NEVER has the start of a World Cup qualifying campaign got underway with so little fuss.

Gordon Strachan’s team could be playing Lunar Athletic on the moon for all the average punter will take much notice on Sunday night.

Why? Well there are several factors that are contributing to the malaise that currently engulfs many who normally have a penchant for belting out a few Doe a Deers and swimming in fountains.

The disappointment of not at least getting a play-off place for the Euros undoubtedly had everyone on a downer. But getting hammered from France and Italy before the tournament started, and then having to sit through the competition watching heroics from Wales and Northern Ireland, didn’t make things any easier.

It was Rabbie Burns who once wrote about the gift to see ourselves as others see us. Not the now, eh Rab?

On top of that, Strachan’s squad selection has raised a few eyebrows as well as questions.

There was no place for Shaun Maloney, arguably his star player in the last campaign, as well as Ross McCormack, the man who was Scotland’s richest player for, well, a couple of weeks.

Even when Leigh Griffiths pulled out and he needed a replacement the Scotland manager turned to Tony Watt, who has one goal to his name for Hearts, to step into the breach. Go figure.

The fact we are still two months away from the England game at Wembley isn’t helping raise the level of excitement, either.

Despite what many are thinking or feeling, though, this can be a landmark campaign for Scotland, even if we don’t qualify for the World Cup in Russia.

If we look at Wales and specifically Northern Ireland, these are two nations that have re-emerged as two of Europe’s proud footballing nations. To get to France neither had the toughest qualification group, but when there they were nothing short of magnificent.

Michael O’Neill and Chris Coleman deserve credit for that, but their successes were not founded on the ability of two men. Just like the future of Scotland’s participation at national tournaments does not rest on the shoulders of Gordon Strachan.

Both Jim Magilton and Ian Rush, the performance directors for their respective nations, have been sculpting a system for some time now that allows a clear vision and path way from grassroots football to the very top level. The IFA have also benefited from the fact Magilton is their Under-21 coach.

Rather than looking inward and feeling sorry for ourselves as this campaign kicks off, we should cast a glance to our near neighbours to see just how both of them have gone from obscurity to prominence in a relatively short space of time.

The Scottish FA are still on the hunt for a performance director after Mark Wotte and Brain McClair failed in their missions. They must get the right man this time with the authority and personality that such a job needs.

The next few months signify the start of a bright new dawn for the Scotland national team, as well as the one after that, and after that.

Let’s get it right.

AND ANOTHER THING…

While the Tartan Army find their voice in Malta, a fair old racket will be made back home on the banks of the Clyde.

Tomorrow marks the start of the Elite Ice Hockey League season and Braehead Clan will enter only their sixth season in existence seeking to win the title for the very first time.

Now, before you switch off, let me tell you something. Braehead are the biggest growing sports club in Scotland and outwith Rangers, Celtic and the Glasgow Warriors, are the biggest supported team in the city.

Regularly playing in front of 3500 on a weekly basis, they pull in bigger home supports than Partick Thistle, St Mirren, Queen’s Park and Morton.

They have blazed a magnificent trail in the last couple of years that has offered something new and vibrant to sports fans across the west in the form of entertainment, food and drink (aye, that includes alcohol) and good value all under a roof.

Here’s to a great season for all in purple this year.