Soccer WI: Scotland National Football Team the most dominant among the 'Home Nations' (including non-Sporting Butterflies for this ATL Britain)

[PakistaniGuyUK]

With a population of 5m versus 50m Scotland were always realistically gonna play second fiddle to England among the Home Nations's sides. Nonetheless, as highlighted by someone on a Euros soccer thread a couple of months ago the head to heads between England and Scotland are surprisingly even. Secondly, you cannot discount any nation based on population alone as countries like Bulgaria (7m), Croatia (4m), Denmark (6m) and Uruguay (3.5m) have all been relatively successful/consistent soccer nations. Thirdly, there were indeed periods where Scottish football was dominant (in the 1800s for example Scotland thrashed England 6-1 in a game).

So what if things in an ATL things are reversed and Scotland are the Home Nations representatives at most World Cups and European Championships with England playing second fiddle? England although not absolutely terrible are not as good as OTL and have large stretches where they struggle to qualify for tournaments. In club competitions (Euro Cups etc) English teams such as Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea (and all OTL big names) fare well, maybe even the same as OTL, but the national team ALWAYS struggle to make a mark on the International stage.

For example (post 1966):
...................................................... Scotland ........................ England ........................
World Cup 1966 ..................WINNERS ................../.Quarter Finals (Hosts)
World Cup 1970 ..................Did not qualify.............Did not qualify
World Cup 1974 ..................Did not qualify............ Did not qualify
World Cup 1978 ..................Quarter Finals.............Did not qualify
World Cup 1982 ..................Quarter Finals.............Group Stages
World Cup 1986 ..................Quarter Finals.............Group Stages
Euro 1988.................................Quarter Final...............Did not qualify
World Cup 1990 ..................Semi Final.....................Group Stages
Euro 1992.................................Quarter Final...............Did not qualify
World Cup 1994 ..................Did not qualify............Did not qualify
Euro 1996..............................WINNERS (Hosts).......Quarter Finals (Hosts)
World Cup 1998 ..................Second Round.............Group Stages
Euro 2000.................................First Round..................Did not qualify
World Cup 2002 ..................Quarter Final..............Did not qualify
Euro 2004.................................Quarter Finals............Did not qualify
World Cup 2006 ..................Second Round............Did not qualify
Euro 2008 ..............................Did not qualify...........Did not qualify
World Cup 2010 ..................Second Round............Did not qualify
Euro 2012.................................Quarter Finals............Did not qualify
World Cup 2014 ..................Group Stages..............Did not qualify
Euro 2016.................................Second Round............Did not qualify
World Cup 2018 .........../......Semi Final....................Did not qualify
Euro 2020.................................Semi Final......................Group Stages

*missed out some Euros will add them in later !

Sporting Butterflies:
How would this alter the England v Scotland dynamic?
How would this effect the development of football in England post 1950?
What implications would this have for British Football and World Football?
Would a Scotland v Germany rivalry emerge or would it get replaced by something else?

Non-Sporting Butterflies:
Due to greater exposure of Scotland as Britain's main representatives at tournaments, how would this alter Scotland's (non-sporting) self-perception?
How would it alter the perception of Europeans, Americans etc as regards Britain and the English or would there be minimal change here?

 

[Coulsdon Eagle]

I assume that power in English football resides with the Football League - either the FA has had it wrested from them by the clubs, or was never formed in the first place. Possibly the founding of the Football League pre-dates the FA Cup, or whatever the national cup competition would be named.

There are a lot of English supporters who would put club before country, so imagine the Premier League writ large - there are no limits on overseas players, as the owners and many fans don't acre about the (useless) national side, which reduces the chances of English players making an impact, which leads to the national team faring worse compared to other nations, etc. But the successful sides tend to have a string Scottish component.

English clubs would probably be those to first challenge Real Madrid in Europe, so I would expect UEFA to bring in those wonderful overseas players rules that so hamstrung Manchester United in the 1990s, especially treating the Home Nations as separate nationalities.

So, possibly a much earlier appearance of a Premier League in England; greater English club success in Europe, but split among a larger number of clubs, with periods of domination.

Would hope that this success in international football for Scotland would lead to a greater spread of the best Scots players across the nation, but think that many would follow the well-paid road south, and we would still end up with the Auld Firm ruling the Scottish roost, with perhaps a greater impact on Europe.

 

[PakistaniGuyUK]

Would hope that this success in international football for Scotland would lead to a greater spread of the best Scots players across the nation, but think that many would follow the well-paid road south, and we would still end up with the Auld Firm ruling the Scottish roost, with perhaps a greater impact on Europe.

Very good point in fact - hadn't even thought of that. Scottish players being highly prized in the Premier League and likely following the road South for more lucrative club football!

 

[EvilJam]

England goes full in on Cricket and Rugby relegating football to the clear #3 sport and their player production suffers accordingly

Very unlikely possibility but it's the only way I see it happening

 

[PakistaniGuyUK]

England goes full in on Cricket and Rugby relegating football to the clear #3 sport and their player production suffers accordingly

Very unlikely possibility but it's the only way I see it happening

Ah yes, good point, if international football becomes secondary then more English interest in Cricket, Rugby etc... well at least when England are playing in World Cups etc