FALSE 10: Tartan Army deserved this!

Picture this: the wind-lashed highlands of medieval Scotland, clans draped in tartan gathering around crackling bonfires, swords lifted to the darkening sky, hearts hammering like war drums—the very prologue of Braveheart, where William Wallace summons his people to fight for freedom, for their land, for their kin. In that moment, something untamed and indestructible surges to life: the Scottish spirit in its purest, fiercest form.

And that same spirit—undaunted, unpolished, unmistakably Scottish—endures today. It’s true, Scotland no longer has its own independent army, one that carries firearms. Yet, on the other hand, there is an army somewhere within the fabric of society that these skirt-wearing people truly enjoy — in football. And in that football, created somewhere near them, in England, a country they hate so much yet cannot live without, there still exists one unit, one regiment, one army that does not carry firearms but a fiery heart. That army is the Tartan Army.

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But before this becomes a conventional tale—no, it will not recount a striker’s spectacular volley, nor a superstar’s earth-shaking transfer to Barcelona or Real Madrid, nor Haaland’s endless barrage of goals for Manchester City. This is something far more elemental. This is a story about heroes who may never grace the pitch (unless they storm it in joyful chaos), yet without whom Haaland, Barcelona, and Real Madrid might not exist at all—or would exist hollowed, without a soul.

This is the story of the supporters. And among them, mentioned Tartan Army.

Tartan Army on the stands (©Gallo Images)

For decades, the Tartan Army have been more than just a sea of blue shirts and saltire flags. More than drums, chants, or the unmistakable swing of kilts. They have been a movement, a moral compass, a force of unabashed goodwill. In the early years, when Scotland’s national team struggled to leave a deep mark on the international stage, the fans remained—unyielding, loyal to a fault. While other supporter groups sometimes filled the headlines with chaos, the Scottish faithful built a legacy rooted in generosity, humor, and warmth.

At the heart of that generosity lie two remarkable charities: the Tartan Army Children’s Charity (TACC) and the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal (TASA). Founded not by institutions but by ordinary supporters, they channel the fierce loyalty of the fans into acts of profound kindness. TACC raises funds for disadvantaged children across Scotland through community events, raffles, and grassroots initiatives. TASA, meanwhile, carries the Scottish spirit abroad—donating to a charitable cause in every single country where the national team plays.

Their goodness has never gone unnoticed. In 1992, UEFA awarded the Tartan Army a Fair Play Award for their exemplary conduct at the European Championship. In 2001, the Belgian Olympic Committee honored them with a Fair Play Prize, testament to their reputation far beyond their homeland. And in 1999, the Scottish Tourist Board presented them with an engraved crystal football—an acknowledgment of the joy, color, and hospitality they bring wherever they roam.

But the Tartan Army’s legacy is not measured merely in trophies or plaques. It lives in the praise of city officials abroad, who have lauded them as some of “the best fans in the world”—not simply for their roaring choruses or their swirling kilts, but for moments of unexpected kindness, like helping an elderly local during a violent storm.

And then came this week—a crescendo three decades in the making.

On 18 November 2025, Scotland shattered their 28-year World Cup drought in the most breath-snatching fashion imaginable: a 4–2 triumph over Denmark at a thunderous Hampden Park, sealed by two goals deep into stoppage time. Scott McTominay ignited the night with a soaring overhead kick. Denmark clawed back twice. And then, as hope and fear teetered on a knife’s edge, Kieran Tierney bent in a sublime curler, followed moments later by Kenny McLean—launching an audacious lob from midfield that seemed to hang in the air for an eternity before history swallowed it whole.

Total madness! Tierney and McTominay send Scotland to World Cup after crazy win over Denmark

The emotions were tidal. Veteran fan Hamish Husband could only murmur, voice cracking, “That fourth goal…”

Jan Lee, witnessing the scenes from the stands, called the night “seismic”—a collision of tears, embraces, and pure sonic eruption.

A 22-year-old supporter, John Tolmie, admitted: “I think I started crying at one point… We almost didn’t even leave the pub to come watch. It’s something special.”

Online, disbelief mingled with ecstasy: “We’ve done it. I’m so proud to be from such a beautiful country… roll on WC 2026.” Another wrote, “Tears rolling… I had it in my head it would go wrong. But ffs, we’re Scottish. Football is magic sometimes.”

Manager Steve Clarke captured it with quiet brilliance: “I asked them before the game… and this time they listened. Right until the very last moment the crowd stayed with us. Nobody left. They could smell the magic.”

Because this is more than celebration.

It is catharsis.

It is redemption.

It is the culmination of decades of loyalty, kindness, and unshakable spirit.

From humble supporters to global ambassadors of goodwill, from fair-play honors to heartfelt admiration across continents, the Tartan Army have built something that transcends football itself. And after a night destined to be etched in Scottish folklore, they finally stand where they have always belonged—on the world stage, voices roaring, hearts ablaze.

They did not merely dream of this moment.

They forged it.

Tartan Army deserved this!

By: MIHAJLO ZLAJIC