retired_brinker317

You'd have thought someone would have scored in 7 days - This is excellent - COME ONE SCOTLAND

retired_amyslack

Thanks fellas

Euro 2004 Final
Full Time
Scotland 0 Denmark 0

RK – Still no score at the end of normal time Charlie, and so we face Golden Goal extra time.

CN – I’ll tell you what Richard, you can almost taste the tension out there. Both teams know that they are so close to winning and losing now and no one wants to make a mistake.

RK – A more open 45 minutes that the first half though Andy.

AG – A lot more chances Richard, with Jamie Langfield being the busier of the two keepers. This is just a couple of minutes after the restart and a free kick to Denmark in a very dangerous position. Claus Jensen is standing over the ball and he fires in a well-struck shot that Langfield was grateful to turn round the post. It’s Jensen himself with the corner and Ebbe Sand gets a good header but once again Langfield makes the save. Scotland with a chance now as Kerr picks out Dargo, he in turn finds Stevie Nicholas. Nicholas keeps coming as the Danes back off, he spots Parker’s run, that’s a nice ball in and a strong header from Parker but Sørensen makes the stop. A couple of minutes later and it’s Nicholas with another good run, he unleashes the shot but that’s well over in the end. Denmark make a double substitution now as Dennis Rommedahl comes on for a tiring Thomas Gravesen and Niclas Jensen replaces Jesper Grønkjær. Now watch this interplay at the back – Lustü and Laursen show great awareness to play the ball out of defence and find Nygaard. Good control on the chest there and he finds Sand. Shoots early and there’s a lot of movement on that effort and Langfield does ever so well to get a finger to it. Here’s Poulsen now as Denmark are really starting to dictate the game now. He makes good ground here, goes for the shot and that’s another fine stop by the young Scots keeper. Less than 15 minutes to go now and Sand tries his luck from distance. That’s a sweet strike but Langfield with good hands to hold on to it.

RK – So Denmark in the ascendancy as we go into extra time.

CN – For sure Richard. They looked by far the stronger team in the second period and Scotland will do well to hold them for another 30 minutes.

RK – Just time for another short break before the tension of the Golden Goal extra time.

retired_amyslack

Euro 2004 Final
Golden Goal Extra Time
Scotland 0 Denmark 1 (Sand 97)

RK – So it took Denmark just 7 minutes of the extra 30 to get the Golden Goal.

CN – And it was their Golden Boy Ebbe Sand that did it. That now makes him the top scorer in the tournament with 5 goals in 6 games.

RK – And it was the first real chance of the extra period Andy.

AG – It was Richard. It started at the back as we see here. Martin Laursen carries the ball out of defence, that’s silky skills for a centre back. He takes it past Parker then Walker and just chips it in for Sand who volleys it home – no chance for Langfield there.

RK – Let’s have our usual check on the statistics.

(Sky Sports Whooshing Noise)

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Scotland Denmark4 Shots on Goal 92 On Target 72 Off Target 21 Corners 315 Free Kicks 112 Offsides 113 Yellow Cards 10 Red Cards 0</pre>

RK – We can now go over to Lisbon where Geoff Shreeves who is talking to a disappointed Berti Wogts.


GS – Berti, commiserations on such a narrow defeat – you must be bitterly disappointed.

BW – Nein, I am not disappointed at all. I am very proud of my team and ve haff done good to get zis far. It is a great achievement for Schottland football I zink. Denmark haff a very strong team, vun of ze best in ze vorld now I zink, and it is no disgrace to lose to zem.

GS – Berti, thanks again for talking to us and good luck with the World Cup qualifying campaign.


RK – Well, you called it Charlie – the Danes just too strong for Scotland.

CN – They were, but it was a good performance nonetheless. My only real disappointment was that Barry Ferguson just didn’t do himself justice out there tonight. There was a lot of responsibility on his shoulders as team captain and he didn’t deliver the goods.

AG – I have to agree, and I also thought that Stevie Nicholas was a bit flat. I’d hoped to see more from him.

RK – But lots of positives.

AG – Definitely. Jamie Langfield made a huge contribution in the absence of Neill Sullivan and all of the youngsters showed enough to give us real hope for the future.

RK – Finally, who would be your choice for Man of the Match?

