on Wednesday following a tremendous performance
against the Netherlands at Hampden this afternoon.
The result – against all the odds – gives Berti Vogts’
men an even chance of qualifying for EURO 2004 in
Portugal next summer, an achievement that would
certainly vindicate the German Coach in the eyes of
his many detractors. It was Scotland’s first win
against the Netherlands in a quarter-of-a-century,
since Argentina 1978, to be precise.
Even though there was no direct Rangers’ presence in
the two teams, there was still a great deal of Ibrox
interest with Barry Ferguson captaining a Scots’ side
that also included former Light Blues in the form of
Steven Pressley and Neil McCann in addition to former
Rangers’ youth player Darren Fletcher against a Dutch
side coached by former Ibrox Manager Dick Advocaat
that fielded Giovanni Van Bronckhorst and led by
Galatasaray’s Frank De Boer, twin brother of Ronald.
The Dutch side oozed quality, yet it was Scotland who
set the early pace, the running of Jamie McFadden,
Paul Dickov and Neil McCann creating problems for the
visitors’ defence.
One such move involving Ferguson, Fletcher and Dickov
carved an opening on the right, only for the latter’s
driven cross to be turned behind for a corner in
twenty minutes
Sixty seconds later it was 1-0 to Scotland when Jamie
McFadden gained possession following a corner, played
a one-two with Darren Fletcher, and found the corner
of the net with the aid of a deflection.
The Dutch response was almost immediate – Rab Douglas
saving a powerful Jaap Stam header at the second
attempt in 24 minutes, and then two minutes later Andy
Van Der Meyde’s twenty-yard shot was just too high.
Scotland’s defence remained solid in the face of some
constant pressure – Lee Wilkie denying Van Deer Meyde
with a last-gasp intervention in 36 minutes.
Three minutes later there was an even closer call when
Frank De Boer’s header from a Van Der Meyde corner
struck the knee of Gary Naysmith on the line.
The home side was fortunate to survive a penalty claim
just before the interval when Marc Overmars went down
under a challenge from Jackie McNamara, but Norwegian
Referee Terje Hauge waved play on.
Dick Advocaat replaced Giovanni Van Bronckhorst at the
interval, substituting him with Milan’s Clarence
Seedorf.
There was almost an immediate response with a Ruud Van
Nistelrooy header from Van Der Meyde’s cross being
held by Douglas.
There was a threat from all areas of the field in this
Dutch side, underlined in 56 minutes when Jaap Stam’s
25-yard shot flashed over.
Seven minutes later Van Der Meyde, the outstanding
Dutch player afield, came agonisingly close when his
left-foot volley from Patrick Kluivert’s header struck
the crossbar.
Kenny Miller replaced Paul Dickov in 65 minutes, then
five minutes later Motherwell’s Stephen Pearson,
recently linked with Rangers, substituted for Neil
McCann.
Holland were now applying sustained pressure, Seedorf
playing a one-two with Kluivert that took him clear
only to slice his shot wide of the target in 72
minutes.
Scotland were playing on the counter-attack as they
soaked up the pressure, and came close with a classic
break in 78 minutes, a Miller cross finding Pearson
who, at full stretch, could only direct his effort
wide of goal.
Another Miller run seven minutes later ended when
Dutch goalkeeper Edwin Van Der Sar held Barry
Ferguson’s left-foot drive from 22 yards.
Lee Wilkie had been outstanding at the heart of the
Scottish defence, nullifying the threat of Ruud Van
Nistelrooy, and he again denied the Manchester United
striker in 86 minutes, crowding him out as he moved
onto a Roy Makaay flick.
With just two minutes remaining – amidst incredible
tension – Douglas fumbled a low shot from Overmars
following a Van Der Meyde cross, but the danger was
cleared.
Four minutes injury time was more than the 50,667
spectators could bear, Rafael Van Der Vaart producing
a powerful thirty-yard drive from Van Der Meyde’s
corner that flashed just wide, then Van Nistelrooy’s
turn and shot from a Seedorf chip was held by Douglas.
The final whistle was the signal for celebration
amongst the home support of a notable result that
gives Scotland a fighting chance of qualification for
Portugal.
National Coach Berti Vogts was both jubilant and
cautious in his post-match summing-up:
“It was a very good match. We were brilliant in the
first-half. This was the best performance since I came
here, but it is only half-time, and only 1-0. All the
pressure is now on the Dutch – they have so many
quality players. I have changed the system and the
players. We are now a club team. We have many young
players of great potential – the future for Scotland
is not at all bad.”
Dick Advocaat’s grilling by the Dutch media was
remarkable for its’ intensity:
“We didn’t play well in the first-half – Scotland
deserved their lead at the interval – but we
controlled the second-half without taking our chances.
I wanted our full-backs to move forward into midfield,
but couldn’t get the message across.
“It’s only half-time, but we are capable of doing it
on Wednesday. Scotland were dangerous on the
counter-attack, and will be so again in Amsterdam.”
It should certainly be an interesting evening.
SCOTLAND Douglas; McNamara, Naysmith; Pressley,
Wilkie, Ferguson; Fletcher, Dailly, Dickov (Miller
65), McFadden (Hutchison 90), McCann (Pearson 70)
UNUSED SUBS Gould, Alexander, Caldwell, Crawford
NETHERLANDS Van Der Sar; Ooijer, Stam; F. De Boer, Van
Bronckhorst (Seedorf 45), Cocu; Van Der Meyde, Davids
(Van Der Vaart 59), Van Nistelrooy, Kluivert (Makaay
76), Overmars
UNUSED SUBS Waterreus, Zenden, Reiziger, Van Hooijdonk
REFEREE Terje Hauge (Norway)