Edinburgh tonight at the hands of Sweden, losing 1-4
at Easter Road in the first game of the post-Berti
Vogts Era.
This match was of course Tommy Burns' first - and
possibly last - match in charge of the national side,
but it was clear that whoever takes on the job on a
full-time basis has a major task on his hands to
restore some semblance of credibility to the national
side.
Sweden almost struck as early as the second minute
when Fredrik Berglund burst through following an Ian
Murray error only to see his shot blocked by the
outrushing David Marshall.
McFadden almost made amends six minutes later - his
twenty-yard free-kick flashing just over as Scotland
began to push for the opener.
Kenny Miller was troubling the Swedish defence with
his pace - cutting inside from the left in twelve
minutes after receiving a Barry Nicholson pass he saw
his left-foot drive beaten away by Magnus Hedman.
Former Ranger Nicholson came to his side's rescue in
25 minutes when he headed off the line Russell
Anderson's attempted clearance of a Kim Kallstrom
corner.
The opening goal was only delayed two minutes however
- Marcus Allback converting a Christian Wilhelmsson
cross in 27 minutes.
The Scots were not downhearted by that setback however
- four minutes later Miller played a one-two with
McFadden only to fire across the face of goal.
Celtic goalkeeper Hedman was involved in the one
controversial incident of the first-half when he
appeared to body-check McFadden as he homed in on a
Kevin McNaughton cross, but Czech Referee Jaroslav
Jara waved play on.
The half drew to a close to a background of chants for
the head of SFA Chief Executive David Taylor from the
'Tartan Army' - although Miller almost silenced the
criticism when he was inches away from connecting with
a low Stephen Pearson cross following a superb Quashie
pass.
It had been a reasonable first-half for the home side,
but the roof was to fall in on them in the second -
starting as early as 49 minutes when Kim Kallstrom's
cross from the right was turned home by Allback.
Sweden were now clearly demonstrating their skill and
superior technique - and went three up in a swift
counter-attack in 72 minutes when Niclas Alexandersson
saw his shot parried by Marshall only for the incoming
Johan Elmander to slot the loose ball into the net.
The fans were now departing in their thousands - but
before many could actually escape it was 4-0 sixty
seconds later when Christian Wilhelmsson's pace took
him clear of a disjointed defence, his cross being
easily converted by Fredrik Berglund.
There was now the real prospect of a real drubbing,
but somewhat fortuitously Scotland got one back from
the penalty spot in 76 minutes when Mikael Dorsin
committed a senseless push on McFadden with the ball
sailing harmlessly out of play from a Steven Hammell
cross.
McFadden himself did the needful from the spot, but it
was scant comfort for Scotland.
SCOTLAND Marshall; McNaughton, Murray; Anderson,
Webster (Hammell 54), McNamara (Severin 64);
Nicholson, Quashie (Hughes 90), Miller (Crawford 71),
McFadden, Pearson
UNUSED SUBS Gordon, Pressley, Combe
SWEDEN Hedman; Nilsson (Ostlund 63), Mellberg (Hansson
45); Lucic (Linderoth 81), Dorsin, Andersson;
Alexandersson, Kallstrom, Wilhelmsson (Touma 76),
Allback (Elmander 64), Berglund
UNUSED SUBS Isaksson, Antonsson, Johansson
REFEREE Jaroslav Jara (Czech Republic)
Attendance 15,071