retired_bbcarr

i'll be optomistic, 4-0 win for the mighty wogts and his scots

retired_amyslack

Some interesting predictions there

World Cup 2006 Group B Game 3
Half Time
Scotland 1 (Craig 45) Czech Republic 1 (Berger 43)

RK - Honours even at half time. It looked like ending scoreless but then we had 2 goals in 2 minutes.

AG - We did, but there were a number of chances before that. This is very early in the game and Steven Craig knocks the ball into the area, Hampshire tries the shot and Peter Cech makes a great save. Sullivan almost caught out here as Tomas Rosicky hits the ball forward - I’m not sure if that was an attempted lob or an overhit pass but Sullivan had to back pedal quickly to make the save. A sustained spell of pressure from the Czechs now. Rosicky finds Koller - what a target man he makes - the header down for Heinz, good volley and good save as Sullivan touches it round the post. Rosicky whips in the corner, Nikl makes the header, Sullivan parries and Ferguson clears. Free kick to the Czechs now, Rosicky takes it, the wall does its job but Nikl picks up the loose ball and Sullivan has to save again. It’s Heinz now with a determined run but his shot was always going high. Rosicky with the run now, we’re finding it hard to close the Czechs down but the midfielder’s shot goes wide. It’s Patrik Berger showing what he can do now and we know he can hit them. He’s still going and how about that for a finish. But right on the stroke of half time we get a goal against the run of play. This is a lovely passing move, half a dozen players involved and Steven Craig applies the finish.

RK - Fortunate to still be on terms then.

AG - Definitely. The Czechs have made all the running and if it’s like this in the second half we’re going to struggle. We can’t seem to get hold of the ball in midfield and the defence are having to work really hard.

RK - Time for another break but we’ll be back with you at full time.

retired_amyslack

World Cup 2006 Group B Game 3
Full Time
Scotland 1 (Craig 45) Czech Republic 2 (Berger 43, Heinz 56)

RK - It was pretty much more of the same in the second half Andy.

AG - It was Richard. The Czechs making most of the running and Scotland having the odd chance or two. They looked strong straight from the restart. Vladimir Smicer has the first chance but his fierce shot is just too high. Smicer again, this one is on target but Sullivan blocks and Dailly clears. Smicer again, on the flank this time, sends the cross in, good header from Koller, Sullivan parries, Heinz picks up the loose ball but Robbie Neilson just nicks it off his toes - great play by the full back. Here’s the goal now. Heinz takes the pass from Rosicky and makes good ground but where are the tackles? He moves inside the box, Sullivan tries to narrow the angle but that’s a really good finish. And still we can’t get enough of the ball to mount any serious attacks. Koller outjumps McGuire, knocks it down to Smicer and he plays a quick through ball for Rosicky and the flag stays down. Sullivan off his line very quickly and he forces Rosicky wide and he can’t get enough curl on the shot - good play Neil. This is another great run by Heinz, it looks like he’s going all the way and Sullivan does so well to come out and make the save at his feet. Now here’s our first chance of the second half and we probably should have scored. Its Christian Dailly with the diagonal cross, good leap by Craig to get the header but Cech parries. Mark Kerr is on for Cosgrove and he gets to the loose ball first but a slight hesitation allows the keeper to recover and smother at his feet and the chance has gone. Time running out now, Fletcher’s on for Parker, he lays the ball back for Charlie Miller who goes for the piledriver but it balloons over the bar.

RK - Scotland outplayed tonight I’m afraid. We can take a look at the match statistics.

(Sky Sports Whooshing Noise)

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Scotland Czech Republic6 Shots on Goal 124 On Target 72 Off Target 51 Corners 313 Free Kicks 80 Offsides 112 Yellow Cards 00 Red Cards 0</pre>

RK - So a disappointing loss. But because of the other result in the group Scotland still qualify.

AG - Yes, Italy beat Ghana 3-0 but it wasn’t good enough because of the Czech win. Here’s the final table.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group BPos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Q Scotland 3 1 0 1 4 4 1 0 0 2 1 6 2nd Q Czech Republic 3 0 0 1 0 1 2 0 0 4 2 6 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Italy 3 0 0 1 1 2 2 0 0 4 0 6 4th Ghana 3 0 0 2 1 5 0 0 1 2 3 0</pre>

RK - So the first big surprise of the tournament as Italy are eliminated. The final games in Group A were also played this evening.

AG - Argentina beat South Africa 2-0 to go through and Denmark made it 3 out of 3 with a 3-2 win over Colombia. They were 3-0 ahead and the Colombians came back strongly but couldn’t get the win they needed.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group APos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Q Denmark 3 2 0 0 4 2 1 0 0 3 1 9 2nd Q Argentina 3 1 0 1 3 3 1 0 0 2 0 6 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Colombia 3 0 0 1 0 2 1 0 1 5 4 3 4th South Africa 3 0 0 1 1 3 0 0 2 0 3 0</pre>

RK - Well those final placings means that in the Second Round Denmark will play the Czech Republic and Scotland will face Argentina. Let’s go over to Germany to join Geoff Shreeves and get the reaction of Berti Wogts.


