Scotland have it all to do

Germany 2 Scotland 1

Berti Vogts’ return to Germany ended in bitter defeat as Scotland ended a bad-tempered game with 10 men.

The 66th-minute dismissal of Maurice Ross, who had only come on at half-time, meant that adding an equaliser to Neil McCann’s wonder strike was beyond his side, who had put in a spirited performance nonetheless.

The Germans had taken the lead midway through the first half through Fredi Bobic, who, ironically, was one of the few German players to be an unequivocal fan of former Germany coach Vogts.

Michael Ballack made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after Steven Pressley had impeded Bobic but although McCann’s reply was the goal of the match it was to prove a mere consolation.

The result also means that Scotland cannot now qualify for the Euro 2004 finals as group winners and although a play-off place is still possible it is not in their own hands.

The side Vogts sent out on to a rain-soaked pitch bore little resemblance to the one that had beaten the Faroe Islands 3-1 at Hampden Park on Saturday.

Back from suspension came Christian Dailly and Pressley to form the heart of a new defence, with rookies Andy Webster and Lee Wilkie jettisoned.

Paul Lambert recovered from an ankle injury in time to reclaim the captain’s armband and up front, in place of the suspended Stevie Crawford, came Steven Thompson, despite the former Dunfermline striker not having started a game for Rangers this season.

And Vogts also made a gamble by handing a start to 20-year-old James McFadden, the great young hope of Scottish football who has just joined Everton.

Germany were said to be in crisis following their failure to win in Iceland and Rudi Voller, who had been denied Oliver Neuville, Jens Jeremies and Sebastian Deisler through injury, also made a bold move in handing a start to Stuttgart striker Kevin Kuranyi, the rising star in his homeland.

The Scots were claiming a penalty after just 15 seconds when Carsten Ramelow body-checked Thompson in the box but Swedish referee Anders Frisk waved play on.

There was an early let-off at the other end when goalkeeper Robert Douglas managed to punch a corner only as far as Michael Ballack but saw him blaze over from 12 yards.

McFadden fired in the Scots’ first reply but although it was well-hit it was also straight at Oliver Kahn.

The Scots’ game plan appeared to be working as the home side were finding themselves harried on the ball and their own defending was ponderous.

But then Bobic struck in the 25th minute to lift the gloom that had been surrounding them since their failure to win in Iceland on Saturday.

Arne Friedrich fired in a long-range effort that Douglas could only palm away to his right and, after Kuranyi had retrieved the ball, he had little difficulty setting up the former Bolton man for a simple close-range finish.

Douglas then made two saves to keep his side in the game, with the first a near-post collection of a Kuranyi effort from an angle and the second a more taxing prevention of a powerful Bobic header.

The Scots’ confidence looked to have taken a blow and when they did open up the Germans they could not take advantage as, although a superb ball from Thompson had sent Jackie McNamara galloping forward down the right, by the time he tried to set up McFadden for a shot the youngster had been crowded out.

Lambert’s return to the ground where he enjoyed amazing success with Borussia Dortmund in the mid-1990s was not a long-lived one as he was replaced at half-time by Maurice Ross.

Within five minutes the Scots found themselves 2-0 down when Pressley pulled Bobic back as the striker rose to meet a Friedrich cross from the right. The Hearts man was booked before Ballack converted from the spot.

There was to be no fairytale for McFadden either as he was replaced in the 53rd minute by Gavin Rae.

Tempers boiled over twice in the space of a few seconds and on both occasions Tobias Rau was involved. Ferguson reacted angrily to a challenge and, after a melee had been broken up, both were booked.

Then Ross was booked for a challenge that also saw players wade in from both sides.

The Scots needed something special to get themselves back in the match and McCann duly provided it on the hour.

The ever-willing Thompson was sent away down the right and the Southampton man met his pacy cross with a first-time finish that gave Kahn no chance.

It was McCann’s second goal in as many internationals.

It was then Douglas’ turn to keep his side in the hunt by denying Kuranyi after the striker had been sent clean through by a Schneider ball down the middle.

In the 66th minute controversy reappeared in the shape of Ross’ second bookable offence – another challenge on Rau.

The Scots clearly thought he had made a meal of it and Dailly barged the referee out of the way to tell him so.

Ross argued he had got the ball but his foot had also been raised to a height that can get referees reaching for their pockets.

Rau then fired wide from a good position before Dailly was booked for hacking Kuranyi down on the right touchline.

Douglas made a couple of saves to keep his side in the hunt but with a man down the Scots found it impossible to retaliate effectively and they must now look to beat Lithuania next month in the hope the Germans do not drop points against Iceland in Hamburg at the same time.

That will be enough for a play-off place but the Scots cannot now top the group.