Scotland (National Football)

Tiger Woods may have come up short yet again at Augusta (which did nothing to disspell the lone ‘criticism’ of his game–i.e. that he cannot come from behind on Sunday to win), but that doesn’t mean that Nike and IMG weren’t elated by the success of South African Trevor Immelman, who has been overshadowed by fellow countrymen Ernie Els, Retief Goosen and even Tim Clark over the years, but who may in fact end up with a better resume than any of the three when all is said and done. In fact, per Helen Ross’ piece, which relates the events of Immelman’s celebratory stroll of New York following his Green Jacket victory, “Immelman, a Nike representative, was clad in clothing from the Tiger Woods collection for the final two rounds of the Masters.” Immelman was besieged with congratulatory messages from fellow pros, and even met up with The Boston Celtics’ Big Three. Writes Ross: “Immelman’s agent, Jon Wagner [of IMG], was hardly surprised by the outpouring of support. After all, he’d been carrying the Masters champion’s iPhone most of the day, and ‘it feels like it’s going off every two-and-a-half minutes.’” Now is when Wagner will really earn his keep, so to speak, as demands for Immelman’s time and persona will increase dramatically. You will remember that I wrote awhile back on how Brad Buffoni of SFX admitted that he turned down the vast majority of offers that flooded in after his client, Zach Johnson, won the Green Jacket in 2007. What’s the right balance when your client wins the biggest prize in his sport? Do you cash in on every opportunity? Generally not. But that’s easier said than done, especially since history is littered with one and done winners.

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Congratulations to Anthony Kim (pictured), the 22 year old phenom who finally may be the next big thing everyone has been searching for to challenge Woods. At the very least, he’s one of the best young players to come out of the U.S. collegiate system, and should help out the Ryder Cup team for decades to come (and we all know how much help that squad desperately needs). Last anyone heard, Kim was represented by long time player manager Rocky Hambric and Hambric Sports Management out of Dallas, although rumors were swirling months ago that said relationship was on the rocks. Nothing heals tension like a win, especially one at the somewhat prestigious Wachovia Championship, whose finishing holes rival any in the world. Rex Hoggard’s column tells you all you need to know about Kim and his rocky past, both with his father, and at the University of Oklahoma. But the past is the last thing on Kim’s mind. He’s now 4th in the FedEx standings, with his eye on a certain someone at the top.

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John Daly’s not only lost his PGA Tour card, but it seems that he’s literally lost the shirt off his back.

Remember the old Ford commercials, back from when the carmaker still sponsored the world’s number two? What will Phil do next? Forget that. The real question is, what will John Daly do next? The latest in ‘the week that was’ for J.D. included an unfortunate shirtless exposition (click here for the video, if you dare/must) during a promotional outing at the even more unfortunately named and recently opened “John Daly’s Murder Rock & Country Club” outside of Branson, MO. As one blogger noted before the club’s opening last summer: “Daly and Branson - that seems like a great pair. ‘John Daly’s’ and ‘Murder Rock’? Not so much. Given Daly’s history - drinking problems, gambling problems, marital problems that recently produced accusations (later withdrawn) of a knife attack and a sexual assault - the name of the club seems a little, shall we say, ill-advised.”

Perhaps even more troubling, however, are the revelations that Daly contacted former swing coach Butch Harmon and practically begged him to recind his latest comments about Daly, citing a complete loss of his (once vast) array of endorsements. Throw in some news relating to Roger Clemens’ alleged affair with one of his ex-wives, and also yet another Daly-induced lawsuit (this time against the Hippo Golf company), and it’s no wonder that Daly’s mind was somewhere other than his wardrobe. Yet another question: even if J.D. has indeed lost all of his endorsements, doesn’t he still have his own apparel line?

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While the PGA and European tours are expected to start drug testing this July (both Tours are now engaged in player education programs), Royal & Ancient chief executive Peter Dawson announced this past Tuesday that the British Open would not be ready to begin the testing program because of the tournament’s international qualifying system. He expects anti-doping controls will be in place for the 2009 championship at Turnberry. “The fact [that] drug testing is a 52 week a year occupation, not one week a year, [and] the fact the Open has already started this year with three qualifying events, means that we have decided drug testing will not take place this year,” Dawson told reporters.