GS - So Berti, Scotland still win the group despite the defeat tonight.

BW - Ja, it is quite a surprise zat Italy are out. But ve vere outplayed tonight and it vas not a good performance by ze team.

GS - And now Argentina in the next round. How do you feel about that?

BW - Very excited Geoff. It is not very often zat you get to play one of ze best teams in ze vorld and I am looking forward to it very much.

GS - Well good luck in that one, I think you’ll need it.


RK - Final thoughts on the game Andy and your Man of the Match selection.

AG - I have to agree with Berti - we were simply outplayed and that was a real disappointment. Based on that showing I’m not too optimistic about facing Argentina I must admit. Man of the Match? - Neil Sullivan without a doubt. In my opinion he was the reason that we qualified tonight. He kept the score down otherwise we could have lost by 4 or 5 and then we would be out.

RK - Thanks Andy. Now the Argentina game is on Monday 26th at Dusseldorf so please join us for that one.

retired_bbcarr

buggering hell, argentina ah well, at least you didn't come home too soon bob :thup:

retired_ashleyamber

Argentina, no problem....

2-1 to Scotland... I predict!

retired_amyslack

Sorry for the delay guys.

Sky Sports
Monday June 26, 2006
Richard Keys and Andy Gray are sitting in the Sky Sports studio.

RK - Hello and welcome. You join us tonight for one of the biggest World Cup games in Scotland’s history as they face Argentina in the second round, the first time that a Scottish team has ever progressed this far. But first, a review of how the other groups finished.

AG - Group C went more or less as expected. Germany won their last game 2-0 against the Ivory Coast and Russia beat Uruguay 3-1.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group CPos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Q Germany 3 1 1 0 3 1 1 0 0 3 0 7 2nd Q Russia 3 2 0 0 4 1 0 1 0 1 1 7 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Uruguay 3 0 0 1 0 3 1 0 1 3 4 3 4th Ivory Coast 3 0 0 1 1 2 0 0 2 0 3 0</pre>

AG - Group D also went to form. Spain beat Senegal 3-1 and Ireland overcame Japan 2-1. There was a trilling finish to that game though. Ireland led 1-0 going into the last minute from a Robbie Keane goal but Japan equalised and then David Connolly got the winner in stoppage time.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Q Spain 3 1 0 0 2 0 1 1 0 4 2 7 2nd Q Ireland 3 0 1 0 1 1 2 0 0 4 1 7 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Senegal 3 0 0 2 1 5 1 0 0 4 1 3 4th Japan 3 0 0 2 2 6 0 0 1 0 2 0</pre>

AG - Group E provided a huge upset. In the final games China pulled off a 1-0 win over Portugal and the USA shocked Brazil with a 2-0 win. So the group favourites both eliminated and the whole of Brazil in mourning.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group EPos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Q China 3 0 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 4 1 6 2nd Q U.S.A. 3 0 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 5 0 6 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Portugal 3 0 0 2 0 4 1 0 0 3 1 3 4th Brazil 3 0 0 2 1 5 1 0 0 3 1 3</pre>

AG - Holland topped Group F after they beat Morocco 3-0 for their 3rd straight win. South Korea are the other qualifiers as they beat Yugoslavia 2-0 in their big showdown.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group FPos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Q Holland 3 1 0 0 3 1 2 0 0 4 0 9 2nd Q South Korea 3 2 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 1 3 6 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Yugoslavia 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 2 3 4th Morocco 3 0 0 2 0 4 0 0 1 0 2 0</pre>

AG - Mexico pulled off a great 3-2 win over England in Group G and Romania ensured that England would also go through as they beat Saudi Arabia 2-1.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group GPos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Q Mexico 3 0 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 5 3 6 2nd Q England 3 1 0 1 5 3 1 0 0 1 0 6 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Romania 3 1 0 1 3 3 0 0 1 0 3 3 4th Saudi Arabia 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 3 2 3</pre>

AG - And finally in Group H France continued their effortless progress by beating Costa Rica 3-0 and Finland completed an unlikely recovery from their opening game defeat by overcoming Paraguay 3-2.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group HPos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Q France 3 1 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 7 1 9 2nd Q Finland 3 0 0 1 1 4 2 0 0 8 4 6 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Costa Rica 3 0 0 2 2 8 1 0 0 2 1 3 4th Paraguay 3 0 0 2 3 5 0 0 1 0 3 0</pre>

RK - So what’s the team news for Scotland tonight Andy?

