by Andrew Muirhead

The Scottish FA yesterday announced that Scotland will play host to an international challenge match with England at Celtic Park on Tuesday November 18, two months after the Scottish public vote on independence from the  United Kingdom.

The Auld Enemy clash takes place four days after Scotland’s crucial Group D qualifying match against the Republic of Ireland, also to be hosted at Celtic Park.

England will be looking to get over their World Cup failure by making it two wins out of two against Scotland in as many years, while Gordon Strachan’s men will be looking to build on their performance from the 3-2 defeat at Wembley — thanks to a late Rickie Lambert goal — to get some revenge and pile further misery on a faltering England side.

Manager Gordon Strachan believes that Scotland can secure that morale-boosting-win over the Auld Enemy, saying: “We have enjoyed an encouraging build-up to our Uefa Euro 2016 qualifying campaign and I am sure the players, the coaching staff and the fans will love the chance to go head-to-head with our oldest rivals again.

“Like our supporters, I was really heartened by the performance against England at Wembley and believe we had a great opportunity to record a win we could all have talked about for years. 

“Now, we have that chance again and I am sure the players and the fans will be even more determined to take it.

“The atmosphere at Wembley was incredible and I am sure with Celtic Park filled with Scotland supporters, it is a game the whole country will look forward to. 

“I am sure the players and fans will all be looking forward to the challenge of a team who deserve their crown as the best team in the world.”

Before Scotland focus on the Auld Enemy, they kick off their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign on September 7 in Dortmund against new Fifa World Cup 2014 champions Germany, who beat Argentina 1-0 in extra time.