CN – I thought that Martin Laursen was absolutely faultless in the centre of defence for Denmark.

AG – I agree, he had a terrific game at the back.

RK – Thanks gentlemen. So an ultimately disappointing night for Scotland as Denmark are crowned Euro 2004 Champions. But we’ll be back here at Sky Sports with all of Scotland’s games in the World Cup qualifying group – see you in September.

retired_brinker317

Baws - Well done though, great job to get to the final - some great results on the way,

retired_amyslack

Thanks d_s. I was pleased with the way the younger players performed but we did have a big slice of luck along the way. I have a feeling that Berti will be taking 3 keepers to the 2006 World Cup if he qualifies

Sky Sports
Saturday September 4, 2004
Richard Keys and Andy Gray are sitting in the Sky Sports studio.

RK – Good afternoon and welcome to Sky Sports live coverage of Scotland’s first qualifying match for the 2006 World Cup. Scotland open their campaign in Moldova – what can they expect from their opponents today Andy?

AG – Well on paper Richard, this should be a fairly comfortable opener. Moldova finished bottom of their Euro 2004 qualifying group with just one point to their name and I really don’t expect them to trouble Scotland.

RK – What’s the team news for Scotland?

AG – Well Barry Ferguson and Mark Kerr are both suspended and Colin Cameron of Wolves and Steven Cosgrove of Manchester City have both been added to the squad. Steven Craig of Falkirk has also been included – having scored 8 goals in 8 games so far this season his form has obviously caught Berti’s eye. Tottenham’s Jim Paterson is set to get his first cap following his unfortunate injury just before the start of the Euro 2004 finals. Despite Jamie Langfield’s heroics in Portugal, Neill Sullivan starts in goal and Lee Wilkie replaces Phil McGuire as the Aberdeen man is not quite fit after a recent injury.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Steven Craig Craig Dargo Kiegan Parker Colin Cameron Steven CosgroveJim Paterson Michael Stewart Robbie Neilson Lee Wilkie Scott Walker Neill Sullivan (C)SubstitutesJamie LangfieldRobert MalcolmDerek McInnesDarren FletcherStephen PearsonJames McFaddenMarc Anthony</pre>

RK – Thanks Andy. We’ll take a short break and when we return we’ll go straight to the commentary team in Moldova but Andy and I will be back at half time.

retired_amyslack

World Cup 2006 Qualifying Game 1
Half Time
Moldova 0 Scotland 0

RK – Lot’s of pressure from Scotland but no goals to show for it so far Andy.

AG – Absolutely right Richard and Moldova have their keeper to thank for that. We started very positively and created chances from the off. Here’s Jim Paterson with a good effort that’s touched round the post. Paterson sends the corner in and Colin Cameron gets up well but his header’s just over. Good move here as Cosgrove picks out Kiegan Parker, nice half volley but just too near the keeper. This is a nice set up by Craig Dargo and Steven Craig gets his shot on target and that’s a good parry by the keeper. Another corner now from Paterson and Walker gets his head to this one but once again just too near the keeper. It’s Parker now with a powerful run and shot but the keeper’s there again. Here’s another chance for Craig but he can’t keep his shot on target. This is Moldova’s sole attempt on goal, it’s a good run from Rogachev but the final shot is wild and no problem for Sullivan.

RK – Do you see Berti making any changes at half time?

AG – I doubt it – we just have to be patient and keep playing positive football and the goals will come.

RK – Thanks Andy. A short break before we go back for the second half but see you all at full time for a final roundup.

retired_bbcarr

sack Berti Wogts


bad news about the final, hope 2006 goes as well.

retired_amyslack

Not a "Sack Berti" bandwagon

World Cup 2006 Qualifying Game 1
Full Time
Moldova 0 Scotland 1 (Craig 62)

RK – A narrow win Andy but three points in the bag.

AG – With the chances they had this should have been a much more comfortable win.

RK – But nice to see Steven Craig getting his first international goal.

AG – Very nice but he should have had a hat trick.

RK – And Neill Sullivan with a couple of important saves.

AG – Yes, he didn’t have much to do but he kept his concentration and was there when he was needed.

RK – Let’s look at the key moments in the second half.