AG - Well Berti has really rung the changes for this game, I suspect in an effort to keep his players as fresh as possible.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Steven Hampshire Kenny Miller Kiegan Parker Charlie Miller Mark KerrJim Paterson Michael Stewart Jamie Buchan Lee Wilkie Phil McGuire (C) Neill Sullivan SubstitutesRab DouglasMartyn CorriganSteve CaldwellStephen CosgroveDarren FletcherStephen PearsonSteven Craig</pre>

RK - Andy, do you think that Scotland can pull it off tonight?

AG - Well it’ll take some huge performances if we’re going to produce an upset - my heart says yes but my head says no.

RK - Well let’s hope that you heart wins. We’ll be going straight over to Dusseldorf after the break so rejoin us at half time.

retired_amyslack

World Cup 2006 Second Round
Half Time
Scotland 1 (Parker 11) Argentina 2 (Crespo 2, 45)

RK - Well Andy, Crespo the tormentor for Scotland in the first half.

AG - Two killer goals there Richard, one at either end of the half. But Parker did really well to get us back into the game. We were caught cold with the opener though, let’s take a look. Riquelme picks up the ball in midfield and spots Crespo’s run. His pass is perfectly timed to break the offside trap and Crespo is clear. He shoots early and catches Sullivan by surprise - Neil will be disappointed with that I’m sure. Here’s another chance for Argentina as Veron picks up the ball, goes past Charlie Miller and unleashes the shot. Good save by Sullivan that time. But here’s the equaliser now. Parker picks the ball up in midfield. He goes past Veron, beats Fernandez and then goes past the challenge of Riquelme. And what a great finish into the top corner. That’s a great boost for the Scots. But Argentina always looked dangerous and Saviola and Veron both went close with shots from distance. A nice move from Scotland now as Jamie Buchan sends the ball into the area, Charlie Miller with the header and a good save by Cavallero. A chance for Kenny Miller now as he powers into the area and gets his shot away but Cavallero is there again. It’s Crespo with the ball again as it breaks loose on the edge of the area and that’s a good save by Sullivan - that was headed for the top corner. But here’s the killer goal now. It’s great play from Gustavo Lopez down the flank, a great cross and Crespo beats Sullivan to the ball to head home.

RK - On balance, a fairly well matched half with Crespo making the difference. Let’s hope that Scotland can turn it around in the second half. See you all at full time.

retired_bbcarr

so, just break crespo's legs and we'll be fine

retired_amyslack

I wish

World Cup 2006 Second Round
Full Time
Scotland 2 (Parker 11, Craig 90) Argentina 4 (Crespo 2, 45, 54, 77)

RK - Well that’s the dream over for the Scots Andy but the scoreline doesn’t tell the full story.

AG - Not really Richard. There were a couple of turning points. Scotland, and Parker in particular, started the second half strongly. This is a strong run from Kiegan, he gets past Wernly and shoots from about 20 yards out, Cavallero totally beaten but the ball hits the post and comes back out. If that had gone it then things could have been quite different. Argentina on the attack now as Riquelme picks out Arca, good shot and a good save. This is Riquelme again, he’s everywhere for Argentina. A nice cross and Crespo sends it just wide. The same combination once again - Riquelme with the cross and no mistake by Crespo this time and that’s his hat trick. Scotland are chasing the game now and they are caught on the break as Crespo tests Sullivan again but Neil makes a good save. It’s a last throw of the dice by Berti know. Charlie Miller is replaced by Stephen Pearson and Michael Stewart comes off and Steven Craig comes on as an extra attacker. The final nail in the coffin now. The Scottish attack breaks down and Crespo is lightning quick to see the opportunity, he’s totally free and that’s a cool finish for his 4th goal. But credit to the boys, they kept coming forward and finally get a reward as Hampshire sees his header saved but it runs free for Craig to blast home.

RK - So a disappointing result in Dusseldorf them. A quick look at the match statistics.

(Sky Sports Whooshing Noise)

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Scotland Argentina9 Shots on Goal 126 On Target 83 Off Target 40 Corners 121 Free Kicks 92 Offsides 171 Yellow Cards 00 Red Cards 0</pre>

RK - Let’s join Geoff Shreeves and get the reaction of Berti Wogts.


GS - Well Berti, a disappointing end to the campaign.

BW - Nein, I am not zo disappointed, I am very proud of ze boys cause zey played very vell. But of course ve ver playing vun of ze best teams in ze vorld and zey made us pay. Ze scoreline I zink vas not a true reflection of ze game.

GS - What’s next now Berti?

BW - Vell, ve all must go home und haff a rest I zink und zen we go on to ze Euro 2008 qualification.

GS - Congratulations on getting so far and good luck for that.


RK - Only one candidate for Man of the Match Andy.

AG - Well I don’t know Richard. Crespo did score four but Riquelme was a key figure for them tonight. But yes, I’ll go with Crespo.

RK - Thanks Andy. We’ll bid you goodnight after a disappointing end to the Scotland campaign.

retired_bbcarr

unlucky bob brought some pride back to the nation though :thup: