Is this no the first time ever that 3 UK teams have featured in the knock-out stages of a major football tournament? Perhaps Scotland Wales and England did it once before as I've not seen this raised as a celebratory item here or in the limited press stuff I see on the internet.

Anybody else prepared to raise a glass? Probably not - we are a clannish lot in the UK when it comes to sport and many other things. I once got very near to being planted by an English bar owner here in Thailand. He called me over to an obvious discussion going on - "Steve, how do you describe where you come from when someone asks?" "I tell them I'm from the UK". "Your not from the UK, you are English" - proceed to light blue touch-paper!

[smokie is of course given a pass in the celebration stakes this time around but I will be happy to see a foursome do it in future but doubt it in my lifetime]

No referendum red-herrings please.

oh i thought this historic thread was going to be about this. 30 years ago to this very day.

oh yes - the hand of dog incident

... and, although it's not an anniversary event, I was reminded of another classic memory of England's tournament history - that save by Gordon Banks from Pele in WC 1970. The NI keeper pulled off the save of the tournament so far IMO last night against Germany - powerful down header - low (even lower when saved than Pele's efforts) and a remarkable instinctive leap left and down + strong hands. Banks was a bit better cos he had to get it from behind him. See what you think - i only saw the NI save the one time so maybe I'm being too OTT.

congrats to Wales and NI, particularly Wales. They could even get to the semis.

"Perhaps Scotland Wales and England did it once before"

Must have been a long time ago to have Scotchland in the mix!

Not having a dig - I have a great fondness for Scotland and all things Scottish - but what is the reason(s) for the decline in the quality of Scottish players. Back in the day, they had some great, and I mean great players. Certainly throughout the 70s there were excellent Scottish players/Scottish national team. Maybe in to the 80s as well. But when did the decline start and why?

"Not having a dig - I have a great fondness for Scotland and all things Scottish - but what is the reason(s) for the decline in the quality of Scottish players."

Bucky?

oh i thought this historic thread was going to be about this. 30 years ago to this very day.

I thought you were talking about this...

on the subject of gazza, this is a good read: http://www.thatgazzagoal.com/