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ANOTHER Scotland away day, another foreign journalist singing the Tartan Army’s praises. And of course it went viral.
This time it was a thread from respected Portuguese sports journalist Tomás da Cunha, who explained how he met several members of the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal (Tasa) out in Germany during the Euros.
A charity set up by Scotland supporters in 2003, Tasa has successfully donated money to a local charity at every Scotland away game since. In other words, over 100 matches and £300,000.
“Realising that I was Portuguese, they challenged me to something impossible to refuse,” he revealed – enlisting his help to choose a charity for the Nation’s League match between Scotland and Portugal, which went ahead yesterday (Sunday).
Scotland lost 2-1 after Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winning goal in the 88th minute. But, with a donation to ANFR – a local children’s street football programme – the Tartan Army were great ambassadors for Scotland yet again.
"Football as an excuse to share and make the world a better place," Da Cunha said. "It is worth remembering these fans.”
But Da Cunha's intervention is far from the only positive media attention the Tartan Army has received in recent months.
In Germany this summer, it followed them throughout. I personally saw it plastered on German television screens while I was in Munich myself for the Germany game. You could hardly escape commentators and journalists singing their praises.
The Cologne-based daily paper Kolnische Rundschau (above) even published an editorial thanking Scotland fans for bringing “good mood and party spirit” to the city ahead of the match against Switzerland.
Meanwhile, a French football journalist expressed his love for Scotland’s national anthem at the Euros. “No anthem gives you goosebumps as much as Flower of Scotland”, said Pierre-Etienne Minonzio from L'Équipe.
It’s nothing entirely new either. A Guardian article back in 2001 asked: “Why aren't England fans like the Tartan Army?”
Interestingly, the journalist spoke with a Tartan Army fan by the name of Hamish Husband who obviously made an impression as well as some interesting observations.
Husband said he agreed that Scotland fans very much see themselves as “ambassadors”.
“The Tartan Army are pleased to meet those from elsewhere,” he said.
“It's like an election campaign when you go abroad with Scotland, with people insisting on shaking hands with everyone they meet in the street, kissing babies and having their picture taken.”
Scotland fans were labelled “the friendliest Army in the world” by Euro 2024 hosts Germany. But are they also the most media friendly? Perhaps. But great charitable acts from the likes of Tasa will certainly not go unnoticed.