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Golf may be “ripe for Olympic involvement,” with more quality players now from more countries than ever before. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem endorsed the idea this past week, and the prevailing feeling is that golf now has its strongest chance at being included in the Olympics since it was dropped from the program more than 100 years ago. Because the International Olympic Committee requires seven years for a sport to be added, the earliest golf could be part of the Olympics is 2016. The IOC will meet next year to vote on a host for the 2016 Games and decide whether to include additional sports. And an official bid would have to come through the International Golf Federation, which the IOC recognizes as golf’s ruling body for the Olympics (and which is jointly run by USGA executive director David Fay and the above-mentioned Dawson).

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Immelman’s win at Augusta was somewhat overshadowed two days later when runner-up Tiger Woods had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee for the second time in five years. The surgery was performed in Park City, Utah, by Thomas Rosenberg, who also operated on Woods’ left knee in December 2002. Woods also had surgery in 1994 on his left knee to remove a benign tumor.

The question now is, when will Tiger return to action? Mark Solatu reported that this past Wednesday Woods had his two-week checkup, which he said “went great. Everything is right on schedule.”

He was obviously unable to defend his title this past weekend at the Wachovia Championship, and there was never any doubt that he would miss this week’s Players Championship (one of only three non-majors that he has never missed since turning pro). Woods allegedly hopes to return at the Memorial on May 29, but if he were to miss that weekend, his next scheduled event would be the U.S. Open on June 12 at Torrey Pines, where he has won six times in the Buick Invitational.

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Europe announced its 2008 Palmer Cup team that will face the United States, June 26-27 in Glasgow, Scotland. The team features Jonas Blixt (Florida State), Scott Borrowman (Stirling), Johnnie Caldwell (South Alabama), Jorge Campillo (Indiana), Jonas Enander Hedin (Charlotte), Charlie Ford (Tennessee), Gareth Shaw (East Tennessee State) and Tim Sluiter (Southern California). The European team will be coached by Marten Olander of Sweden. On the U.S. side, coach Conrad Ray’s team will include Oklahoma State’s Rickie Fowler, Florida’s Billy Horschel, UCLA’s Kevin Chappell, Louisville’s Derek Fathauer, San Diego State’s Aaron Goldberg, Georgia Tech’s Chesson Hadley, Georgia’s Adam Mitchell and Alabama’s Michael Thompson.

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LPGA player and women’s world No. 1 Lorena Ochoa joined an acclaimed list of individuals honored in this year’s TIME 100.

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The China Golf Association, Grand China Air, LPGA and IMG announced that the LPGA’s first-ever event in China, the Grand China Air LPGA, is set for Oct. 24-26 at the Haikou West Golf Club. Sixty-three players will compete for a purse of $1.8 million.

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Nice piece by Jim McCabe, who warns us not to doubt Adam Scott.

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World renowned swing teacher David Leadbetter signed a multi-year agreement with Wilhelmina Artist Management, which will represent Leadbetter as his exclusive worldwide agent relative to all appearances, endorsements and licensing businesses.

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Back to college golf, Alabama remained the top team in the fourth Golf World/Nike Golf Division I Coaches’ Poll of the spring season after winning its first SEC Championship title in 29 years. The Crimson Tide earned 18 of the 23 first-place votes and secured the SEC title with an eight stroke victory over South Carolina. It was Alabama’s sixth victory of the season. Michael Thompson’s final-round 65 pushed him to the individual title, his first victory in his two years in Tuscaloosa. “It feels fantastic,” said Alabama coach Jay Seawell shortly after the win. “It feels just like I thought it would. Unbelievable. I’m really proud of the guys. It was a tight day. The last four holes—we’ve talked about it—last year our last four holes were kind of our demise here. And this year the four holes were the difference. I am proud of them for how they played. Nobody hands you an SEC Championship. You’ve got to win it and the guys won it today. I’m really proud of them.”

England fans have now had a couple of months to let the fact that their national team will not be attending Euro 2008 sink in. Unfortunately, English football fans will spend June of 2008 sitting in front of their television sets.

Many English football supporters make the mistake of thinking the good health of the English Premier League in some way proves the good health of English football in general. In any case, England has the world's richest football league, and the richest club in the world in Arsenal.

However, the strength of the English Premier League is probably the main source of the downfall in English football.

