BobBev

Euro 2004 Group Game 1
Half Time
Scotland 1 (Dargo 34) Denmark 1 (Sand 45)

RK - An intriguing first 45 minutes then Andy.

AG - Indeed Richard. That stoppage time strike from Ebbe Sand could prove very costly.

RK - Denmark started out very brightly.

AG - Yes, they were into their stride quickly and they had a flurry of early chances. Here’s where it starts. Claus Jensen plays the ball in and that’s neat interplay between Gronkjaer and Poulsen to create the space for Poulsen to shoot. Neil Sullivan had to be alert there. Now Jensen swings in the corner and Lustu really catches hold of that one - what a save from Sullivan. Real pressure here as Jensen takes the corner, that’s a great leap from Henrik Pederson and Robbie Nielson hacks it off the line. But Lustu picks up the loose ball and shoots first time - that’s brilliant by Sullivan. Then it quietened down a bit and we managed to get our breath back a little. But here on the half hour, Barry Ferguson is having a pull at Jensen’s shirt and his name goes into the book. He’ll miss the next match now. Jensen takes the free kick and that, Richard, is a world class save. Neil Sullivan is keeping us alive at present. But here we go, totally against the run of play, Walker plays it out to Ferguson who spots Mark Kerr in the area. Plays in a lovely ball and Kerr just slips it back to Dargo and what a great finish. The Danes can’t believe it. But we just go to sleep here right at the end of the half. Sand has totally lost his marker and that’s a pretty soft goal to give away at this stage.

RK - What are your hopes for the second half.

AG - Mainly I hope that we can get a bit more of the ball and start to play the game in the Danish half. If not then I can’t see the score staying like this for another 45 minutes.

RK - Thanks Andy. We’ll hand you back to the commentary team for the second half and we’ll be back with you at full time.

BobBev

Euro 2004 Group Game 1
Half Time
Scotland 1 (Dargo 34) Denmark 2 (Sand 45, Jensen 70)

RK - Quite a disappointing second half Andy.

AG - It was very flat wasn’t it? Not much worthy of note apart from the goal. We just didn’t seem to show much fight. Charlie Miller has a chance not long after the restart. It’s Ferguson with the ball in, a good jump by Miller but he can’t quite keep the header down. Rather poor defending for the winning goal I’m afraid. Claus Jensen with the free kick and it seems to go straight through the wall with Sullivan unsighted. Another soft goal in my book.

RK - Any signs of encouragement for Scotland?

AG - Well Neil Sullivan has shown that he’s still a top class keeper - he pulled off some terrific saves in the early period. Rob Malcolm and Scott Walker played well in defence, Mark Kerr showed some nice touches in midfield and Craig Dargo played well up front.

RK - And your Man of the Match?

AG - Claus Jensen without a doubt. He was at the heart of everything Denmark did and he scored their winning goal.

RK - So a defeat for Scotland that puts them at the bottom of the group and gives them an uphill struggle to qualify. We’ll look at the match statistics.

(Sky Sports Whooshing Noise)

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Scotland Denmark5 Shots on Goal 92 On Target 63 Off Target 30 Corners 39 Free Kicks 162 Offsides 73 Yellow Cards 00 Red Cards 0</pre>

RK - I think that we just have time to join Claire Tomlinson for a few words from Berti Wogts.


CT - Berti, a very disappointing start to the campaign.

BW - Ja, not a good match for us and a bad loss.

CT - It leaves you with a lot to do in the next game against Holland.

BW - It does but of course, anything is possible in football.

CT - Well I know you’re disappointed but thanks for talking to us and good luck on Sunday.


RK - I’m afraid that’s all we have time for tonight but we’ll be back on Sunday evening for the critical game against Holland.

Da Bird

Great work!

I'm very curious how the match against The Netherlands went

BobBev

Thanks Da Bird - you'll find out fairly soon!

Sky Sports
Sunday June 13, 2004
Richard Keys and Andy Gray are sitting in the Sky Sports studio.

RK - A real big game for the Scots tonight Andy?

AG - Absolutely. Anything less than a win and we’re almost certainly out.

RK - Before we talk about that, let’s take a look at the recent games that have been played.

