GLASGOW City head coach Scott Booth will be attempting to get the better of Rangers for a third time in five weeks on Sunday, so is unlikely to be watching the Scotland men's side play San Marino in a Euro 2020 qualifier later the same day.
The former Aberdeen, Borussia Dortmund and FC Twente striker nevertheless has fond memories of not just playing against the only side below Scotland in Group I, but also tomorrow's opponents Russia.
The two nations were in Scotland's Euro 1996 qualifying group, as they are in the current tournament, and Booth scored against both.
“I remember the goals, and the fact they helped us get to Euro 96 which was important,” said Booth, who went to the finals in England and also played in the World Cup in France two years later.
“The one against San Marino was a tap-in from about a yard, although the Russia one was a decent strike. But it all seems so long ago and things have changed a great deal.”
What has glaringly changed is that the Scotland men's team has not qualified for a major tournament since 1998 – while the women's team made it through to Euro 2017 and this summer's World Cup, which was also in France.
“Back then there didn't feel a massive pressure on us to qualify as we were used to it,” Booth pointed out. “There were a lot of winners in the side. Guys who knew how to get the job done.
“It is probably because we haven't qualified for a men's tournament for so long that everything seems to be scrutinised. I do think the players now are under so much pressure.
“I didn't feel under masses of pressure to qualify for tournaments when I played for Scotland. You felt pressure to try to get in the side. If you got in you knew you would be fine as we had so much quality in the team.
“We also had so much experience right throughout the side and that’s not so much the case today.”
Although there was plenty of focus on Shelley Kerr and her players at the World Cup, Booth feels the more successful Scotland side doesn't get anywhere near the attention it deserves.
“It becomes a bit of a joke at times. They qualify for tournaments and the men can't do that,” he pointed out. “The deserve all the recognition and backing they can get – and it's not happening really.”
Booth's side are closing in on a record 13th successive Scottish title and play Danish side Brondby in the last 16 of the Champions League, with the first leg in Copenhagen next Wednesday.
Before that they play Rangers in the first semi-final of the SSE Scottish Women's Cup at Forthbank on Sunday. The teams met twice in the league in September, with City winning the first game 4-0 and the second 2-0.
The other semi, also at Forthbank on Sunday, is between holders Hibernian and Motherwell.
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