The reasons for this become patent when one takes a look at the makeup of the teams that won the various European trophies in the golden World Cup winning era. All of these teams featured a majority of English players, with some players coming in from Ireland and Scotland.

Manchester United's European Cup winning team of 1968, for example, had eight Englishmen, two Irishmen and a Scotsman.

The team structures of England's biggest clubs today tells a different story. Once again using Manchester United as an example, only four Englishmen in the side that lifted the Champions League Trophy in 1999. The remainder of the players come from other places around the world.

Given this, it becomes difficult to ignore the reason why England won the 1966 FIFA World Cup was because English clubs at the time actually allowed Englishmen to play at the top level.

Today it seems as if English football has literally been invaded by foreign players, not to mention coaches and owners. Far fewer English players are not exposed to the highest levels of club football as before.

What this means is that the main core of players toughened by European club competition has shrunk, leaving a doomed England national coach with only a small core of talented players to choose from.

With foreign owners taking over an increasing number of England's biggest clubs, it is difficult to see how the problem will be fixed. In fact the domination of English football by foreign players, management and owners indicates an important point.

The reason why the English football team may never again win a trophy of any importance is that much of English club football, is no longer English at all.

Aberdeen crashed out the Scottish Cup today, losing 4-3 to Queen of the South at Hampden Park.

The plucky first division side only turned professional this year and had never played a game on live television. They shouldn't have worried though, as they played the game like they were stars in a movie.

Where else does a plucky first division outfit take the lead four times to slay their more illustrious opponent?

Sadly, the crowd of 24,000 reflected the fact that the game was being shown live on television. Aberdeen is about a three hour drive from the national stadium in Glasgow, and many fans would've been saving their trip for the final in May, but alas it's not to be.

Queen of the South took the lead through Steve Tosh (22). This prompted a response from the SPL side, who drew level through Andrew Considine (36).

1-1 at the break and Queen of the South must have felt they had a chance!

The next 15 minutes was pure cup football!

The Doonhamers retook the lead shortly after half time through Paul Burns (49). Aberdeen then replied four minutes later through Barry Nicholson (53).

QOS were on fire however, and took the lead for the third time thanks to Sean O'Conner (56).

Again the Dons answered the call, this time QOS's lead lasting only three minutes, with Considine (59) getting his second of the game.

Amazingly the Doonhamers simply just waltzed back into the lead a minute later, J Stewart (60) writing his name into the history books.

The fourth and final goal for QOS proved to be the match winner. The previous part timers slayed Goliath and will now line up at Hampden in next months Scottish Cup Final!

Whatever England throws up, we can do better!

Congratulations to Queen of the South!

What a fairytale!

After a fairly controversial week in the UEFA Champions League, it’s time to look ahead to the business end of the UEFA Cup.

Glasgow Rangers travel to Portugal to meet Sporting Lisbon while Bayern Munich head to Spain with it all to do against Getafe. Zenit St Petersburg, welcome a badly beaten Bayer Leverkusen to Russia while PSV Eindhoven are at home to Fiorentina.

Sporting Lisbon are urging their fans to buy more tickets as Scots start to arrive in the Portuguese capital. The Estadio Jose Alvalade is reportedly, far from sold out, with thousands of Scots making the journey and more than willing to snap up tickets.

The last thing Sporting need is a repeat of the EURO 2008 qualifier between France and Scotland. The Tartan Army took over the ground and cheered Scotland on to a famous 1-0 victory.

Rangers have received a boost for Thursday night’s clash with Carlos Cueller expected to be fit after a bout of flu and Gabonese striker Daniel Cousin, declaring himself fit for selection after recovering from a broken jaw.

Christian Dailly is likely to step in for the suspended David Weir, but the veteran’s absence will still be a major loss to Rangers. However there is a quiet confidence coming from the Rangers camp with the coaching staff and players believing a result is very much possible.

Should Rangers make it through it will be the furthest they have been in the competition for 36 years and with the tie sitting at 0-0, I’m not ruling anything out.

In other games the mighty Bayern Munich meet Getafe and are behind on the away goals ruling, after last weeks shock 1-1 draw in Germany. Getafe have proved to be a thorn in the side of big clubs, with the likes of Barcelona and Real Madrid struggling against their La Liga rivals.

