Whether he’s selected or rested for tonight’s qualifier against Group D minnows Gibraltar, Marc Wilson’s thoughts will turn to Tbilisi before kick-off in Faro.

With Gibraltar v Ireland on September 4 regarded by many – if not Martin O’Neill – as a foregone conclusion, there will almost be as much interest from Irish supporters in the Georgia v Scotland and Germany v Poland games which also take place in European Championship Group D on the same day.

Well, they came, they saw and they took our points.

His subtle but succinct skewering of John Delaney grabbed all the attention on this side of the Irish Sea, but closer to home, it was another of Stewart Regan’s observations that stood out from the rest. 

Charlie Mulgrew admits Scott Brown may not get the credit he deserves from all quarters, but he warned the Republic of Ireland they are about to discover how good the Scotland skipper really is.

Ireland midfielder David Meyler is eager to reclaim the Euro bragging rights from Hull City team-mate Andrew Robertson when Scotland visit Dublin on June 13.

RBS Six Nations

Gordon Strachan has dismissed suggestions Scotland’s 1-0 victory over the Republic of Ireland was over-physical.

EURO 2016 GROUP D QUALIFIER:

THE REPUBLIC of Ireland failed the test of nerve at a raucous Celtic Park last night as Gordon Strachan's Scotland jockeyed themselves into Euro 2016 qualification contention.

Scotland 1 Republic of Ireland 0

For someone in the eye of a looming Scottish storm tomorrow night, Glaswegian Aiden McGeady is vowing to ignore the furore and concentrate on steering Ireland’s voyage towards France in 2016.

Euro Championship 2016 qualifier

The Tartan Army have no right to boo Republic of Ireland international James McCarthy on Friday night, according to his former Hamilton team-mate Alex Neil.

Gordon Strachan admits Scotland’s forthcoming joust with traditional rivals England at Celtic Park will play second fiddle to their European Championship qualifying clash with Republic of Ireland four days earlier.

The rivalry between Scotland and Ireland ahead of next month’s Euro 2016 qualifier is providing plenty of fodder for conversation in the north east corner of England these days.

An impressive start to their Euro 2016 campaign has heightened talk of Scotland’s first qualification for a major tournament since 1998, a route they can shuttle towards by beating Ireland at Parkhead.

Scotland boss Gordon Strachan is convinced their European Championship qualifying group will go down to the wire – and he thinks his side have every chance of being involved following another step forward in Warsaw.

On the same night a Glaswegian gave Scotland’s Euro 2016 Group D play-off rivals a boost in Tbilisi, how Gordon Strachan could have done with Aiden McGeady’s wizardry against World champions Germany.

Scotland put up a spirited show in their first Euro 2016 qualifying match, going down 2-1 to world champions Germany.

Mark McGhee does not see any weaknesses in the Germany team but is optimistic about Scotland’s chances in their 2016 European Championship clash next Sunday.

Last June one year, a Scottish team replete with journeymen pros without a win in any of the six competitive games they had played up until then in their World Cup qualifying campaign, travelled to Zagreb and came away with a 1-0 win against the world’s then fourth-highest ranked side.

Rickie Lambert applied a Roy of the Rovers finish to a comic strip kind of game as England edged an exciting battle with Scotland at Wembley tonight.

The sound of the bagpipes echoed across Trafalgar Square as the Tartan Army flocked to the heart of London ahead of tonight’s clash with England at Wembley.

Scott Brown has rubbished calls for Craig Levein to step down or be sacked in the wake of Scotland’s dismal start to their 2014 World Cup qualifiers, which saw them drop four points in their opening two home games.

Scotland 0 Serbia 0

Slovenia 1 Scotland 1

Stewart Regan believes Scotland’s Olympic football hopefuls could suffer the wrath of the Tartan Army if they turn out for Team GB.

IT was the Irish writer Flann O’Brien who said that questions are like beggars at the door, and should not be minded.

Liechtenstein 0 Scotland 1

Scotland 2 Czech Republic 2

ON a night when Ireland won the Carling Nations Cup, Robbie Keane matched Bobby Charlton’s British and Ireland record of 49 international goals and Paul McShane seemed briefly possessed by the spirit of Lionel Messi, perhaps the best news out of this game for Giovanni Trapattoni is that Shay Given is fit and ready for Skopje.

Brazil striker Neymar says he has already forgotten about the alleged racism during the friendly victory over Scotland – after choosing not to lodge an official complaint.

Scotland fans and the Scottish Football Association have refuted claims by Brazil star Neymar that he was abused by the Tartan Army in the countries’ friendly at the Emirates Stadium.

Scotland 3 Northern Ireland 0

Scotland 2 Liechtenstein 1

IF THE prospect of a long, dark winter ahead fills you with gloom, there might be some consolation in reflecting that, while it seems like only yesterday Ireland’s 2010 World Cup campaign came to a shuddering halt, by this time next week the first match of the 2012 European Championship qualifiers will already be part of history. A game for all seasons, football’s big wheel is ever in spin.

Sweden 3 Scotland 0

GOLDEN Kite landed the €50,000 Gigginstown House Midland National at Kilbeggan last night, getting the better of Decoy Daddy on the run-in after the last fence fall of narrow leader Classic Frontier and then surviving a Stewards Enquiry.

THE SFA last night confirmed George Burley’s sacking as Scotland manager.

The Scottish Football Association tonight confirmed George Burley's sacking as Scotland manager.

GEORGE BURLEY’S troubled reign as Scotland manager looks certain to end this week after the Scottish FA confirmed they will hold talks over his future.

Scotland 0 Holland 1

Norway 4 Scotland 0