By the time you are all watching this week’s edition of Through A Scottish Prism Podcast, I will be 40,000 feet high somewhere between Dubai and Barcelona. Next Friday I will also be at 40,000 feet, flying to Scotland to attend the Liberate Scotland Fundraiser.

On Tuesday night, I felt like I was about 40,000 feet above the ground as the Scottish National football team thrashed Denmark 4-2 on the hallowed turf of Hampden Park to qualify for the World Cup next summer.

The entire day and match played out as a perfect metaphor for our nation. I wrote the following in a tweet 12 hours before kick-off.

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Before the match, many, like myself, expressed concerns and worries but felt that we would somehow muddle through. Others were convinced that we would do our usual and screw it up in glorious defeat. I mean why not? We have done that so many times before in football, politics, and war.

There were even some hoping their nation of birth would be defeated and were actually wishing the Danes good luck. Others tried to dismiss it completely as not really as important as their local teams’ efforts over this weekend, citing how success in domestic football outtrumped international success. (pun intended.)

As the night unfolded, we began brilliantly, and in just the third minute, Scott McTominay scored a wonder goal with an overhead kick. It was measured that he managed to get a mind -blowing 8 feet high+ when connecting his boot to the ball. Cue delirium inside Hampden and throughout the globe as Scots everywhere screamed their joy. Expectation was now at an all-time high.

Then, as expected, the pain began as fate played with the Scottish emotions. Denmark equalised in the 53rd. minute (never a penalty!) In the 78th minute Shankland sent the Scots into rapture as we once more grab the lead. The Danes now down to 10 men it seems are determined to wreck our dreams by equalising in the 82nd minute.

The disappointment pervades Hampden and throughout the global diaspora as the clock ticks down to 90 minutes. Those who love to disparage our nation are already writing their headlines: “the too wee, too poor” type of headlines, the “don’t get ideas above your station” type of headlines. “The get back into your box” type headlines. “You can all just support Engurlund this summer” headlines!

Fortunately, Mr. Tierney and Mr. McLean had different ideas. Just like the sma’ folk at Bannockburn these two Scottish heroes decided that defeat was not an option and both not just scored goals-these were wonder goals.For decades to come, these will be shown and talked about. The Danes were vanquished, and Scots throughout the world began looking up flights to Mexico, Canada, and the USA.

Social media went into overdrive with pictures of the goals, the celebrations, and of course, it wouldn’t be Scotland without the funny memes. The noise that erupted with the last kick of the game, when Kenny McLean from inside his own half, lobbed the Danish keeper, was incredible. I am surprised windows throughout Mount Florida were not shattered! Florida,  how appropriate!

As I said at the beginning, of this the Tuesday night’s game is a perfect metaphor for Scotland and for its Independence struggle. Take just the last 20 odd years or so, Alex Salmond returning to replace the hapless John Swinney in 2004. In 2007, the first ever SNP Government of Scotland. All the fabulous policies and successes led to the 2011 majority and ultimately the 2014 Independence referendum.

Then the agony of that defeat, like Tuesday’s penalty. Many of us suspected (and still do) that all was not right! The subbing of Alex Salmond for the despot called Sturgeon. Just a competing attitude, not a winning attitude. A defensive formation, playing with no strikers. Settling for a draw every time. It’s the taking part that matters, not the winning. A steady as you go attitude, do not upset our opponents, keep giving them the (political) ball.

Now in 2025, we are in political injury time. We need political Tierneys and Mcleans to step forward, we need wonder goals. We need the sma’ folk, we need every Scot to have the same desire to win against the odds as our lads on Tuesday night.

Our naysayers are already writing the 2026 headlines, the too poor, too wee, definitely too stupid headlines. The leave it all to Mother England and that nice Mr. Farage. Get in your lane, know your place, be compliant, do not expect, and whatever you do, do not get ideas above your station!

In June of this year in Canada, Mexico and the USA the Saltire will be proudly flying alongside the flags of other nations of the world as they compete for the greatest prize in global sport: the FIFA World Cup. Scotland is there on its own merits. Neither London nor Westminster has any input into our national football team. It is entirely by our own efforts. When it is left to us alone, we compete as equals. When they are involved in anything, we are held back, demeaned, denied, and discarded. We are always subordinated.

In May 2026, political injury time is being played. You can either Liberate Scotland, or allow our enemies, internal and external, to win. It is up to you: are you a winner or a loser? Be like our football heroes, be winners, defy the odds, and let us, see the Saltire flying outside the UN building in New York between the flags of Saudi Arabia and Senegal.

This is the main theme of our podcast this week. Join myself, Eva Comrie, Allan Petrie and Lloyd Quinan as we join the dots from footballing success to political success.