I therefore wouldn’t bet against Michael Laudrup’s side taking their place in the semi final line up, come full time tomorrow night, but Bayern will know what they have to do and as we all know, are more than capable of winning in Spain.

PSV are at home to Fiorentina following last weeks 1-1 draw in Italy. The Dutch side must be favourites to progress but this one will be tight. Tottenham Hotspur came to the Philips Stadium in the last round and won 1-0 so there is still a chance for the Viola.

I’m with PSV on this one as I just can’t see Fiorentina winning in Eindhoven. Anyway Rangers have a good European record against the boys in red and white.

The last match is already dead and buried as far as I’m concerned after Zenit’s terrific 4-1 win in Leverkusen last week. Bayer have it all to do in St Petersburg and I can’t imagine a more unfriendly place to go and do it.

If you thought Bayer were caught cold last week? Then think again.

So there we have it, another great night of UEFA Cup action awaits us.

Therefore as usual, I’ll remind you that quality European football doesn’t finish on Wednesday night after the Champions League games, but continues all the way to Thursday night with the UEFA Cup!

After the unanimous decision by the rugby world that Argentina should be welcomed into a major international competition, they will feature this summer in the Churchill Cup.

Despite wide recognition that they must be accommodated somewhere, the SANZAR nations were reluctant to share Tri-Nations revenue with the Pumas, whilst a number of logistical issues have impeded the formation of a Seven Nations competition in Europe.

The team that finished 3rd in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, ranked 3rd in the world, will compete against Canada, USA, England Saxons, Ireland A and Scotland A in June.

A fairly large part of me feels that this isn’t quite satisfactory, but at least it is something. There is an argument to say that the World Cup squad was an unusually talented bunch and that their lofty status in the IRB rankings cannot be sustained. There is an equally persuasive argument that says they will only become a consistent challenger if they play competitive rugby consistently.

Regular participation in the Churchill Cup may prove to the world that they can perform regularly and should be accommodated in one of the top tier competitions, but only time will tell.

What does everyone think? Does this go far enough to show Argentina that they are welcome on the international rugby scene?

Rugby’s an important part of the mix at the Hong Kong Sevens, but woe betide anyone who prioritises it ahead of the other main raison d’être – partying. Just ask the players of New Zealand and Fiji who were ready to start the second half of their semi final, only for the referee to tell them to wait 40 seconds until the PA had finished playing ZZ Top and the 15,000 people in the South stand had put down their air guitars.

It may not have been a vintage sevens on the field, with a lack of any real doubt about the eventual winners. No-one seriously challenged the Kiwis, whose reputation for choking in big events seems limited to the 15-a-side game. But the party was once again without parallel, and the 40,000 fans packed into So Kon Po stadium wouldn’t have chosen to be anywhere else.

The traditional Sevens warm-up features the sibling Tens tournament on Wednesday and Thursday, plus an assortment of dinners and lunches. But fears of peaking too early, not to mention flight logistics, meant we arrived at 8.30am on Friday just eight hours before the first kick-off.

We met our regular Old Freemen’s/ Hong Kong connection Simon Gibbs for some warm-up beers at the East End Brewery that caused us to miss the start. But by 6.30pm normal service had been resumed – the South Stand was full, New Zealand had racked up 50 points against Taiwan, and Gibbsy had been soaked in beer thanks to the unsteady hands of the fan in front of him dressed as a Mexican.

Traditional boo-boys France (a love-to-hate scenario) and Australia (the same thing, but without the love) were given a vocal Hong Kong welcome, but won their opening games, and only Tunisia came close to causing a surprise, losing 26-21 to the US.

We encountered a group we knew from Nuneaton RFC, biennial visitors to the Sevens, doing some prodigious early drinking and trying to work out the correct seating plan for their O-N T-O-U-R letters on the back of their shirts. The six of them were joined by four more, L-A-D-S, on the Saturday morning.

Taking a one-day breather from the South Stand on Saturday, we took up our bird’s eye positions in the East Upper just in time to see England brush aside Sri Lanka. The change of seats worked fine, apart from the fact that the stewards who stop fans bringing booze to their seats in this part of the ground had worked out that Pimm’s was alcoholic.

Saturday’s games were more exciting than on the opening day: China beat Scotland and the Australians squeezed past France – the crowd didn’t know who to support.

