Gary Naysmith is conrgatulated

Crawford proves the old adage, that attack is the best form of defence.

Christian Dailly scored for Scotland after seven minutes

Scotland make an excellent start as Christian Dailly heads them in front after only seven minutes

Scotland were worthy winners in Iceland

Scotland celebrate Christian Dailly's goal, which give them the early advantage against Iceland

Scotland's Paul Lambert plays an integral part in this almost unexpected Scotland victory

Stephen Crawford makes a a tackle but is later guilty of missing a golden goal-scoring opportunity

Gary Naysmith scored with a fantastic right foot strike

Gary Naysmith produces an unstoppable volley to put Scotland top of their group on the 63rd minute

Berti Vogts' celebrates Scotland's first competitive international victory since his arrival as manager

Thompson had his best game for Scotland Steve Crawford (left) did well again up front

Iceland 0, Scotland 2
Dailly 7, Naysmith 63
12 Oct 2002
Laugardalsvöllur - Reykjavik
Att: 6,611

Scots rid themselves of baggage

by Glen Gibbons

On a day of peaks and troughs, an appallingly negligent air crew gave Scotland much more bother than Iceland’s surprisingly inept footballers. Being forced to hang around the baggage reclaim hall at Glasgow Airport for almost two hours after landing on Saturday night brought a frustrating end to an expedition that had rewarded Berti Vogts with his first victory in seven internationals and taken his team to the top of Group 5 in the Euro 04 qualifying campaign.
 

The captain of the aircraft chartered from the inappropriately named Excel Air (although they do seem to excel in irritating their passengers) apparently turned off the lights and locked up the aeroplane before the handlers had time to remove the luggage. At the Laugardalsvollur Stadium earlier in the afternoon, Atli Edvaldsson, the manager of Iceland, could have used a man with his talent for upsetting the Scots.
 

As it was, he had none. Not even Eidur Gudjohnsen, the Chelsea forward widely touted as the player most likely to torture a Scotland team expected to have been left helplessly vulnerable by their ordeal in the Faroes a month before. It is a measure of the credit their performance deserves that the visitors should be considered worthy of victory by an even wider margin.

In the circumstances, it was an extraordinary achievement, although the temptation to lavish exorbitant praise has to be checked by recognition of the weakness of the opposition. When Gudjohnsen drifted in from the left and sent a powerful drive against Robert Douglas’s crossbar in the first half, it was the only moment of genuine, heart-stopping menace Iceland produced in 90 minutes on their own turf.

Given the evidence of the Scots’ previous pedestrianism, lack of inventiveness and incisiveness in the six winless outings under Vogts, it would have been virtually impossible to imagine their encountering rivals who would make them appear quicker, snappier in the tackle, more accurate passers and much the more dangerous in attack.

But their superiority in these areas was so pronounced that the goals delivered by Christian Dailly and Gary Naysmith seemed like scant reward. With a little more care, the lively, free-running and perpetually threatening Stevie Crawford could have embellished his telling contribution with a double of his own.

The immediacy with which the Scots imposed their recharged spirit recalled the observation of Norman Mailer that the course and probable outcome of a world championship boxing match could be determined by what occurred in the first 15 seconds .

Contrary to widespread expectations - especially those of bookmakers who had offered 3-1 against Scotland - it was the Icelanders who were clearly the more apprehensive, shockingly loose and sluggish in defence, rendered peripheral in midfield and easily contained in forward areas by Dailly, Steven Pressley and Lee Wilkie.

It was clear that Vogts’ decision to play a 3-5-2 formation, after the disintegration of the four-man back line in the Faroes, was sound judgment. Pressley’s constant urgings and promptings - a quality that his manager at Hearts, Craig Levein, considers one of his great strengths - may have caused his partners at times to long for a pair of ear-muffs, but he kept them so aware of their positional needs and so tight that Gudjohnsen and his partner, Helgi Sigurdsson, were utterly subdued.

It proved to be an immensely satisfactory competitive international debut for Wilkie, the 22-year-old Dundee man overcoming an early error of judgment, when he lost possession in a potentially risky situation, to emerge as a solid, indeed immovable, obstacle to the home team’s ambitions.

For Dailly, atonement for a notoriously haphazard performance in Toftir was confirmed by delivery of the opening goal. Perhaps this should not have come as a complete surprise. He was, after all, already the most prolific scorer in the current squad. The West Ham defender brought his total to four with a six-yard header off Naysmith’s cross that looped into the net.
 

Paul Lambert gave a masterclass in practising what he had preached. It was the captain’s pre-match exhortations to his team-mates to be concentrated and energetically committed that had been the most impressive and encouraging signs of a revival. In midfield, he demonstrated his own desire by making himself a powerful and ubiquitous presence.

He was stoutly supported by Barry Ferguson and Jackie McNamara, until the latter’s thigh injury caused his departure - replaced by Callum Davidson - after 35 minutes. The reshuffle took Davidson to left wing-back and Naysmith into midfield, from where he produced the exceptional second goal.

