The footballing gods have once again paired the two mighty nations of Holland and Scotland together in a vital football match. No doubt the thousands of Dutch heading over to Scotland will ensure a superb atmosphere - and we would make a plea to the Dutch masters to be a little lenient towards us Scots (not that we're desperate or anything) - they've won the group at a canter and have nothing to play for so why not just let us go through to the Play-Offs?

**UPDATE**

By a massive stroke of good luck i managed to get to the game on Wednesday night - it was a fantastic night despite the result. The atmosphere was amazing and im sure the Dutch supporters enjoyed themselves, hopefully Scotland will get some better luck in the next campaign.

AFC Ajax Football Club

AFC Ajax where founded in 1900, after joining the Dutch League in 1901 they struggled in the second division for ten years before winning promotion to the Dutch first division in 1911 season, the fairytale story of Ajax did not start here as they were demoted back to the second division three years later, this was the first and last time they would ever leave the Dutch top flight in their 109 year history. Hard to believe that they came from the second division in the first place!

Since they won the first ever Dutch National Championship way back in 1918 – Ajax have dominated the top end of the Dutch league whilst producing some fine world class players along the way. It was their legendary trainer Jack Reynolds that set the foundations of the now world renowned Ajax youth training camp.

The Amsterdam outfit has now won a staggering 29 league titles. In 1961 they had their first taste of European experience by playing in the Cup Winners’ Cup, ten years later they had their hands on the trophy and failed to give it back for an astonishing three seasons as the romped to glory in Holland, Europe and the World as most of the players in the team tasted world cup success in 1972 along with the legendary Johan Cruijff.

AFC Ajax has produced some of the best players in the world dating back to the 1930’s. With every passing decade there is another list of legendary players that have taken the football world by storm. Ajax amongst other big clubs from smaller countries now find themselves in a precarious position - knowing they can’t compete financially against the other big clubs from the major European Leagues, Ajax must be the best prepared club outside the major leagues in Europe knowing that they can produce world class players to play on their pitch whilst selling one or two every year if need be to balance the books.

As a native Scotsman there are few things that stir the passions as much as football - and it just so happens that my team is taking on the Dutch masters at the Amsterdam ArenA on the 28th of March. This puts me in a rather awkward position as the match features my two favourite countries, but of course - i am fully behind Scotland.

Historically, the Scot's have has their moments against Holland - in 1978 Archie Gemmill scored one of the greatest goals in World Cup history, although Scotland won the match 3-2, they still went out the tournament - yet another glorious failure.



In 2003, Scotland played Holland in the playoffs for the 2004 World Cup - Scotland won the first match 1-0 at Hampden, only to fall to a 6-0 thrashing in the return leg. The Tartan Army being a resolute buch however, ensures that we enter the next couple of fixtures with a degree of confidence, with Holland not perhaps the force they once were. One thing is guaranteed - the Tartan Army will be there in force - they have already booked almost an entire DFDS ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam.

Good luck Scotland!