Scotland Go Down to the Classy Danes
In most other places in the world the weather tonight would be normal for late August, however this is Scotland and the blue sky and sunshine was a stark contrast to Easter Road on Sunday when you would have been forgiven for thinking winter was well and truly here.
Peter Løvenkrands, Barry Ferguson and Maurice Ross were back at the scene of that Scottish Cup Final in May for the first time. Indeed when the Danish side was warming up at the end where Løvenkrands scored the winner, you could see him visualising the goal and talking Jon Dahl Tomasson through it by his actions.
Primarily because of those out there that believe for whatever reason that Rangers fans should not back the national side in our country, it was sad to hear our great Dane Peter Løvenkrands being booed by the a section of the home support when his name was announced during the warm up. Notably, he was not booed (but cheered!) during the match.
But you have to ask yourself if it’s really surprising given he’s recognised and is playing for tonight’s opposition. I don’t expect that will cut much ice though – many of you will believe what you want anyway. What you should also understand is that Barry Ferguson and Paul Lambert both received tremendous receptions – more than any other player.
Before a minute was over Naysmith broke and cut inside to Steven Thompson who cut back for Lambert to strike off a defender and out for a corner. The corner was curled into the hands of the giant Thomas Sorensen.
The game opened brightly in front of 28,766 (a decent crowd for any international friendly), and a daft tackle from Lambert on Ebbe Sand meant a freekick 25 yards from goal that Niclas Jensen could only hit into the Scotland wall.
The Danes, coached by the legendary Morten Olsen, are a class act with the majority of the starting lineup playing regularly for Champions League participants. This was evident on only 8 minutes as Denmark opened the scoring. A neat bit of play resulted in a cross drilled in and Ebbe Sand, the prolific FC Schalke striker, nodded home for his 19th international goal.
Hardly the start Bertie Vogts and his self-proclaimed "best side" were after, but in truth the Danes were showing Scotland that they have a world class strike pair in Sand and AC Milan’s Tomasson.
On 13 minutes, Gary Naysmith nicked the ball from Sand and set off down the left hand side. However his cross was high and deep and was nodded behind for a corner that came to nothing. Unlike the Danes, Scotland already had a toothless feel about them.
Denmark came soaring back on 18 minutes when Laursen chipped forward to Løvenkrands, whose cross was inches away from being converted by both Sand and Tomasson before being cleared for a corner. The resultant corner found Rab Douglas in no-man’s land and Løvenkrands looked to have scored, only for Robbie Stockdale to clear off the line.
A few moments later, Ferguson has crunched in mid-air by Poulsen and landed very awkwardly which brought anxiety from all involved. Thankfully Baz managed to get up and continue.
On 29 minutes Denmark sliced open the Scottish backline again as Løvenkrands waltzed past a couple of challenges before slipping Tomasson through on goal. The Milan striker was judged offside, but the Danes were starting to control the match and limit Scotland to a handful of hopeful long balls.
Scotland started to threaten more after the half hour as Kevin Kyle was making an impression on the game. Winning a couple of headers, he was causing problems right across the back line. Unfortunately there was no real bite to go with the aggressive play.
This passage of play was almost halted by Bøgelund on 37 as he fed Tomasson, who wriggled a shot in but only weakly and straight at Douglas.
The Scotland attack in the first half was summed up just before half-time as the Scots broke away from a Denmark corner. Kevin Kyle played the ball into Steven Thompson in a good position, but the Dundee United man miscontrolled and the ball bobbled away for a throw-in.
Half time – Scotland 0 Denmark 1
Several changes later and the second half started at blistering pace. Only a couple of minutes in, Kyle put Thompson through on goal but he surely took a handful of touches too many and shot weakly at Sorensen.
Denmark responded with another superb Løvenkrands cross, but Tomasson’s free header bounced wide. Immediately Scotland were back up the pitch and sub Stephen Crainey fed Gary Naysmith who chose to cross when a clear shooting option presented itself.
On 51 Løvenkrands continued to torment the Scotland defence as he beat his man and sent a powerful shot goalwards. Too straight, it was a relatively easy take for Rab Douglas.
55 minutes was long enough for Thompson according to Vogts. He tried his best, but couldn’t take the chance presented to him – that is the line between success and failure. West Brom’s Scot Dobie replaced him up front.
Løvenkrands was by now causing mayhem in the backline of the Scots side. On 65 minutes he showed his true worth again riding three challenges at pace and forcing Douglas into a point blank save.
At this point Laursen departed for ex-Celt Morten Wieghorst. Amazing to think he is back in the Danish side after his illness. At the end of the game it was good to see Wieghorst giving his shirt to a wee boy in the disabled section.
Another three changes on 71 as the pace of the game started to drop. Naysmith and Stockdale were replaced by Allan Johnston and Graeme Alexander of Nottingham Forest. At this point the Scottish side must have breathed a sigh of relief as Peter Løvenkrands was replaced by Silberbauer of FC Aalborg. The Scottish fans had also turned from booing the flying Dane at the start, to giving him a rousing reception.
Some of the natives were starting to get a little restless with Bertie’s Scotland side by now and the booing and abuse was becoming louder. It may well be that after 5 competitive games and 5 competitive defeats that the honeymoon period is over?
With the game dying on 77 minutes, Jesper Grønkjær broke clear and cut back for the usually deadly Ebbe Sand. However this time Sand blazed wide and high.
On 81, Derek McInnes became a Scotland player. The ex-Rangers midfielder has made a name for himself as West Brom captain and replaced Paul Lambert. McInnes moved into the midfield alongside Scott Severin with Ferguson bizarrely now in the back three.
Yet another change on 83 minutes with the subs now more of an interest than the actual game. This time Lustü replaced captain Henriksen.
You can always tell when the game is dead – a Mexican wave starts and this game was no different. The only notable incident on the park was a Kevin Kyle header in the final 5 minutes that looped just wide of the Danish net. Off it, a streaker pathetically struted his stuff.
Full time – Scotland 0 Denmark 1
In the end the result was a fair one. Shot shy Scotland may well need a "50/50, phone-a-friend AND an ask-the-audience" to come up with the answer to there striking problems.
Couple this with Scotland’s appalling lack of width (compare to the Danish side who always attacked as four men, with the Scots side who attacked as two forwards leaving the width in defence) and it is a long road back for the national side from 60th place in the world.
Teams:
Scotland
Douglas, Ross, Naysmith, Weir, Dailly, Ferguson, McNaughton, Stockdale, Kyle, Lambert (capt), Thompson
Subs
Sullivan, Dobie (Thompson 55), Johnston (Naysmith 71), Crainey (McNaughton 45), Wilkie, Alexander (Stockdale 71), Severin (Weir 77), McInnes (Lambert 81), Williams, Gallacher
Coach: Bertie Vogts
Denmark
Sorenson, Bøgelund, Henriksen (capt), Laursen, Niclas Jensen, Poulsen, Gravesen, Løvenkrands, Tomasson, Rommedahl, Sand
Subs
Wieghorst (Laursen 65), Lustü, Grønkjær (Gravesen 45), Michaelsen (Bøgelund 45), Skov-Jensen, Claus Jensen (Rommedahl 45), Silberbauer (Løvenkrands 71)
Coach: Morten Olsen
Referee: Leslie Irvine (Northern Ireland)
Asst Referees: Robert Penny; Michael McLaughlin (Northern Ireland)
Fourth Official: David Malcolm (Northern Ireland)
Attendance: 28,766
Follow Follow Man of the Match – Peter Løvenkrands