yard said their plans were "appropriate and proportionate."

England coach Roy Hodgson said their would be lots of "banter" and "insults" ahead of the match.

"There will be lots of insults flying across the way, but it will all be done in a reasonably good spirit," he said.

In May, fears of violence proved unfounded when England played Ireland for the first time since disorder forced their last fixture in 1995 to be abandoned, raising hopes that today's game will also pass off peacefully.

In 2011 when England hosted Wales, a visiting supporter was killed in an attack outside Wembley by an England fan, who was later jailed for three years.

"I trust the fans," Hodgson said. "I think the behaviour of fans has improved enormously. We did have a little period many years ago when fan behaviour was a problem, but an awful lot has been done and fans are more responsible."

Adding to intrigue is the possibility that by the next time the teams meet, the "Auld Enemy" could have broken away from Britain.

A referendum in September 2014 will determine whether Scotland ends more than 300 years of political union with England.

England recently dropped to 14th in the FIFA rankings, has won the World Cup just once in 1966. Scotland, at 50th in the FIFA rankings, has never won a major tournament and has not qualified for the World Cup since 1998.

Scotland striker Shaun Maloney acknowledges there is now a "decent margin between us and England."

Accepting Scotland's lowly status, playing - let alone beating - England is a career-high for Maloney.

"(It) is the most important international game I have played in and I will imagine it will be on a par with anything I have played in club football," said Maloney, who won the FA Cup with Wigan at Wembley in May. "I understand it is a friendly and some of their players will play 45 minutes, but for us it will mean the world."

The most cherished Scottish victory probably came in 1967 - a year after England's World Cup success - when the Scots came to Wembley, won 3-2 and declared themselves unofficial champions of the world.

"Scotland have embarrassed England on quite a few occasions in the past and it will be up to us to make sure they don't do it again on Wednesday," Hodgson said.

Most will just be hoping for a peaceful night when the Tartan Army returns to Wembley after 14 years.