Taking a cross from Maurice Ross on the right - the young Rangers player’s forward surges were another feature - Naysmith gave the impression that Henrik Larsson had come to Reykjavik when he killed the ball and, with a quick turn and release of his right foot, sent a volley from 14 yards high to the right of Arni Arason.
 

Crawford’s partnership with Steven Thompson - the latter a diligent nuisance to the constantly troubled Larus Sigurdsson and Hermann Hreidarsson in the home defence - should have brought a goal when the Dundee United striker’s header left the Dunfermline man with only Arason to beat, but he rushed his low shot wide. Crawford also sent a header from another perfect cross from Ross the wrong side of the post. Neither of these misses is likely to have interfered with Crawford’s confidence, or his self-satisfaction over a terrific day’s work. The same may be said of all the others who wore the yellow shirts.

Scotland sink Iceland
 

Scotland registered their first competitive win under manager Berti Vogts with a determined display against a poor Iceland team in Reykjavik. A header from Christian Dailly and a fine Gary Naysmith strike went a long way to erasing the painful memory of last month's draw with the Faroe Islands. And the victory puts Scotland back into a healthy position in their qualifying group.

 

Vogts made six changes in personnel, switching to a 3-5-2 formation. And, in a match bereft of flowing football but full of sweat and endeavour, his team were the more polished outfit. They made a positive start, pressing the ball well and knocking the ball around with composure at the back. And the second of two early corners duly brought the opening from Dailly in the seventh minute.

Naysmith's initial delivery came back out, and when he swung the ball back into the danger zone, Dailly rose to head the ball over stranded Icelandic goalkeeper Arni Gautur Arason. Scotland were given a fright after 18 minutes when Eidur Gudjohnsen smashed in a shot that beat Rab Douglas but cannoned off the crossbar. The Chelsea striker had another good chance two minutes later but blasted the ball well over from the edge of the box. Back at the other end, a good delivery from Jackie McNamara saw Steve Thompson rise highest in the Iceland box, only for Arason to tip over his looping header. Stevie Crawford then found himself racing towards goal in the 47th minute, only to shoot wide under pressure with his weaker left foot.

But, after surviving more pressure, Scotland broke forward and the two wide men combined to double the lead after 63 minutes. Maurice Ross sent in a cross from the right flank, which Naysmith gathered neatly on the edge of the penalty area before smashing home a great dipping shot with his right foot. Iceland threw men forward, but their attacks lacked guile and Scotland were rarely troubled. Indeed, Crawford spurned an excellent chance in the 71st minute when he flashed a header wide after a great run and cross from Ross. But Scotland comfortably held on for a morale-boosting win - and three very valuable points.

Iceland: 1-Arni Gautur Arason; 2-Bjarni Porsteinsson, 3-Arnar Por Vidarsson (18-Marel Baldvinsson 66), 4-Brynjar Bjorn Gunnarsson, 5-Larus Orri Sigurdsson, 6-Runar Kristinsson, 7-Hermann Hreidarsson, 8-Ivar Ingimarsson, 9-Eidur Gudjohnsen, 10-Helgi Sigurdsson (16-Heidar Helguson 46), 11-Haukur Ingi Gudnason (17-Bjarni Gudjonsson 75) 

Scotland: 1-Robert Douglas; 2-Maurice Ross, 3-Lee Wilkie, 4-Steven Pressley, 5-Christian Dailly, 6-Barry Ferguson, 7-Jackie McNamara (13-Callum Davidson 34), 8-Steve Crawford, (18-Scott Severin 89), 9-Steven Thompson, 10-Paul Lambert, 11-Gary Naysmith (15-Russell Anderson 90) 

Referee: Alain Sars (France).

 

Double delight for Naysmith
 

Scotland goal hero Gary Naysmith revealed that the strike that sunk Iceland was a double first. Not only was it his debut goal for the Scots it was also the first time in his career he had found the net using his right foot. It was certainly a strike to remember as, with the Scots digging in to keep hold of a lead given to them by Christian Dailly's early header, he produced a remarkable shot on the turn to beat goalkeeper Arni Gautur Arason. Maurice Ross supplied a cross from the right and the left wing-back controlled the ball on the edge of the penalty box with his right foot before swivelling to convert in style.
 

 

"It's the first goal I've scored with my right foot as a professional and it couldn't have come at a better time really," said a delighted Naysmith. "It was just a spur of the moment thing. I just stuck my leg out to control it and I think I caught the goalkeeper unawares. The last goal I scored was 18 months ago." Naysmith, who has been out of the first team picture at Everton recently, was treated for a twisted knee late in the first half, but soldiered on to make an impact after the interval. "I just hope it is not too serious so I can get a run in the Everton team," he continued. "I can't expect to keep being picked for Scotland if I'm not playing for Everton."

Berti's boys silence the doubters

So now will you believe, oh ye of little faith? Berti and the boys rocked them in Reykjavik but the point is that the win way up north wasn't just big. It was huge. It may or may not be the result that puts us on course for the play-off spot in our group but it sure did take the monkey, or more accurately the gorilla, off the back of the coach and his players.

