SCOTS HEROES EURO DREAM HEARTACHE
COURTESY OF A GENIUS AND A COUPLE OF DUNCES

The agony and the ecstacy for Scotland's Captain Barry Ferguson

Some football pundits have been labelled Referee, Manuel Enrique as a genius, but tonight Spanish whistler was backed up two "dunces" as Scotland endured a heartbreaking end to their Euro 2008 dream against Italy at Hampden.

After a conceding a shock goal to Luca Toni after just 70 seconds, the 51,000 crowd were dancing and singing in the rain, after Captain, Barry Ferguson stuck in his first international goal at Hampden in 65 minutes.

A draw would prolong the wait for a few more days with a Ukraine victory over France would ensure that Scotland would be booking their flights for Austria and Switzerland next year.

But in the dying minutes, a ludicrous decision from the Assistant Referee Juan Carlos Jiminez in the dying minutes after Alan Hutton had been shoulder charged near the bye line but the official signalled a free kick to the Italians which resulted with a text book header from Christian Panucci.

A decision which clearly incensed Scottish Manager Alex McLeish.

He said: "Alan Hutton was in control of the ball and their guy battered him. How can that be a free-kick to Italy ?"

"We didn't deserve that, to lose that game," said McLeish.

"We battered them in the second half and they were dead men walking at the end.

"But they got most 50-50s and we expected that. The first goal was so unlike us. It took the power away from us for a spell.

"We were making chances, we were imaginative, but unfortunately it didn't fall for us. When Faddy has his chance I thought that my life was passing before me."

"I feel so disappointed for our players. We have been giving some big teams a real fright but you have to be brilliant to overcome what happened in this game."

"A lot of 50/50's did not go our way. It was fine line and we came very close. I am glad that it was not a damp squib."

Some may say that things balanced out with the visitors being ruled out of a second goal which was disallowed for offside and Scotland rode their luck when Ferguson 's goal was perilously close to being chalked off as well.

But at the end of the day, Scotland showed the kind of character that has been so prominent throughout their campaign, putting the World Champions on the back foot with a terrific second half performance, which saw a coming of age at International level performance from Alan Hutton.

And it was the cruellest of ways to bring the curtain down on their campaign in which after the Berti Vogts era, no one had give this side a prayer in coming through this group of death alive but after a series of performances that put Scottish football back on the map, the Scots will find themselves in a healthy position occupying the second pot in the upcoming World Cup draw.

Despite the heartache from this game, McLeish reckons that this Euro journey will make his players stronger as they get ready to stake their place on the World stage.

"These players will grow in stature and mental toughness," he said. "The goodwill from Scotland and the media has been nothing short of phenomenal."

"So we have got to be positive, because we have given the Scottish game a real shot in the arm"

Following the defeat in Georgia , the mission was clear - beat the current World Champions and Scotland were heading for their first ever championship finals since 1998.

There was no doubt that the Scots came into the came as clear underdogs, but the same could have been said at the start of the campaign when people thought that they would be propping up the table.

And the fact that they took the scalps of France along the way twice - there is no such a thing as form book!

A point that had not gone un noticed by the Scottish nation, who had been gripped by football fever for weeks leading up to this do or die game.

Even getting out of your car in the Pollokshaws Area, a few miles from the ground, you were greeted with the sound of Bagpipes.

The fact they were coming from the sound system on a National Newspaper's sponsored Tartan Army bus was immaterial.

What ever the result, this was going to be an occasion of Scotland games of old, a group of players in dark blue, with the country united behind them hoping to take a decisive step against the worlds best.

Italy had never beaten Scotland on Scottish soil, with the only victory 22 years ago when John Greig's strike sent shock waves throughout the Azzuri.

There was no denying that the Italians had the edge on the Scots in technical ability and already had chalked up one win over the campaign.

But was hoped that the 12 th man of the Tartan Army and Fortress Hampden Park , would give McLeish's Bravehearts the decisive edge in what has been a momentous campaign that brought Scottish Football back its self respect.

"Welcome to Hampden Park . The Greatest Stadium in the World!" boomed the announcer. Some people may have reason to disagree with that.

But it would take some doing to beat the atmosphere that greeted the players that walked on to the hallowed turf on Saturday night.

With the fans getting into the atmosphere, watching some classic Hampden moments on the plush new video screens along with a superb selection of tunes certain to pull at your national heart strings.

But when both sets of Football Gladiators walked on to the field, the roof came off its hinges - the old style "Hampden Roar" was back with a bang!

And after backing a passionate rendition by Ronnie Brown of "Flower of Scotland", the stage was finally set for what was hoped to be a game to remember.

However no one was ready for the shock start that was to hit the Scots after just 70 seconds when nerves appeared to kick in when a quickly taken free kick caught the home side off guard, with David Weir and Steve McManus caught out of position, leaving Luca Toni to stab home the opener from close range.

But instead of crumbling under the pressure, the Scots managed to regroup and start putting some pressure on the Italian penalty box.

And in the fourteenth minute, the signs were starting to emerge that the football gods were not going to smile on the Scots after Lee McUlloch's drive hit Gianluca Zambrotta's arm, but the referee blatantly dismissed claims of any penalty.

As the matched progressed, the football Bravehearts were slowly turning up the pressure, but not on goal keeper Gianluigi Buffon.

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