Scotland 1, Germany 1 |
 Miller scores |
 Miller wheels away in triumph as keeper Oliver Kahn can only lie distraught on the Hampden turf. |
 Wolves striker Kenny Miller celebrates his equaliser in front of a delighted Hampden crowd. |
 Paul Lambert |
 Fredi Bobic's header gives Germany the lead |
 Bobic celebrates after his strike |
 Schneider holds his head in disbelief after Douglas makes a stunning save from his 30-yard free kick |
 Douglas shows his delight as Scotland pick up a vital point in their Euro 2004 qualifying campaign |
Scottish efficiency a match for the Germans
THIS was the one that Berti Vogts had always said he wished to be judged on. Past embarrassments against sides such as the Faroe Islands, Austria and New Zealand were all a means to an end, we were told, even if few believed him.
But as Scotland set about the World Cup finalists at Hampden yesterday with rare tenacity and purpose, it appeared that the lynch mob calling for Der Terrier’s head had perhaps done him a disservice. They were not quite world-beaters, but a second-half equaliser from Kenny Miller at least proved that perhaps we are no worse than Lithuania, and Portugal 2004 may not be a pipedream after all.
If the pre-match performance of the Three Tenors was a shock to the system, then as much could be said of the Scotland players’ display. Flower o’ Scotland was given the kind of revamp that must have had traditionalists birling, and it seemed to sum up everything that the national manager has been seeking from his players: all gusto and passion.
Since his installation, the oft-repeated rhetoric has focused on the need for his charges to "fight and run and work for 90 minutes". But for those unimpressed by his results, the response invariably has been that without an element of organisation, even the feistiest, fittest team would struggle.
Which has been the case in the vast majority of matches contended by Vogts’ selections, but up against the quality of footballers guaranteed to give the Tartan Army the colly-wobbles - never mind the players - there was an amazing degree of composure. In fact, should it emerge that Vogts had been off sick with Craig Brown covering for him, few could claim to be too surprised.
For once under this regime everyone seemed to have a job, and more significantly, they were aware of what it was, and held their shape: a back four to marshal the movement of Miroslav Klose and Fredi Bobic, with full-backs Maurice Ross and Gary Naysmith instructed to get down the flanks when ever possible to support any attack.
Christian Dailly was dispatched in a manner that stated that Scotland were intent on playing Germany at their own game. In the libero role, just in front of the defence, he was responsible for keeping man-mountain Michael Ballack out of the game.
Up ahead the emphasis was on attack, with Paul Lambert trusted to do most of the dirty work as Paul Devlin and Colin Cameron tried to follow their remit of feeding the frontmen and driving in late to bolster numbers in that area. But while it seemed to be panning out nicely, the reality was that within 22 minutes they were a goal behind.
Ballack had already executed a driving shot, which may have proved more troublesome to Rab Douglas had it been on target or another white shirt had hurried in at the back post as it skimmed across the face of goal, but the deadlock was broken four minutes later.
Having been content to soak up an early onslaught, Germany burst up Scotland’s more vulnerable left wing, and Torsten Frings delivered a cross that was missed by Steven Pressley, and headed home by Bobic.
But in contrast to so many of Scotland’s more recent outings, it did not signal the end, and there were no slumped shoulders in sight, on the pitch, anyway. But in the stands the anxiety was etched across faces: the opening action had offered cause for hope, but in the time that it took Bobic to place his effort beyond Douglas, it had been dashed.
The players reflected a different outlook, and with Cameron justifying inclusion with some penetrative play, and Lambert once again proving that he is one of the few exceptional players at Vogts’ disposal, they plugged away.
And they nearly reaped the reward six minutes after falling behind. The telepathic understanding built up between clubmates Cameron and Miller had been seen as more and more influential, but the nifty passing and smart runs had been well read, and were snuffed out.
Cameron burst through to the edge of the penalty-box, but his shot was blocked, and when Miller tried to assist, his effort was also closed down, with Christian Worns and then Jens Jeremies keeping the Wolves from the door.
