Future is bright, says Vogts

LISA GRAY AT BRUCHWEG STADIUM
 

Malcolm looked to have given Scotland a victory
Kyle pulled Scotland level just before half-time	Voigt (left) celebrates his late goal

SCOTLAND’S future squad were denied a win in Germany by a last-minute free-kick in Mainz last night. They had fought back twice through goals from Kevin Kyle and Stephen Hughes when Bob Malcolm scored with just four minutes left on the clock, but Alexander Voigt’s late free-kick earned the draw for the home side.

Scotland manager Berti Vogts returned to his native Germany in the hope of unearthing the nation’s future squad as both teams kicked off a tournament which also includes Turkey and the Czech Republic, and he was pleased with what he saw.

The tournament is designed to give fringe players the opportunity to show they can force their way into his first-team plans in the future, and several candidates did their chances no harm by emerging with their reputations enhanced.

Scotland’s first team travel to Germany next September for a Euro 2004 qualifier and Vogts has urged those players included in the senior squad to follow in the footsteps of his B squad by clinching a valuable point against his countrymen.

Clearly enthused by his team’s performance against a team managed by Ulli Stielike, his former international team-mate, Vogts said: "It is a long time since Scotland scored three goals away from home and everyone must remember that - that we were away from home. I thought that we could win the game and I told the players that before the game even started. Now we must come back here and get a draw again in September and I hope that we can do that."

"I am very delighted at the way the whole team played and this result has given us a lot of confidence. We can take a lot of positives from the game and I was pleased at the way we came back from a goal down twice to be ahead 3-2 at one point. It was a fantastic free-kick from them, but I thought that we should have won the game. I went to Scotland with the mission to build a future for the Scottish team and the future team is part of that."

Germany coach Stielike reckons Christmas came early for the 5,200 supporters who watched the game. He said: "All the players on the pitch gave their hearts and lungs for 93 minutes and, for the fans, this was like an early Christmas present. They played flat out and there were six fantastic goals - it’s just a pity that there weren’t more people here to see them."

Vogts’ term in charge of the first-choice squad got off to a shaky start earlier this year in Paris - Scotland lost 5-0 to the then world champions - and the opening 45 minutes in Mainz did not show a great deal to encourage faith in the players who, it was hoped, would eventually force their way into the top team.

 

Berti Vogts was delighted by the B team performance in Germany.

The Scotland manager had hoped that this tournament would give him an idea of who was most likely to make the grade in the future and also help to improve the players’ performances at club level. But it was Germany who started the better side and a free-kick a couple of yards outside the corner of the 18 yard box allowed them to test the Scots early on. Skipper Fabian Ernst was not far away when he fired just inches over the crossbar after five minutes.

Scotland had to wait 15 minutes for their first chance at goal when Dundee’s Gavin Rae supplied the cross from the right wing and it was met by Kyle, but the big Sunderland hitman nodded just wide. It was the home side who opened the scoring after 16 minutes when Markus Daun played the ball into the path of Kevin Kuranyi, who slotted home from just outside the six-yard box.

Ten minutes before the break, Daniel Bierofka was allowed to run unmarked into the box before unleashing a shot, but the ball was easily held by the Scotland goalkeeper Paul Gallacher. Scotland had a great chance to level the scoreline when Stephen Glass curled the ball into the path of Kyle, who produced a great header, but he was denied by an equally-impressive save from goalkeeper Simon Jentzsch. But Glass suffered a blow after 41 minutes when a calf injury meant he had to be replaced and that gave a chance to Scott Murray to impress Vogts.

Jentzsch had done well to deny Kyle minutes earlier, but he was powerless to prevent Scotland drawing level after 43 minutes. Kyle’s downward header was blocked by Christoph Preuss, but he succeeded only in knocking the ball back into the path of the Sunderland striker who shot home.

Both coaches opted to make a change during the break and Germany’s goalscorer Kuranyi was replaced by Alexander Meier, while Vogts swopped Barry Nicholson for Stephen Hughes. The Germans started the second half determined to reclaim the lead they had lost just before the interval and Daun could have netted five minutes after the restart, but his effort was blocked by Gary Caldwell.

