Distant butterflies turned to a full-on gut wrench this morning across Edinburgh, as 50,000 football fans realised the countdown to Hampden is truly on.
Over the weekend Hibs were turned over by Inverness and Hearts got a drubbing at Celtic. Neither set of fans particularly cares as they gaze absent-mindedly past the SPL finale to a greater prize in Glasgow’s southside this weekend.
Now everyone from the First Minister to capital cabbies are having their say on the biggest Edinburgh derby ever. This, dear readers, is much more than just life or death.
Both sides will be scrutinising the other’s line-ups from the weekend. Bad news - seven changes apiece meant Pat Fenlon and Paulo Sergio were keeping their tactical plans further off the radar than Craig Whyte’s billions.
And it would not be cup final time without a fan picking up a guitar and unleashing all his feelings in a lyrical masterpiece. Can football and music ever be wed in a holy union? Cup Final Talk will let your own cultivated ears be the judge on that.
TOP STORIES
Five star Hoops get the party started at Hearts’ expense
Hearts did the hard part of driving to Celtic Park, then clean forgot to actually play the game. This made Gary Hooper happy.
Hibs’ warm up for Scottish Cup final with defeat at Inverness
A much-changed Hibernian side decided that winning more games in Inverness than they had at home all season would be a bit too much, and Caley Thistle gladly mopped up a 2-0 win.
George Francomb looking forward to escaping pre-game madness in Dublin
The Hibs are off to Dublin to escape the media glare this week. George Francomb is fully in favour of getting away from it all. (Daily Record)
MUST READ
Countdown begins to city’s biggest ever derby
STV’s Shaun Milne gives prose to the every hope and fear of fans as STV Edinburgh launches its week to celebrate the first digital derby countdown.
Scotland’s First Minister - and self-professed Hearts fan - Alex Salmond relishes the thought of a cup final for Edinburgh. (Scotland on Sunday)
The dominating centre half has become a terrace legend in his short stint at Hibs. Here are his thoughts on going from struggling Coventry to captain of the cup finalists, in one easy loan. (Scotland on Sunday)
MUST LISTEN
Norval Barclay ‘Back Home to Leith’
Hibee Norval Barclay has a shot at the hallowed cup final song.
The Maroon 6 ‘On the March with the Heart of Midlothian
The Maroon 6 bring this funky number to the table. A must-download for the cup final playlist?
MUST WATCH
A bit of Scottish Cup nostalgia. Watch Hibs put Hearts to the sword 2-1 at Tynecastle in 1971, or jump forward to 1994 when the Jam Tarts won by the same scoreline at Easter Road.
More About Scottish Cup Final 2012
- Doors Open Day 2012: Thousands access city’s secret places
- Doors Open Day: Return to the 1950s or ride in a bus wash [Video]
- Hearts and Hibs fans set the bar for nationwide fixtures
- Hibernian boss Pat Fenlon handed four game ban for cup final incident
- Triumph and tragedy: Fans' views of the salt and sauce final [Video]
- Hearts and Hibs fans praised by police after cup final weekend
- Dejected Dougray Scott can’t understand Hibs’ attitude in cup final
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