Scotland’s corner a minute later allowed Gary Naysmith to send in a swirling left-footer, which just cleared the rising Andy Webster. Falling at the feet of Stevie Crawford at the back post, the marksman screwed the shot wide when he should have tested Oliver Khan.
A competitive match that was punctuated with fouls and bookings, no quarter was given, and none was asked. Rather than try to break up play, Scotland were content to keep the game flowing, but it was Germany who almost extended their lead as half-time loomed.
Tobias Rau barged through tackles from Paul Devlin and Cameron, and was eye to eye with Douglas when Lambert slid in with a saving tackle.
Half-time failed to alter the pattern, but the second half did allow Scotland to record their first proper shot on target, finally evading the defence, and it was a worthy effort. Crawford, inside the 18-yard box, belted the ball on the volley, forcing Khan to parry with his fists, but when it was dinked into Cameron’s path, he fluffed his opportunity.
At that stage there was always the nagging doubt that while a vast improvement had been appreciated, the display could prove another of the gutsy and glorious failures which dot this nation’s history, but with 68 minutes on the stadium clock, Cameron took a quick free-kick, angling it through the German rearguard for Miller to collect, and he kept his composure to dispatch it beyond the World Cup player of the tournament.
Bernd Schneider almost wiped the smiles off the faces with eight minutes remaining, a piledriver testing Douglas to the limit, but the Celtic keeper pushed it round the post. As the final whistle sounded, the boos and jeers of recent matches were replaced by warmer declarations of "Scotland we love you." Fans may be fickle, but on the evidence of yesterday, so are this Scotland team.
Voeller bemoans lack of spark
Germany coach Rudi Voeller was less than satisfied with his side's performance in the 1-1 draw with Scotland on Saturday. Voeller admitted Germany deserved no more than a point from the game, and praised Scotland for their display. But he still felt that it was a case of two points dropped rather than one gained, despite the Germans' lack of creative spark.
"The 1-0 lead we took was the result of what was frankly our first real successful move forward and afterwards we never managed to get our passing game flowing to extend it," he added. "There was always a danger that some slip up might allow an equaliser and that was precisely what happened. It is a great pity but frankly we didn't deserve any better. We lost possession far too many times, played the ball right to the opponents' feet and were fortunate they didn't use that possession any better. We played the game the way the Scottish team wanted. Our back three marked their opponents fairly well, but our attacking play didn't work out the way I wanted it to."
"The Scottish team, as we knew they would, were fighting all the way. It was very much our style of play during World Cup 2002 and we were just lacking imagination and real clout in midfield. I think Scotland did exceptionally well. They applied pressure on our midfield and stopped Michael Ballack. That was one of the keys to success for them. They gave their all, as we knew they would, and I think they deserved their point."
German goalscorer Fredi Bobic acknowledged that their failure to
capitalise after taking the lead had cost them dearly. But he
insisted that he had enjoyed the occasion. "It was a great
atmosphere during the national anthems and it was unbelievable
during the game. It was typical Scottish football with the long ball
and it was very physical but that wasn't a problem for me because I
like physical. I thought the first goal would be enough and we tried
to play defensively and wait for the second chance to score the
second. The problem was the equaliser, it was too cheaply given
away. After a set-piece we slept a bit and they took it well."
Miller hungry like the wolf
THE public announcer who completed formalities after yesterday’s draw at Hampden advised a crowd of more than 48,000 to make their way home and "enjoy the party". Scotland may not have secured three points, but it felt like a win. So modest have been the national side’s achievements under Berti Vogts, there are those for whom narrow defeat would have been tantamount to moral victory.
In the light of their inept, sometimes comic ‘progress’ along the road to Euro 2004, it would be churlish to deny Vogts his share of credit for this unlikely performance. In front of a sell-out crowd, with its lions rampant rippling almost like the olden days, Scotland demonstrated more passion, more invention and certainly more organisation than they had in any of the German’s previous 14 matches at the helm.
