MACEDONIA "BROWNED" OFF !!!!!!!!!!!

World Cup Qualifier
Scotland 2 Macedonia 0

Scotland came into Hampden Park at the weekend in what was to be the one of their biggest games in recent years – till this coming Wednesday that is.

In what was a disastrous World Cup qualifying campaign to date, players throwing toys out of their pram for not getting a game, “Boozegate”, certain officials making unwelcome comments, bad tactics, poor player selection etc – all in the life of Scotland Manager George Burley.

So on Saturday, the Scots walked out in front of a packed Hampden Park against Macedonia where the task was abundantly clear:

Nothing else but a win would do if Scotland were to have any chance of qualifying for the World Cup in 2010.

This was part one of a double header, with a mission impossible against Holland a few days later. Victory in both could be enough to take Scotland to their first major championships since France 98 and keep George Burley in a job.

Scottish International Football is all about pride and passion and Burley was looking for his players to bring that commitment on to the field in a game which was dubbed “Saltire Saturday”

But for the first 40 minutes, there was more energy from the pre match fireworks as opposed to what was show by Burley's men against a Macedonia side that were full of running, better technically and in the end were fortunate not to be behind, thanks to some top class goal keeping by Craig Gordon.

But inspiration from between the sticks was not enough, they need something special up field if they were to take anything form this game.

Starting with “Act 1” – enter Scott Brown.

After riling the Macedonians with a piece of gamesmanship just before the break, the visitors would have been spitting blood at the Celtic midfield dynamo when he scored his first ever goal for his country with a terrific header in 56 minutes.

Then after being ruled out of the Holland game on Wednesday with a ridiculous booking late in the game – “Act II” enter the genius of James McFadden, who nine minutes from time took the ball from near the half way line, cut through two defenders and calmly take the ball round Jane Nikoloski for a superb second.

As for the George Burley, the pressure was off him – for a few days at least. And now has reason to look forward to the Holland game with confidence.

He said: “It was a great team performance, not just the players but also the fans. The support that they showed us was tremendous.”

“It was a god feeling to put smiles on their faces and we want to get that felling back on Wednesday.”

“It is a blow to lose James McFadden. I did not know that he had been booked, but we have to move on.”

“We believe that we can take the three points on Wednesday. We have got 50,000 fans behind us and we are determined not to let them down.

With so much riding on the result of this game, Scotland dug deep into their reserves in order to generate the best possible atmosphere, with “Flower of Scotland” sung by one half of the legendary Corrie, Ronnie Browne, who gave it his usual vocals packed with passion and gusto.

I don't think you would ever hear a National Anthem being sung with the open lyrics: “COMMME ONNNNNN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

On the PA system the SFA drafted in top DJ and one of the best Stadium Announcers in the country, Scott Wilson, who always guarantees whether it is the run down Armadale Speedway Stadium, Basketball in Braehead Arena, Tynecastle or Hampden is guaranteed to get the crowds at full volume.

And there is now doubt that Scott had the Tartan Army rocking on Saturday!

Unfortunately the atmosphere tapered off during the opening minutes when Filip Despotovski charged down the Scottish defence sliding the ball to Goran Pandev, but his shot inside the box was well blocked by Craig Gordon.

Scotland troubles continued when Burley was forced into an early substitution when Callum Davidson came off with a torn hamstring injury and was replaced by Steven Whittaker, forcing the Scotland boss to adjust his tactics.

As the game progressed, whatever Burley's original game plan was did not appear to be working. His players seemed to be uncomfortable playing in the formation that appeared to be foreign to them.

The visitors were looking more dangerous on the ball and it felt that this was going the way of the last Norway game and it was only a matter of time before they found their way into the net, but thankfully were denied thanks to the heroics of Craig Gordon.

The Scots needed some who was willing to take the game by the scruff of the next and Brown appeared to be a more than willing volunteer when he turned his man just outside the box, sending a fiercely driving shot just wide of the post.

Then during the final minutes before the break, all hell appeared to break loose, when after a Macedonia player went down “injured” the Referee, who was not having his best days, sunk to new depths when he ordered a bounce ball.

The visitors were expecting the Scots to send the ball back to them in the usual sporting manner, but Brown decided to blast the ball towards the by-line, coming off a Macedonia player for a corner.

This incensed the visiting players with half a dozen immediately surrounding the Celtic midfielder. And if anything was to inspire team unity – then this was it.

Immediately a number of Scotland players got in amongst the mêlée determined to get their team mate out of the danger zone, which to his credit did not react to the provocation.

With the linesman coming onto the field to add his assistance, Referee decided to dish out the yellow cards, with James MacFadden, who had nothing to do with the incident in question – his only crime appeared to be standing at the corner flag with the intention of taking the kick.

He was booked for lack of fair play – when it was a case mistaken identity. Under the rules, this meant that McFadden would miss the Holland game.

Nothing came of the resulting corner, but because of the incompetence by the officials and the agro that continued down the tunnel at half time with some Macedonian players having to be restrained from going for Brown – this fired up the Tartan Army once again.

You got the feeling that after a poor first half and fortunate not to be behind, we could be looking at a different Scottish side coming out during the next 45 minutes. And it certainly was!!!!!

In the second half, this was a Scotland side showing the kind of grit and determination that beat France twice and give Italy a fright in the European campaigns. As sight that has been rarely seen during Burley's reign.

The home side should have gone in front when Steven Fletcher picked up a great ball from Brown, who sent it back to McFadden, cutting inside with a direct shot at goal, but sliced it wide.

Scotland continued to throw everything at the Macedonians and got their just rewards in 56 minutes when a curling ball from Steven Fletcher saw Brown got infront of a defender to head the ball into the far corner of the net.

Burley made some tactical adjustments midway through the second half with Paul Hartley and Shaun Maloney replacing Brown and Steven Fletcher.

There was no let up on the pressure and Macedonia appeared to be running out of steam.

However with Scotland pushing everyone up in attack, the Scots left themselves open at the back and were almost punished on the counter attack but thankfully Slavco Georgievski, with the goal at his mercy slammed a shot over the crossbar.

And nine minutes from time, McFadden, who despite missing out on the Holland game, showed that he was ready to fight for the cause till the bitter end turned in another classic goal to his repertoire starting from half way slipping through both central defenders and rounding the goalkeeper with ease to stroke the ball into an empty net sending the Tartan Army ecstatic.

Even though this was a game billed as “Saltire Saturday”, some cynics had already billed the next encounter as “We are out Wednesday.”

However based on the second half display Scotland will go into a nail biting encounter with confidence.

And even though a win might not guarantee Scotland a place in South Africa in 2010, Wednesday night's battle with the Dutch looks set to be an encounter to remember.