AG - On Wednesday the Czech Republic secured their place in the Quarter Finals with a 2-1 win over Portugal. Once again, Jan Koller scored both the goals for the Czechs after Sergio Conceicao had given the hosts an early goal. On Thursday England kept their hopes alive with a 2-1 defeat of Belarus, Robbie Fowler and Michael Owen getting the vital goals. On the same day Yugoslavia pulled off a surprise 1-0 win over Italy with Mladen Krstajic getting the winner. Then on Friday France took a big step towards the knockout stages by defeating Sweden 1-0 thanks to a goal from David Trezeguet. Then in Scotland’s group, Denmark recorded a fine 3-1 win over Germany to ensure their qualification. Ebbe Sand opened the scoring before Jorg Bohme equalised for Germany. But then the Danes scored twice in four minutes before half time through Christian Poulsen and Bolton’s Henrik Pedersen. Then yesterday Ireland held Spain to a nil-nil draw.

RK - OK, so what’s the team news for tonight?

AG - Well Barry Ferguson is suspended so Craig Easton replaces him. At the back, Brian McAllister starts on the left and Barry Smith on the right. Kiegan Parker comes in for Charlie Miller and Marc Anthony replaces Stevie Nicholas up front.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Craig Dargo Marc Anthony Kiegan Parker Craig Easton Mark KerrBrian McAllister Derek McInnes Barry Smith Scott Walker Phil McGuire Neil Sullivan (C)SubstitutesJamie LangfieldRobert MalcolmLee WilkieJames McFaddenStephen PearsonStevie NicholasDarren Fletcher</pre>

RK - And your final thoughts before we go to the match coverage?

AG - Well it’s pretty much do or die isn’t it? We need the win and we’ve got to go out and make it happen.

RK - Well good luck anyway. We’ll be back at half time.

BobBev

Euro 2004 Group Game 2
Half Time
Scotland 2 (Anthony 24, Parker 45) Holland 1 (van Gastel (pen) 14)

RK - A bad start but an excellent fightback Andy.

AG - Spot on Richard. We did start quite slowly and we gave the Dutch the initiative for the first quarter of an hour or so. Kluivert has a good chance early on. He gets in front of Walker to reach the cross from Zenden but Sullivan makes a good save. But here it’s Zenden with the corner and this is such a soft penalty. The ref spots a bit of a tussle in the area and it looks like it’s Parker that’s penalised for backing in. But it’s given and van Gastel places it right in the corner. And then within a minute of one another Derek McInnes and Mark Kerr both get booked and they’ll both miss the Germany match. That’s just over-fussy refereeing in my opinion. But I’ll tell you what Richard, the boys didn’t half come back well. Here’s the equaliser now. It all starts at the back - I really do like the way that we try to play it out of defence instead of just hoofing it forward. Walker, feeds it to Smith, he finds McInnes. Nice turn from the big man and great vision to spot Parker in the area. A smashing knockdown and there’s Anthony to fire home. What a good goal to score on your debut. But Holland are still very threatening. Kluivert has kept Sullivan on his toes a couple of times and Hasselbaink’s been close too. Zenden fired a shot just over the bar and Sullivan made a really good save from Seedorf. But then right at the end of the half how about this for a piece of skill. Kiegen Parker picks up the ball and this is a determined run. He turns Hofland beautifully, gets past Bogarde and then Hersi and what a great finish! Does that remind you of anyone Richard?

RK- A definite touch of the Archie Gemmill’s! OK Andy, we’ll take a short break and gthen it’s the second half live. See you at full time.

Da Bird

Oh no!

Congrats with the victory Berti

BobBev

Euro 2004 Group Game 2
Full Time
Scotland 3 (Anthony 24, Parker 45, Walker 84) Holland 2 (van Gastel (pen) 14, Zenden 58)

RK - Welcome back everybody. Well Andy, Berti’s boys did it.

AG - Didn’t they just Richard, but my word it was close. I have to say that we started off very positively with a very good spell of pressure. Here we see Mark Kerr with a super shot and that’s a fine save by Ronald Waterreus. But we just couldn’t keep the Dutch at bay. This is a lovely move here. Four or five sharp first time passes and it’s Zenden clean through to finish it off for 2-2. But full credit to the boys, they really worked their socks off in the second half. This is good pressure again and we’re really forcing the Dutch back. This is a chance for Dargo as substitute McFadden plays him in but Waterreus makes the save. Now this is a great run from McFadden and he tries to curl one into the top corner but the keeper makes an acrobatic save. Holland still dangerous on the break though and Sullivan does well to hold on to this shot from Hasselbaink. Stephen Pearson is on now and he almost scores with his first touch but Waterreus manages to hold on to his powerful header. Here’s Craig Dargo now, great technique with the volley and that’s another good save. But McFadden takes the corner and Scott Walker gets above Bogarde to head home. Anthony almost gets a second here but the keeper gets a hand to his shot. The same player again near the end and that’s another great save. It’s end-to-end stuff now as we enter stoppage time. It’s Pearson having a go this time to make the game safe but Waterreus is there again. And the right at the death Kluivert almost equalises but Sullivan just manages to parry the shot and McGuire hacks it clear.