Vogts even suggested afterwards that a season of hurt had been worth it in the name of so spirited a performance against the nation of his birth. "The preparation for this match began two or three months ago," he said. "All the preparation was geared towards this match. I commend the team on their performance. It is good, not just for the players, but for Scottish football as well. They have shown what they can do."
 Schneider & Dailly |
 Pressley & Schneider |
 Miller & Wörns |
 Bobic celebrates his goal |
 Miller celebrates his goal |
On the 25th anniversary of Scotland’s defeat by Iran in Argentina, the anticipated humiliation by altogether more seasoned opponents failed to materialise. Not only did Kenny Miller’s second-half equaliser ease the pressure on the national side’s beleaguered coach, it prevented Germany from stretching their lead in Group 5, and enhanced Scotland’s hopes of qualifying for a play-off.
The sides, who meet again in September, are locked together on eight points. While Germany can open a gap by winning in the Faroe Islands on Tuesday, a night when Lithuania and Iceland have the chance to leapfrog Scotland, Vogts pins his hopes on a forgiving fixture list. "We look ahead with careful optimism," he said. "We have two home games left, whereas the Germans have a tough game in Iceland."
Vogts, conscious that his team’s ability to compete has been compromised by a string of unnecessary mistakes, gave warning that none would be allowed against Germany. It must have been galling for him, then, to see Scotland contribute so much to the match’s opening quarter, then spoil it with a familiar lapse in concentration. Steven Pressley misjudged the flight of Torsten Frings’ searching cross, and Fredi Bobic had time and space to head the opener.
That they did not crumble in the face of so demoralising a setback will have encouraged a Scotland team who have made a habit of conceding, and failing to recover from, early goals. At times, Rudi Voller’s side were required to man their 18-yard line as though they were stemming a tide and, while goalkeeper Oliver Kahn was rarely tested, Stevie Crawford’s second-half volley represented a reminder that the cause was not lost.
The performance very nearly lent credence to Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder’s suggestions that there would always be a job for Vogts at the German football association.
"What we managed to do was neutralise the German engine, that is the midfield," said Vogts. "That was thanks to the efforts of Paul Lambert, and the hard work of Colin Cameron and Christian Dailly, who was playing in a kind of sweeper’s position."
Lambert, who had previously indicated that he might consider his international future after the match, refused to expand: "I will have a summer break and then speak with the manager about what is best," said the captain, who had tried to motivate his team-mates with a pre-match speech in the dressing-room. "We have an opportunity now to at least get a play-off place. The manager will be the first to know my decision."
For all that Vogts will be enjoying relief from the pressure that has been mounting on his shoulders, the identity of those responsible for Scotland’s equaliser will not have escaped the notice of his most vehement critics.
For at least the first year of his troubled tenure, Vogts gave the impression that he would rather stick pins in his eyes than select Miller or Cameron. The latter’s quick free-kick caught the Germans unaware, and Miller pulled a low, angled shot into the bottom corner. Vogts observed: "Colin was very professional. He knew what was happening with Kenny. He was so quick it was great."
Miller’s display was hungry and passionate up front alongside Crawford. It is hard to believe that this was only his fifth cap, and that the game against Iceland in March was his first under Vogts. Having delayed a hernia operation to face Germany, he had every reason to make the most of it. "If we can perform like that every time, we definitely have a chance of qualifying," said the striker.
Voller, meanwhile, regretted his team’s failure to claim a second, decisive goal, and observed that neither team, not even the one with Michael Ballack in midfield, played with the enthusiasm generated in the stands. "The atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic, and I have seen many a stadium in my time. It’s just a pity that we were not ignited by the spark in the crowd.
"We couldn’t really get our game going as we wanted. Our defence was the best part of the team. Our attacking play didn’t work out the way I wanted it to because we lacked imagination and clout in midfield. Our goal was the result of our first real successful move forward. Only in the last 15 minutes did we play well.