Caldwell showed that he could be impressive at the other end of the park also when he exchanged a one-two with Kyle but he sent his long, low effort just wide of the post. Germany surged back into the lead again after 58 minutes when Florian Kringe played the ball into the path of fellow substitute Meier who fired home.

But their joy was short-lived when Kyle’s downward header was met by Hughes who produced a great half-volley to allow Scotland to draw level again. As the game entered the final 20 minutes, Scotland could have taken the lead when goalkeeper Jentzsch’s throw was intercepted by Kyle, but he squandered the chance by shooting straight into the path of the keeper.

Gallacher was called into action to produce a great save to deny Voigt’s powerful effort after 74 minutes. With just four minutes it was the unlikely source of Malcolm who slotted the ball home from just outside the six-yard box, but a free-kick from Voigt in the last minute of the game earned Germany a draw that Vogts felt was unmerited.

Germany B: Jentsch, Hinkel (Kringe 57), Voigt, Preuss, Franz, Schindzielorz, Bierofka, Ernst, Daun, Kuranyi (Meier 46), Frommer (Meyer 67). Subs not used: Borel, Borowski.

Scotland B: Gallacher, S Caldwell, Malcolm, G Caldwell, Crainey (Canero 65), G Rae (Kennedy 89), Nicholson (Hughes 46), I Murray, Glass (S Murray 41), Miller (Harper 81), Kyle. Subs not used: Alexander, McGovern, Arthur.

Referee: L Duhamel (Fra).

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Scots hit by late leveller

Scotland's future team fought back twice against their German counterparts in Mainz but a late goal foiled their hopes of victory. Berti Vogts young side went behind to a Kevin Kuranyi goal after only 14 minutes. But Kevin Kyle equalised just before half-time.

The Germans took the lead again on the hour mark but within a minute Stephen Hughes had restored parity. And Rangers' defender Bob Malcolm scored what looked like being the winning goal for Scotland with four minutes to go. However, Alexander Voigt snatched an injury-time equaliser.

 

It was the Germans who enjoyed much of the possession in the opening spell of the game. And although some frailties in their defence were exposed early on they enjoyed the first chance of the game. A free-kick a few yards outside the corner of the 18 yard box allowed them to test the Scots and skipper Fabian Ernst was not far away when he fired just inches over the crossbar after five minutes. Germany's best chances were coming from set-pieces and Nico Frommer tried his luck from 35 yards but he pulled the shot wide and the effort never troubled goalkeeper Paul Gallacher.

Scotland had to wait 15 minutes for their first chance at goal when Dundee's Gavin Rae supplied the cross from the right wing and it was met by Kyle. But the Sunderland striker nodded just wide. Then the home side opened the scoring after 14 minutes when Markus Daun played the ball into the path of Kuranyi who slotted home from just outside the six yard box.

Germany were visibly boosted by the opening goal and they continued to put the Scots defence under pressure. Kuranyi had the chance to add to his tally following a free-kick from Voigt but the effort was deflected and the opportunity was lost. Ten minutes before the break, Daniel Bierofka was allowed to run unmarked into the box before unleashing a shot but the ball was easily held by Scotland goalkeeper Gallacher.

But just two minutes later, the Scots had a great chance to level the scoreline when Stephen Glass curled the ball into the path of Kyle who produced a great header. But he was denied by an equally impressive save from goalkeeper Simon Jentzsch. But Jentzsch was powerless to prevent Scotland drawing level after 43 minutes.

Kyle's downward header was blocked by Christoph Preuss but he succeeded only in knocking the ball back into the path of the striker who shot home. The Germans started the second half determined to reclaim the lead they had lost just before the interval and Daun could have netted five minutes after the restart but his effort was blocked by Gary Caldwell. Minutes later Ernst tried to pick out Bierofka for a header at the back post but Caldwell again managed to clear.

And the German side took the lead after 58 minutes through Alexander Meier. But the Scots refused to buckle and fought back again when substitute Hughes latched onto a knock down from Kyle to fire a left-foot shot past Jentsch. Malcolm put Scotland into the lead for the first time in the 86th minute when a Hughes free-kick from the right broke to him in the German box and he stroked it home. But Voigt popped up to spoil Scotland's party.