I know that a number of selection invitations were declined. I do not know what the reasons were but I do know that a variety of reasons were given ranging from holidays booked to affordability.
Some of the teams could have been stronger but the players who will be representing Scotland will be trying every bit as hard and doing their best. It is an opportunity for many of the squad to gain valuable experience at a new level and match their talents against new opponents.
It won't be easy by any means. I would hope that it would be enjoyable, that all our players benefit from the tournament and they all use it to learn from.
Senegal v France: World Cup 2002
This was meant to happen… The 2002 French World Cup squad contained 15 veterans of their 1998 victory including Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Marcel Desailly. On paper, tournament rookies Senegal stood about as much chance as a mouse in a cat sanctuary.
… but actually Senegal’s wardrobe-sized midfielder Papa Bouba Diop scored in the first half to stun a French side who seemed to think they could win simply by turning up. The final whistle sparked off days of dancing on the streets of Dakar.
Buster Douglas v Mike Tyson: Heavyweight World Title Fight 1990
This was meant to happen… Undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson was the boxing equivalent of a concrete tower block – big, not very nice to look at and hard to knock down without a bulldozer. Buster Douglas was a 42-1 outsider. You figure it out.
… but actually Douglas took Tyson by surprise and dominated the fight using his superior reach to great effect. Iron Mike managed to floor his opponent in the eighth, but Buster’s 10th-round uppercut had the champion eating canvas.
Wimbledon v Liverpool: FA Cup final 1988
This was meant to happen… League champions Liverpool were favourites to win at Wembley and should have made unfashionable Wimbledon look like a bunch of builders, which wouldn’t have been too far from the truth.
… but actually after Lawrie Sanchez headed the Dons into the lead, part-time Lurch lookalike Dave Beasant became the first person to save a penalty in a Wembley FA Cup final, giving Wimbledon the trophy.
Goran Ivanisevic v Pat Rafter: Wimbledon 2001
This was meant to happen…Mad Croatian Goran Ivanisevic was ranked 125th in the world and only qualified for the championships as a wildcard. Number three seed Pat Rafter had hammered former mullet-wearer Andre Agassi in the semi-final.
… but actually a crowd of inflatable kangaroo-wielding Aussies watched their man blow it in an epic five-setter. An emotional Ivanisevic become the lowest-ranked player ever to win at SW19. <br/>
John Daly: The Open 1995
This was meant to happen… Overweight beer-lover John Daly looked more like a darts player than a golfer, whereas favourites Nick Price, Nick Faldo and Greg Norman were in their prime going into the 1995 Open.
… but actually It turned out the extra few pounds came in handy for Daly, for few could belt the ball quite like him. The 66-1 underdog hit some enormous drives to beat Italy’s Costantino Rocca in a play-off.
Boris Becker v Kevin Curren: Wimbledon 1985
This was meant to happen… Eighth seed Kevin Curren, who’d beaten Stefan Edberg, John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors to get to the final, was going to teach the unseeded, 17-year-old ginger German to show some respect to his elders. <b>
… but actually Boris Becker flung his young limbs around the court, covering more grass than a Cocker Spaniel on its first ever trip to the park, and beat Curren in four sets.
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Scotland 2013 at the Glorney in Cardiff......???????
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