by Paul Macdonald

Created on: June 11, 2008   Last Updated: December 23, 2010

In a word, no.

I am Scottish, and proud to be an avid follower of the Scottish Premier League and our national team. But we must realise that our days of mixing with the World's elite are simply memories of a halcyon era.

It's been twelve years since Scotland graced a major tournament, even giving the holders Brazil a scare in a 2-1 defeat in the opening match. Since then, our game has descended to farcical levels, and it's not simply the Berti Vogts administration that can shoulder the blame.

Our inability to compete can be traced directly to grass roots football. This future of our kids, the ones that we will rely on for success, are more interested in vegetating in front of the TV or games console rather than kicking a ball in anger. The Playstation Generation would rather watch pixellated versions of their heroes rather than attempting to emulate them, and it is this inherent laziness that holds the key to our lack of youth development.

To become a top-class professional footballer takes huge levels of commitment to steer away from the vices that can drag a potentially gifted player down the wrong path. Yes, the awards are there for all to see, but in Scotlands' binge-drinking and calorie consuming culture, it is hugely difficult for an impressionable teenager not to become embroiled in extra-curricular activities that will undermine their true ability.

This is furthered by our desperately uncompetitive premier league. Rangers and Celtic have won 88% of all league titles in Scottish history, a startling statistic that displays their dominance. They also have a knack of snapping up any proteges from other teams and taking them from future internationalists to mere bit-part player warming the bench most weeks at either side of the old firm. It's not their fault - they want to get their hands on the best talent we have to offer to give their team a Scottish nucleus. There just simply isn't enough of that to go round.

The facilities in Scotland are simply not good enough. The parks that were once bristling with boys playing late into the evening now have 'No ball games' signs cemented in by Bureaucratic Councils who abhor any form of entertainment. Yes, there are 5-a-side parks, many in fact, but they are often run by profit-orientated organisations who charge in upwards of 50.00 per hour to use their facilities. Kids can't afford this, and they can't play for free for risk of being chased by the police, so their only solution is to become rowdy, restless, and ultimately, drinkers. It's the simplest passtime to partake in.

All of these factors mean our quota of young stars is culled before they even have a chance to shine, and all the more pressure is heaped onto the shoulders of the ones that do.

What Scotland must realise is we have a population of 5 million people. We have punched above our weight in the past by producing talents such as Bremner, Dalglish and Souness. Perhaps we have had our day in the international limelight.

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