 

 

The Scots had put together a series of miserable results before kick off in Iceland and those who couldn't see further than the end of their own noses were calling for Berti's head on the block. But there were plenty of us who could see a bigger picture. And to be fair the lion's share of the supporters in the Tartan Army who spoke to me wanted the wee man to be given time. Now he'll get it. The truth is that even defeat to the Icemen would not have brought the wrath of the SFA to bear down upon Vogts.

David Taylor has always been for staying the course. But he might just have had to pull up the drawbridge at Hampden to stop the siege of the association offices by the loonies who had no understanding of just how long it takes to restructure a team in disarray. Scotland suddenly sat astride Group Five with four points from two away games and even if the game and the result in Toftir was a shocker, would we not have been happy with that tally from our opening fixtures even if we had expected the results to be the other way around?

Scotland put on a good show on Saturday

Of course the Germans will leapfrog us on Wednesday when they play the Faroes. I'll bet a Mercedes to a moped that they do... but then Scotland softened up the North Atlantic Islanders. Anyone in the real world must accept that we are going for the play-off spot.

If we beat Lithuania in Vilnius in the Spring and win our home games against the Faroes, Iceland and the Baltic country then the German games are just for the TV money. I don't agree with everything Vogts does. I still can't get my head round the fact that he did not give a debut in Reykjavik to the young man who has been Scotland's most exciting player of the season so far, James McFadden.

But then there is not a coach in football history with whom I have nodded in full agreement. Age was no problem for Denis Law or Willie Henderson or Paul McStay. It wouldn't have been for this kid, but his time will come before he is much older.

The Scots did not have a failure on Saturday and there were some excellent performances. Christian Dailly decided to ride out the flak which shot down David Weir and left him with a badly petted lip. He was richly rewarded with a goal which set us on our way. And alongside him in defence Steven Pressley and Lee Wilkie looked solid and assured. Naysmith's goal, Ross's running, the presence of Lambert and Ferguson. Hey, we looked like a right good team out there.

---

Scotland celebrate their opening goal

 

Tommy Burns pats down Berti's quiff - but the German's unflappable despite the Tartan Army's exhortation for him to 'give them a wave'

Steven Thompson skips over Hermann Hreidarsson during the first-half at the Laugardalsvollur Stadium

Joy unconfined as Dailly's header goes in - apart from the man (bottom right) who had £5 on Pressley for the first goal

Gary Naysmith, to paraphrase Tommy Gemmell, 'Gives it a terrible dunt' ... and it's 0-2.

Berti Vogt's new attacking weapon - the two-headed man - proves its worth as Scotland take the lead in Reykjavik

...And he's understandably fairly pleased that he has made rare use of his right stick as he wheels away

Berti Vogts tells Gary Naysmith: "We told them they were favourites and they fell for it."

Skotar unnu Íslendinga 2-0 í gær í undankeppni EM 2004.  Christian Dailly skoraði fyrra markið eftir aðeins 7.mínútna leik og Gary Naysmith bætti öðru við á 63.mín.  Við ætlum ekki að fjalla mikið meira um þennan leik í orðum heldur má hér sjá leikinn í máli og myndum.
Christian Dailly skorar fyrsta mark leikssins fyrir Skota eftir aðeins 7 mínútna leik.	Skotar fagna marki Dailly.
Mark Dailly frá öðru sjónarhorni.	Hermann Hreiðarsson í baráttu við Stephen Crawford.
Gary Naysmith skorar seinna mark skota á 63.mín.	Brynjar Björn Gunnarsson í baráttu við Paul Lampert
Skotar fagna seinna marki sínu.	Ívar Ingimarsson stóð sig vel á miðjunni.
Eftir leikinn hlupu skosku leikmennirnir aftur út á völlinn og hlupu hringi og leyfðu skosku áhorfendunum að fagna sér.  Sumir höfðu á orði að leikmennirnir hafi reynt svo lítið á sig í leiknum að þeir hafi ákveðið að taka aðeins á því.	Dæmigerð mynd yfir kurteisi Skosku stuðningsmannana, skoskur stuðningsmaður ásamt íslenskum stuðningsmanni.
Sumir skosku stuðningsmannana brugðu sér í dulargerfi.	Skotarnir vildu fá Karl Steinar Valsson lögreglumann til að halda á fánanum fyrir myndatöku án árangur.
Einn stuðningsmanna Skota í dulargervi.	Hópur Skota með andlitsmálningu og víkingahatta.
Þeir vildu fá mynd líka.	Skotar á heimleið, takið eftir þeim í skotapilsinu með opið fyrir rassinn.
Stekkjapípuspilarar fylgdu liðinu hingað og spiluðu allan leikinn.	Í þjóðbúningnum...
Þessi hægra megin tók fiskinn sinn með sér. Hann vildi þó ekki meina að þetta væri fiskur heldur væri þetta ,,Mamo".	Áhorfendur höguðu sér vel á pöllunum og enginn kveikti á blysi á leiknum,  þessi vildi þó klára blysið sitt áður en hann fór heim og gerði það fyrir utan leikvanginn.