RK - So Scotland got the win they needed and their hopes are still very much alive. The Sky Sports match statistics are interesting.

(Sky Sports Whooshing Noise)

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Scotland Holland9 Shots on Goal 129 On Target 70 Off Target 53 Corners 214 Free Kicks 113 Offsides 102 Yellow Cards 10 Red Cards 0</pre>

RK - Scotland’s offside trap obviously tuned to perfection there. Now I believe that we can go across to Claire Tomlinson who is with a delighted Berti Wogts.


CT - Congratulations on a wonderful win Berti.

BW - Oh zank you zo much Claire. It vas a very brave performance from ze boys und I am most happy.

CT - So you’re still alive in the group and now you face a showdown with your own country.

BW - Ah Claire, I zink of Schottland as my own country now, at least as far as football is concerned.

CT - So you’ll be going all out to beat Rudi Voller’s team then?

BW - For sure.

CT - Well done again Berti and good luck on Wednesday.


RK - What a wonderful performance - final thoughts Andy?

AG - Yes, it was a very good showing, although Smith and McAllister didn’t look too solid at the back and they were both replaced. I think that we’ll miss McInnes against the Germans and I’m not surf that Stewart will be fully fit to replace him. But Kiegan Parker was just outstanding tonight and he’s my Man of the Match.

RK - Thanks Andy. Well it’s goodnight from both of us and we’ll see you all again on Wednesday night for the crunch match against Germany.

jambo

Fantastic story :thup:

KUTGW

BobBev

Thanks Jambo

Sky Sports
Wednesday June 16, 2004
Richard Keys and Andy Gray are sitting in the Sky Sports studio.

RK - Good evening and welcome to Sky Sports exclusive coverage of Scotland’s crucial game against Germany. But let’s start with a quick review of the recent action.

AG - Last night the first two groups were decided. In Group 1, England had a terrific 2-1 win over the Czech Republic to secure their qualification. Robbie Fowler and Rio Ferdinand put England 2-0 ahead inside the first 20 minutes. The Czechs struck back in the second half through Marek Heinz but England were able to hold on for the win. In the other game a late Luis Figo goal gave Portugal a 1-0 win over Belarus but the hosts are eliminated on goals scored in a very tight group.

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Group 1Pos Team Pld Won Drn Lst For Ag Won Drn Lst For Ag Pts-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------1st Q Czech Republic 3 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 3 2 6 2nd Q England 3 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 1 0 1 6 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------3rd Portugal 3 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 6 4th Belarus 3 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 2 1 3 0</pre>

AG - In Group 2 the critical match between Ireland and Italy ended with a 2-0 win to the Italians. The goals from Inzaghi and Enrico Chiesa mean that Italy qualify at Ireland’s expense. Spain had a surprisingly comfortable 4-0 victory over Yugoslavia who played the second half with only 10 men. Diego Tristan scored twice with the other goals coming from Luque and Garcia Calvo.

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

RK - So what’s the team news from the Scotland camp?

AG - Lee Wilkie comes in for Scott Walker in central defence and Malcolm and Neilson are recalled to the wide defensive positions. Barry Ferguson is back after suspension, Charlie Miller replaces a tired Kiegan Parker and Stevie Nicholas and James McFadden get a start up front. Michael Stewart has passed a late fitness test and he comes in for the suspended McInnes.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> James McFadden Stevie Nicholas Charlie Miller Craig Easton Barry Ferguson (C)Robbie Nielson Michael Stewart Robert Malcolm Lee Wilkie Phil McGuire Neil Sullivan SubstitutesJamie LangfieldScott WalkerBarry SmithDarren FletcherMarc AnthonyStephen PearsonBrian McAllister</pre>


RK - So summarise the position in Scotland’s group for us Andy.

AG - Well Richard, Denmark have already qualified but their game against Holland is very important for us. We need to avoid defeat and at least match Holland’s result if we are to progress.

RK - Thanks Andy. We just have time for a short break before we go over to Lisbon for the big game and we’ll rejoin you at half time.

bjorn

Well Bobbev this is a great story. Just like all of your other story's :thup: