ironbrew

If we`re one of best 3rds will we not definitely play last 16 in Budapest? Alphabetical order group D before E or F. Or how could we be in Seville (Group A doesn`t qualify?) or Glasgow?

Trying to renew. Only option I get is " Pick up in person". Also when I try to renew 2 people it says I can`t have 2 items in checkout.. Thought someone said groups could renew together.

If we qualify we`ll play 2 matches at Hampden and 1 at Wembley. If we don`t qualify presumably Israel/Norway/Serbia will play twice at Hampden. If ROI qualify they`ll play twice in Dublin and once in Bilbao. If they don`t Slovaquia, Bosnia or NI will play twice in Dublin and once in Bilbao. If Hungary or Rumania qualify they`ll play 2 matches at home but we won`t know till March if either or neither is going to qualify so how will this be arranged in draw next week? Pot 4 is for 4 play off winners, Wales and Finland but with Hungary and Rumania in same play off "group" how can UEFA confirm where all teams will play? Telling winner of Kosovo play off "group" they`ll play in Budapest or Bucharest? UEFA have already announced there is no longer need for extra draw the day after play off finals.

I suppose they`re trying to have maximum time between semis and finals (5 days) but 8 playoff matches on the same day may reduce TV audiences. England have confirmed a home friendly with Denmark on 31st March which could clash with a NI v ROI final and our final (hopefully).

I`m talking about a possible draw on 1st April after the playoff matches. Not quite sure why it would be needed but am guessing it`d be to slot hosts into their places in groups or to keep countries apart - Armenia and Turkey perhaps

Apparently there could be another draw after the playoffs but not sure under what circumstances. To make sure hosts are in their proper groups i suppose.

Yes well done Finland but depressingly yet another country which has qualified for a tournament since 1998. I remember reading an article about Hearts in 90s titled "Supporting Scotland`s 13th/14th team" cause before 1998 there were 12 or 13 other clubs which had won league or a cup since Hearts`last win at the time. We must be about 25th in Europe maybe worse with Finland now, Latvia in 2004, Albania, Wales and NI in 2016 etc.

If we qualify we`ll be in group D with England. Does this mean that if we don`t get through playoffs whoever wins our playoff will be in group D playing 2 or 3 matches at Hampden? Not sure if we could play another host in playoff, Hungary perhaps.

Interesting. Does this mean that if we lost play off semi final would still be at Hampden if we win draw to play final at home? So could be Bulgaria v Serbia at Hampden in final. Only a couple of days to make arrangements for final.

Many thanks for all replies. All useful.

Spoke too soon. O`Mara out of doubles in 3 sets.

What park in Scotland would be considered private? Sports ground owned/used by a private sports club perhaps. Cricket, rugby or golf club might be big enough. Football stadium?

I`ve rarely bothered with travel insurance but reading of cases in news of folk stranded abroad (dead or alive) plus numerous cases of lost luggage makes me think I probably should have something. I know some people pay a set amount each year but no idea how much you`d have to travel to make that worthwhile. Anyone here pay every year? Sometimes it`s mentioned that if you pay for trip by credit card you`ll be covered but no idea if this is really the case.

Jonny O`Mara from Arbroath (with partner from El Salvador) currently winning in US Open last 16 Men`s Doubles. Haven`t heard his name mentioned much.

Still tickets for 125€ and more for 3 of the Hampden matches. Ridiculous pricing will mean a lot of empty seats at a lot of matches.

What time are matches likely to kick off? We could be playing at Wembley on day 2 or 3 while there`s another match at Hampden on the same day (day 3 at same time) . Guessing 2, 5 and 8 o`clock Scottish time.

Back now. Thanks for all suggestions. Got day trip from Bath to Cotswolds with Mad Max Tours which was very good. 6 villages-can`t remember names but all very beautiful though a couple were swamped with tourists and a lot of the day was spent in traffic jams between villages. Devon good too though definitely better places to stay in than Torquay. 10 days in a touristy part of England and apart from a Scottish woman working in a shop in Exeter no more Scottish accents and apart from one Polish waitress in hotel in Torquay almost no other non English except some Americans in Bath. Being used to multinational hotels in Spain, Portugal etc it`s certainly strange to be almost only non English in a big hotel in a tourist resort in August. And that`s pre Brexit.

Thanks. I`ve been to Stonehenge and Avebuty and preferred the second.

Almost embarrased to start a thread. Does anyone read travel section? Anyway, going to be spending some time in Bath and Torquay this summer. Work but with some time off too. Not much time in Bath. Already know the city but would like to see Cotswolds. Any recommended villages that are easily accessible by public transport from Bath? Looked for tour from Bath but limited options. Is bristol worth a visit for 4 or 5 hours? From Torquay going on Round Robin to nearby towns by boat,rail and ferry one day. Any other suggestions? Exeter or Plymouth worth a visit? Any villages easy to get to by public transport? Coulñdn`t find trip to Dartmoor except private car trip.

Did the Ketchup not perform in Seville before Celtic final? Then disappeared.

Was this the last/only time we`ve hosted a world/European men`s finals? Good crowd at Germany v Spain Under 21 final tonight in Udine. Under 21 in 2021 is Hungary/Slovenia but maybe we could bid for 2023. Maybe just us using as many stadium as permitted but not Ibrox,Parkhead or Hampden (if still in use then) except for first Scotland game and final.

Would expect Category 3 seats to be full for 3 group matches if we qualify and categories 1 and 2 against England if we play them at home which I think UEFA would prefer since it`ll be easier to sell out Wembley for other match with so many fans of other countries living in London. Poland , Wales and Northern Ireland are not hosts and would probably sell a good number of tickets. Last 16 match at Hampden is winner of group E which could be Spain against 3rd of A,B,C or D which could be us . Winner of that match will play QF in Rome 4 days later so not much time for fans to make plans .

Had forgotten about the Getafe thing. I`ve seen him on telly in some games this season when Malaga were going well and he didn`t stick out at all. Getafe are going to be in Europa League while Malaga will be in playoffs in June but will only have 25% chance of promotion so he may have made a good decision though he`ll be playing in front of smaller crowds and not with his local club.

If we don`t qualify England will play all their group matches at Wembley (if they qualify). With so many host nations who can`t play at Hampden in group stage there are not many "glamour" teams who might play there-Portugal and Belgium probably the best though I suppose atmosphere for Poland could be good and Wales and N Ireland would have big supports. Hopefully price you mention is for best seats in last 16.

Interesting article. Doesn`t seem to have played much in the first team recently if at all. Maybe injured but has been unused sub in most recent matches. Not sure how much he played at Brighton but his experience in Spain is probably similar to Gauld`s in Portugal so unlikely to be starring at Hampden in near future.