Scotland Loses 2-1 to Italy in Euro 2008 Qualifier

While the Houston Dynamo beat New England for the MLS Cup in a game lacking much finesse, Scotland went down to Italy by the same score in the Euro 2008 qualifier in what can only be described as a heart-breaker of a loss. At the same time, FIFA's ranking of little Scotland as the 13th best side on Earth looks even more credible, and the entire Tartan Army is focused now on World Cup 2010. A wounded animal is often the most dangerous.

The build up to the match made the game a David and Goliath sort of story. Given the scandals that surround Italian soccer these days, and given the Scots defeat of France earlier in the tournament, there was no exaggeration when the Scottish newspapers called it the biggest game Scotland had played in years. Playing at Hampden Park made it all the more important. The Scotsman said the arrival of the Italian fans was the biggest Roman incursion in 2,000 years.

The Italians scored in the first two minutes when Luca Toni nailed the ball from five yards out against what can only be described as lazy defense by the Scots. For fifteen minutes, the match looked like a walk over about to happen. And then, it didn't. By the half, the Scots has firmed up to head into the locker room down just 1-0.

Around the 65th minute, Barry Ferguson become the most popular man north of the Cheviots. James McFadden's free-kick was deflected to Lee McCulloch. His shot was saved by Gianluigi Buffon but Ferguson came storming in to mop up. The lesson, children, is always follow the shot. Scotland was 25 minutes away from a draw that would be as big as a win for most sides. Whether it would have sent them into the next round or merely delayed the ouster of the team was irrelevant. Drawing against the world champions always puts a spring in one's step.

It was not to be. Alan Hutton was shoved off a free ball, and the foul was committed by Giorgio Chiellini. The referee saw it the other way, and he gave the Italians the kick. On a set piece, the Italians are as lethal a side as exists in Europe. Andrea Pirlo lofted the ball up, Christian Panucci put a head on it, and Scotland's heart broke. Three minutes later, the ref blew the three blasts on the whistle like St. Gabriel at the end. The fans sat in the stands for half an hour booing the ref and singing. One expects much the same behavior from them on Judgment Day.

Friday is the draw for the World Cup. The 13th ranking from FIFA and this performance against Italy as well as the defeat of France set Scotland to be a second seed. That sets the team up for a second round of soccer at least (unless things fall apart or they somehow get a group of death draw). David Weir, one of the Scots' stars, said, “People will probably talk about this being a typical Scotland hard-luck story but I don't think this is a typical Scotland squad.” They'll prove it in Africa in three years' time.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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