Ibrox ‘an advantage for Scots’, claims David Weir

DAVID WEIR believes Friday’s Euro 2016 qualifier between Scotland and the Republic of Ireland should have been held at Ibrox Stadium instead of Celtic Park.
Weir spent five years at Ibrox as a Rangers player. Picture: SNSWeir spent five years at Ibrox as a Rangers player. Picture: SNS
Weir spent five years at Ibrox as a Rangers player. Picture: SNS

The former Scotland centre back, who made 69 appearances for his country, made the comments during a debate on BBC Sportsound.

Instead of agreeing with the assertion that Celtic Park was a better choice because of its greater capacity, Weir expressed his feeling that Ibrox would have given Scotland a better chance of winning the match.

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“If I’m being honest, in my opinion this game should have been at Ibrox. That would have been more of an advantage for Scotland,” stated Weir.

“But, on the other hand, stadiums don’t win games. Teams win games and players win games.

“The game is where it is, so we can use that as an excuse or we can use it as a motivation to help us win.

“As I’ve said, the stadium doesn’t win the game, the players win the game and the performance wins the game, but I think the game should have been at Ibrox to give us a little bit of help.”

Weir didn’t elaborate further and wasn’t pressed on his reasons.

The 44-year old’s Scotland career spanned 13 years, though there was a two-year hiatus where the defender briefly retired after a falling out with former boss Bertie Vogts.

During that time he played in several high octane encounters, including featuring in every match of the infamous Euro 2008 qualification campaign and the 1999 play-off double-header against England.

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Calling on his experience from such occasions, Weir warns the current group of Scotland players to concentrate on the match and not let the atmosphere overwhelm them.

“It’s well known that Gordon [Strachan] will have a plan and it’s important that we execute that plan,” Weir added.

“We’re not just going to be up-and-at-them, and have it just being about emotion.

“I think we’re going to try and execute and play a good game of football and not get too carried away with the occasion.

“Usually the best performance wins the game and not the emotion.”

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