We sat behind ‘Statto’, a friendly bearded chap who had attended all 33 HK7 tournaments and recorded in his notebook not just the scores, but the number of airings for keynote songs such as La Bamba, the Hawaii 5-0 theme, I’m a Believer and One Step Beyond. I was reminded by my girlfriend not to turn into Statto when I was older. She doesn’t like beards.

The finest game on Saturday was the penultimate one in the pool stages, England squeezing past holders Samoa in an agonising 14 minutes. Ahead 7-5 with a minute to go, England withstood a length of the field break, conceded possession on the final whistle, only for Samoa’s ‘winning try’ to be ruled out for a foot in touch. A very tight squeeze indeed, for which England’s ‘reward’ was a rematch with their opponents, the second seeds, the following afternoon.

Sunday dawned cloudy and humid, and we made the schoolboy error of neither getting a good breakfast down prior to arrival nor bringing something with us. Unable to leave the South Stand for fear of not getting back in again – it’s one-in, one-out after it fills up – we had to endure the South Stand catering that was on the cusp of unpleasant and inedible.

The organisers ha a few teething problems of their own first thing on Sunday: when the announcer took up the mic for the first time he asked the crowd if they were ‘Alright Now’, but the song of the same name wasn’t cued up and there was an awkward silence. Then Zimbabwe took the field for the first match at 9.45am with no opposition, Taiwan entering stage right a minute later to ironic cheers.

The fans’ fancy dress efforts reached their peak for Sunday, everywhere you looked there was another more outrageous set of costumes: cowgirls, Super Mario Brothers, smurfs, Hula babes, sailors, 28 blokes from Melbourne dressed as Steve Irwin, they were all here. We took our seat alongside the Nuneaton ‘LADS’, although the original six had ruled their shirts too smelly to wear for a third day running.

The day may have built slowly but the joint was jumping by the time New Zealand and Wales contested the first Cup quarter final three hours later. The jugs of Pimm’s, Guinness, Sea Breeze and VRB were beginning to kick in.

After the narrow win on Saturday, not to mention a contentious quarter-final victory in 2006, England’s luck ran out against Samoa – this time a foot that might have been in touch was ruled inside the line and a 3-2 try win was sealed.

England’s defeat disappointed many in the crowd, and even more were aghast to see Hong Kong dumped out of the Bowl competition by the quick hands and legs of Zimbabwe in the very next match.

Thereafter it is fair to say that matters off the field were of more interest to most than the various games being played on the pitch. We were entertained by some wag throwing a wooden spoon at the Scottish team as they passed, had a rendezvous with Gibbsy – very well-refreshed by this point – and joined the traditional crowd rendition of Sweet Caroline.

Our new friend Chantal arrived and introduced herself. Resplendent in a red cowboy hat, but very hung over, she told us about her romantic liaison the night before with a 25-year-old gentleman, young enough to be her son and dressed as a tennis player. Love-all at first sight.

The rugby was somewhat predictable – South Africa beat the Samoans but were no match for the Kiwis in the Cup final. Russia took the Bowl for the eight lowest-ranked teams, while of all teams France were the Plate winners. Boos would have been guaranteed in any event, but they were especially loud when the Gallic villains sealed their win over Argentina by ‘dropping’ a penalty goal in sudden-death extra time.

The final finished at 6.45pm and it was time for fireworks and the presentation before revellers headed off to the tented Sevens Village or the bars of Wanchai and Lan Kwai Fong to keep the party torch, burning annually in Hong Kong since 1976, burning for a few more hours.

The final word went to bagpiper John Simpson, attending his first Sevens and playing live in the stadium. Quoted in the South China Morning Post, he likened the event to “a sci-fi convention crossed with a sports event.”

“I have no idea what rugby has to do with men getting about in miniskirts and crop tops,” he said. “But it seems to work.”

SCOTLAND NATIONAL TEAM

 

GEORGE BURLEY'S STRONGEST XI

FORMATION: 4-3-3

                        Gordon

     Hutton     Weir    McManus   Naysmith 

         Brown     Ferguson   Fletcher 

          Maloney     Miller    McFadden 

Gordon (Sunderland)

The difference at times between a draw and a loss he has that in his game a great shot stopper. Although, he should get his own style fashion wise, the Buffon trademark of cut sleeves is homage to a great, but time to make his own way now. Will feel the heat of McGregor pushing for his place, but Gordon is very much in his own league, could be with time a great.

Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur)

The move will be the making of him by getting away from Glasgow, no more "do you not know who I am you son of a..." lines to unimpressed Scottish bouncers. Hutton has improved already, a very good player who has a real shot at becoming a great player.

Weir (Rangers)

Peter Pan in real time and quite right to...

McManus (Celtic)

Can only get better, his European nights with Celtic have helped him when facing the best international players.

Naysmith (Sheffield United)

Against Italy he was solid but no more, Hutton's play makes him look like a journeyman, he is solid and can do the job.

Brown (Celtic)

"Canny score for toffee" I hear you sing, he will try all day and night for you terrific hunger and has a heat to his play, intensity and anger. Needs to settle into his game more, find his own style he is to anxious to impress "just to be the man who walked a thousand miles, to fall down at your door"... Will be a cornerstone of the Scottish 11 for many years...

Ferguson (Rangers)

The Captain of the ship, his delivery of the final ball has gotten even better this season. Must drive the midfield and take command more often, he has the goods to do so. 

Fletcher (Manchester United)

The real deal and all heart, he has no fear and has that little something extra to unlock denfences, shame about the injury, Man Utd were begining to find out just what he can do.

Maloney (Aston Villa)

Played on the wing against Croatia, gave Luka "whom everybody wants to buy" Modric a run for his money, great to see him playing gives us pace and hunger.

Miller (Derby County)

The white Drogba the white Eto'o, nah he is Kenny "gimme the ball and I'll hit it" Miller. Roma have had a look at him and it will be interesting what kind of summer he has.

McFadden (Birmingham City)

The Prince of Hampden and conqueror of the French on French soil, majestic, daring and modest to boot, unlike this description but it is earnt, he is the wild card and Scotland have not had such a thing for a long long time.

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It is a young team, and one of characters the nucleus of which, will be together for some time, at last we have something to call our own. 

WINNERS

Gary Caldwell

Decried by Celtic fans but solid for Scotland. Spectacularly effective clearance to deny Croatia a second goal and his club partnership with Stephen McManus could be the one Burley turns to if David Weir stops playing an admirable version of Peter Pan.

Terry Butcher

Resisted the temptation to integrate himself with his adopted country by singing Flower Of Scotland. His experience of three World Cups with England could be invaluable in helping Scotland reach South Africa.

Kenny Miller

The white Samuel Eto'o? Well, not quite, but Miller does lead the line reasonably effectively on his own. His finishing remains erratic but his scoring rate for Scotland—11 goals in 36 games—is good.

LOSERS

The SPL

Is their fixtures computer a ZX81? How come Old Firm games always seem to collide with international dates? About time they acted in international interest.

Allan McGregor

The goalie with the wandering hands couldn't make a date with his country because of "a bit of puffiness around the knee" according to Rangers' website. The poor wee lamb has managed to play every single Premier League fixture, though.

The SFA

Fans missing kick-off when the stadium is half full because of a ticket collection farce is not on. How many of these same, loyal supporters lost out to sponsors and their clients when the prestige match against Italy was played?

• 1st IAAF World Road Running Championships 1 f 56:01 Debrecen 08/10/2006

• 2nd IAAF World Road Running Championships 1 f 58:59 Udine 14/10/2007
• 12th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 7 f 1:01:26 Vilamoura 04/10/2003
• 11th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships 21 f 1:03:05 Bruxelles 05/05/2002

• 35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1 f 35:50 Mombasa 24/03/2007

• 34th IAAF World Cross Country Championships 4 f 35:47 Fukuoka 02/04/2006
• 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2 f 35:20 St Etienne - St Galmier 20/03/2005
• 32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships 6 f 36:37 Bruxelles 21/03/2004
• 31st IAAF World Cross Country Championships 9 f 37:10 Lausanne 30/03/2003
• 30th IAAF/Sport Ireland World Cross Country Championships 30 f 36:37 Dublin 24/03/2002

• IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1 f 25:04 Oostende 25/03/2001
• 27th IAAF World Cross Country Championships 9 f 26:27 Belfast 28/03/1999

• 34th IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1 f 10:54 Fukuoka 01/04/2006
• 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1 f 11:33 St Etienne - St Galmier 19/03/2005
• 32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1 f 11:31 Bruxelles 20/03/2004
• 31st IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1 f 11:01 Lausanne 29/03/2003
• 30th IAAF/Sport Ireland World Cross Country Championships 1 f 12:11 Dublin 23/03/2002
• IAAF World Cross Country Championships 2 f 12:42 Oostende 24/03/2001

• 34th IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1 f 35:40 Fukuoka 02/04/2006
• 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1 f 35:06 St Etienne - St Galmier 20/03/2005
• 32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1 f 35:52 Bruxelles 21/03/2004
• 31st IAAF World Cross Country Championships 1 f 35:56 Lausanne 30/03/2003
• 30th IAAF/Sport Ireland World Cross Country Championships 1 f 34:52 Dublin 24/03/2002

George Burley took charge of Scotland for the first time tonight after taking over the reins from Alex McLeish. 

McLeish resigned to join to Birmingham City after Scotland’s last Euro Championship qualifier against Italy. The 2-1 loss at Hampden ended the Scots Euro 2008 hopes but the campaign was seen as a turning point for the now highly rated young squad. 

Croatia came into this one looking for a tough warm up game after ousting England and qualifying for Euro 2008. They were aiming to dispel rumors that the loss of Arsenal striker Eduardo Da Silva would derail their Euro 2008 hopes. 

Scotland were without seven key players including captain Barry Ferguson and star striker James McFadden. It was however a chance for a few players to prove a point or two. 

One of those players was Hibernian’s Steven Fletcher who made his debut after being named in the starting eleven. He couldn’t have asked for a better 21st birthday present. 

The teams had met twice previously, with both games ending in draws.

 As the anthems rang out at Hampden, I couldn’t help but hope Scotland would pick up where they left off and punch well above their weight! 

Croatia were the first to score with a goal that came completely out of nothing. The Scots keeper Craig Gordon was deceived by a quick thinking Niko Kranjcar effort. 

Scotland responded well to the early setback and set out to get a foot hold in the game. The Croatian midfielder impressed me all night with some great football.

Kranjcar and Luka Modric had impressed early on as they dominated the first half an hour. The Scots however are not a team that give up and equalized through Kenny Miller in the 31st minute. The Derby County striker smashed home his 11th international goal after a good pass from debutant Fletcher. 

Miller continued to look threatening after the break, showing great energy. Scotland however struggled to replicate his energy as the game wore on. 

Croatia dominated the middle of the second half but it was Scotland who nearly snatched it through Kris Boyd.

Alan Hutton and Darren Fletcher have been in fine form tonight and were by far Scotland’s best players. 

Modric is my man of the match but it was Scotland who impressed me most with their key players missing, one better than England after all. Scotland 1, Croatia 1. 

In other games England struggled in France, going down 1-0. Frank Ribery scored the goal with a first half penalty. England made Sven Goran Eriksson scale substitutions but to little positive effect. 

Austria shocked a talented Dutch side by taking a 3-0 lead. A goal from Ivan Ivanschitz and two goals from Sebastien Prodl gave the Austrians a comfortable lead. Holland replied through Klaas Huntelaar and Johnny Heitinga before equalizing through Celtic star Jan Vennegoor Of Hesselink.  

The Dutch completed and amazing recovery when Huntelaar bagged his second of the night! 

Denmark drew 1-1 with the Czech Republic. Nicklas Bendtner opened the scoring but the Danes were pegged back by a Jan Koller goal just before halftime. 

African Nations Cup Champions Egypt crashed back down to reality with a 2-0 defeat at home to Argentina. 

Wales chose an easier friendly than most and won 2-0 thanks to a Freddy Eastwood double in Luxembourg. 

David Healy kept up his great international scoring record against Georgia. The Fulham striker scored for his country and for Georgia. Sunderland target Kyle Lafferty scored twice with the Georgians returning the own goal favor in a 4-1 win. 

The USA won 3-0 in Poland thanks to goals from Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu and Eddie Lewis. 

A few more results included Portugal 1-2 Greece, Romania 3-0 Russia, South Africa 3-0 Paraguay, Sweden 0-1 Brazil and Switzerland 0-4 Germany. 

A great night of international football, come on Scotland!