WE HAVE A DREAM !!!!!!!!
- WHICH IS VERY MUCH ALIVE

EURO 2008: Scotland 3 Ukraine 1

After the euphoria over their double header victory over the French on their own back yard, Scotland took another decisive step forward to a possible all our nothing Euro 2008 show down with Italy at Hampden with a dramatic 3-1 victory over World Cup Quarter Finalists, Ukraine on Saturday

In what was a perfect day for football, the sun was shining, Hampden Park was packed to the rafter as Alex McLeish's Bravehearts walked out looking to grab three of the decisive seven points that would guarantee their place at the knock out stages at Austria and Switzerland next year.

When this group was announced, many pundits were almost unanimous in saying that after an encouraging recovery as a football nation during the previous World Cup qualifier, our best expectation was to concentrate on developing a squad for the next tournament as the chances of us beating the World Champions and runners up was bordering on fantasy.

But several months later, that fantasy has become a reality following seven wins under McLeish, including that historic night in Paris and at the weekend, expectations were high that the dream would remain very much alive, with the Scots taking all three points the Ukraines.

However I don't think pundits and punters alike were expecting Scotland to start the game in the way that they did, when after a positive start by the visitors, the Ukraines found themselves on the back foot, losing their discipline when Andriy Nesmachny pulled off a reckless challenge on Scott Brown.

And this resulted in James McFadden sending a text book free kick in to the box and was met with a first class finish from Kenny Miller, who shook off his marker to head home from close range.

Ukraine had to come away from Hampden with a victory if they were to have any further interest in challenging for one of the two qualifying spots.

And even though they looked very dangerous moving forward they visitors lost their discipline again when another reckless challenge set the Scots up with another free kick from 30 yards out.

But Ukraine were punished further for some shocking defending after a quickly taken free kick from Barry Ferguson found an unmarked Lee McCulloch on the far side of the box, who with all the time in the world finished the move off in style with a superb strike into the opposite corner.

With the momentum now well and truly in Scotland 's favour, Ukraine three caution to the wind and started to throw everything at the home defence with some very slick passing and it felt that it was only a matter of time that they would get back into this game.

However it was defensive lapse by the Scots that got the visitors of the mark when a cross from by Nesmachniy came off Stephen McManus's shoulder - then Naysmith - leaving star man Andrei Shevchenko to blast the ball into the net from a fee yards out.

The fans nerves were now being tested to the limit as three strong penalty claims were dimissed by referee Pieter Vink.

Alan Hutton was making what was now one of this trademark charges towards the box and appeared that the Rangers defender was clearly brought down by Andriy Vorobei

Naysmith then brought Shevchenko crashing to the ground 14 yards out, although the striker appeared to have already lost control of the ball and was already heading down before contact was made.

An in the closing seconds of an exciting half, Anatoly Tymoschuk possibly just stroked the ball with his studs after McFadden took the ball past the midfielder.

McCulloch was booked for disputing the decision, ruling the Rangers player out of the midweek trip to Georgia . The irony being was that reports suggested that the referee apologised to McFadden for the wrong decision

McCulloch's involvement in this came was soon short lived as he picked up an ankle injury during some early exchanges in the second half and was replaced by Christian Dailly.

With only one goal separating the two side, Ukraine , who has started the game with four strikers turned up the pressure on the Scots defense, but despite the territorial advantage, did not test Craig Gordon as often as they would like to.

And with no change in the scoring frustration was starting to creep into the Ukranians play as they were starting to give the ball away too often an were soon dealt a sucker punch when Alan Hutton delivered a superb ball to James McFadden who killed the ball with his first touch and hammer the ball into the net with his second.

Now all eyes will be on the first of two "cup finals" for the Scots when they take on Georgia where a win will require at least a point against the Italians, which has been shown in the past is not mission impossible.

However with their success at the weekend, they Scots have suffered the loss of some key personnel, with Hutton, Brown, Caldwell and possibly missing from the squad through injury, but were given an added boost with Darren Fletcher set to rejoin the squad through suspension.

People did not expect Scotland to be in the position that they are in. But the facts can't lie, they are four points away from their first big final in 10 years.

And they are showing that same kind of team spirit and passion for playing for the jersey that has been since the Bremners, Souness and Dalglish's exploits in previous World Cups.

History has shown that it would be foolish to get over confident but after beating some of the world's best sides, the prospect of a dramatic showdown at Hampden in November is looking a strong possibility.