"We lost possession too frequently, and we were fortunate that Scotland didn’t use those opportunities better."
For all that he had predicted a rousing performance by the Scots, he was still irritated by the extent of their aggression. "They got a bit carried away by the atmosphere in the stadium. Towards the end, they committed some fouls that I would have liked the referee to punish. They were overdoing the physical side of it. But I’m not complaining: they deserved the point."
It was an encouraging end to a week which had started with Vogts complaining that too many Scottish players prepared for matches by eating scrambled egg and beans. All that was concerning him last night was toast, or at least a raised glass to his players’ efforts...It has been a long time coming.
Tartan Army just can't help believing
WHAT a fillip for the Tartan Army, a species it has become de rigueur to malign, to hear the German players say their support had a major bearing on this result. Forget Fair Play awards, here was commendation that mattered. Days of such potential do not come round often, because the Scotland fixture list is not cyclical, but even when England played at Hampden in 1999 you couldn’t say the atmosphere was quite this alive. The timing was the funny thing. Scotland, it’s impossible to dispute, are experiencing a nadir as an international football team. The National Stadium might have seen victory over Iceland in the spring, but there were only 38,000 there, because old wounds still smarted.
After the stadium’s redevelopment, there were 2-0 defeats to England, France and Australia, then the tragi-comedy of a 2-2 draw with Belgium and the failure to beat Croatia that saw World Cup dreams fizzle out. Then Berti Vogts arrived and went through a deluge of friendly defeats, which escalated in horror value: Denmark, Ireland, Austria, the last one witnessed by just 12,189. This could have been another embarrassing no-show. The visit of a bigger fish could have been a turn-off, given the ominous predictions, but the public are obviously still aroused by fame. When the World Cup finalists rolled into town, national duty became unshirkable again, and Hampden was all but filled, even if most people privately believed they were to witness a hiding.
Had 48,000 been 52,000 - it seems to be an impossible task, even for the biggest game in four years, to fill the Gods section at the top of the BT Stand - we can only imagine what din the Germans would have had to put up with. We wonder what they made of Flower of Scotland - three tenors, guitar feedback ’n’ all. It goes without saying they were more taken with the remix of the national "dirge" than the Scots. "It was quite lively, but I stopped singing after the second verse, and they went on to play about five," said Steven Pressley, and he doesn’t know the meaning of the word cringe.
As soon as the game was under way, it was evident this was not a day to sit resigned, passive and obedient, like old dogs. There was a common determination not to let the mood slip into the usual axis of blind optimism and ironic cheer. This was the day Vogts promised to get things right, and he might have needed a police escort home if Scotland had been humiliated again. It was noisy and it was hostile. Oliver Kahn was roundly booed; perhaps because he once let in five goals to England, perhaps just because he is famous, and represented a known threat.
Michael Ballack took his fair share of stick too, and the Germans in general would find it an uncordial environment from the start. When a flying tackle produces a far bigger cheer than a perfectly laced pass, you know that you are in a game. Boy, it’s been a while since we have been able to indulge in such parlance. The North Stand stood, to a man, unlike at those miserable friendlies when sitting down is the accepted practice, and you mustn’t block anybody’s view. Even when the now regulatory early goal was shipped, and Euro 2004 drifted further out to sea, arms stayed folded and throats began to get hoarse.
And so it continued, the ferocity reaching a crescendo when Kenny Miller slipped in to score. The 7,000 German fans had gone quietly complacent after scoring, and took on a quizzical air at the end, when it dawned on them that another two points had been dropped and they weren’t quite sure where to look. Not until Kahn and Co went over to applaud them did it become the popular view that it hadn’t been such a disaster, this - a draw, away from home, against your nearest challengers. Especially so, Carsten Ramelow would articulate an hour later, when your nearest challengers are supported unstintingly in great number, each disciple loud and besotted. For there genuinely seemed to be a pulse here, not to mention a familiar, long-lost roar.