AG – This is just after the restart and Parker gets a good flick on, picked up by Dargo, he spots Craig’s run and plays a nice ball in but the youngster sends his shot over the bar – lovely play until the finish. Moldova nearly caught us cold here. It’s Berco I think with the low ball in and this is a great chance for Baran but Sullivan makes a great save. Just after that Scott Walker had to be replaced by Robert Malcolm – I hope that’s not a bad injury as Walker played well today. This is another good move. It starts with Paterson making ground down the right, he sends it in to the near post and Cosgrove with a lovely cushioned header for Dargo – great volley and a terrific save. Paterson takes the corner, Cosgrove is there again with the header and it falls to Michael Stewart but that’s a terrific block by Galca – the big defender had a good game today. Here’s the goal now. A long throw down the line by Neilson and Dargo latches on to it, gets to the bye line and sends in a teasing cross that Craig heads home – simple but very effective. Here’s another chance – route one ball by Wilkie, a great jump by Dargo but the keeper does well to turn it round the post. A chance for Moldova now as Epureanu makes room for the shot but Sullivan deals well with his effort. Now this is a glorious chance for a late equaliser as Rogachev beats the offside trap. He’s clean through on goal but he blazes it over the bar. If he had shown a bit more composure there we could have been very embarrassed.

RK – I think that we can go over to Moldova where Geoff Shreeves is waiting to talk to Berti Wogts.


GS – A good start to the qualifying campaign Berti.

BW – Ja indeed. It vas a narrow vin by ze important zing is zat vw haff ze three points.

GS – You made a lot of chances but struggled to convert them. You really need to find a proven goalscorer don’t you?

BW – Ve did make chances und zat is a very good zing. Ve haff players who can score goals zo I don’t zink zat zis is an issue.

GS – Berti, well done on the win and thanks for talking to us.


RK – A quick look at the match statistics then.

(Sky Sports Whooshing Noise)

<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre">Moldova Scotland4 Shots on Goal 171 On Target 113 Off Target 60 Corners 74 Free Kicks 108 Offsides 31 Yellow Cards 10 Red Cards 0</pre>

RK – Who was your man of the match Andy?

AG – I think that I’d pick Eugeny Khmaruk, the Moldovan keeper. He played very well and kept in his team in the match all the way through.

RK – Let’s take a quick look at the other results in the group then.

AG – OK – Well Russia had a good 3-1 win in Bosnia and Croatia racked up a 6-1 win in Malta with Ivan Klasnic of Werder Bremen scoring 4 goals.

RK – So Croatia head the group with Russia second and Scotland third. Malta are Scotland’s next opponents in Glasgow in 4 days time.

AG – They are, and it’s very important that we get a good win under our belts to keep the momentum going.

RK – Thanks very much Andy. Well that’s all we have time for today but we’ll be back on Wednesday as Malta visit Hampden Park – see you all then.

retired_bbcarr

sack berti bandwagons are fun

retired_amyslack

I think that Berti is safe for a year or two yet Terk

Sky Sports
Wednesday September 8, 2004
Richard Keys and Andy Gray are sitting in the Sky Sports studio.

RK – Good evening and welcome to our live and exclusive coverage of Scotland’s World Cup 2006 qualifying match against Malta at Hampden Park. Andy – the Tartan Army will be expecting a big win tonight.

AG – They will be and, frankly, so do I.

RK – And the team news for tonight’s encounter?

AG – Well Scott Walker has had to be removed from the squad due to the injury he picked up in Moldova so Brian McAllister takes his place – he has been in excellent form since his move to Celtic in the summer. Ferguson and Kerr are back after suspension and Marc Anthony replaces Steven Craig up front. Michael Stewart is suspended following his booking in Moldova so Derek McInnes comes into the midfield anchor position.


<pre class="ip-ubbcode-code-pre"> Marc Anthony Craig Dargo Kiegan Parker Barry Ferguson (C) Mark KerrJim Paterson Michael Stewart Robbie Neilson Lee Wilkie Brian McAllister Neill SullivanSubstitutesJamie LangfieldRobert MalcolmBarry SmithDarren FletcherStephen PearsonJames McFaddenStevie Nicholas</pre>

RK – OK, time for a quick break before our live commentary but we’ll be back with you at half time for a review of the action.