Mc Leish buoyed despite Italian job

Alex McLeish is determined not to let the cruel end of Scotland’s Euro 2008 dream derail the national team’s resurgence.

Italy defender Christian Panucci’s controversial injury-time winner secured a 2-1 victory and a place in the finals for the world champions at the expense of Scotland.

However, after a nervous start and the blow of Luca Toni’s second-minute opener, Scotland provided plenty of evidence to suggest their upturn in form can be lasting.

Scotland surged forward during the second half and looked the likelier winners after Barry Ferguson had bundled home a 65th-minute leveller.

James McFadden missed two chances to grab a famous winner but Scotland still had their qualifying hopes intact until Panucci benefited from a bizarre free-kick award to head home Andrea Pirlo’s delivery.

And while much of McLeish’s immediate thoughts were focused on the Spanish officials’ decision to punish Alan Hutton when he himself had been barged, the Scotland boss was eager to maintain the positive feeling around the Scotland camp.

A draw would have left France needing to take something from a tricky trip to Ukraine on Wednesday following their two defeats by the Scots in Group B.

And the performance of Hutton, who helped turn the game in Scotland’s favour after half-time with some irresistible runs from the right-back position, was just one reason to retain optimism about the team’s future.

Six of the starting line-up – Hutton, McFadden, Scott Brown, Darren Fletcher, Stephen McManus and Craig Gordon – are aged 25 or under, and only 37-year-old Davie Weir is in danger of missing out on Scotland’s World Cup qualifying campaign through the age barrier.

Scotland’s achievement in pushing the World Cup finalists all the way has also boosted their hopes of making the 2010 World Cup.

They will go into the November 25 draw in the second pot of teams – a vast improvement on the fourth seeding that gave them such an uphill struggle this time around.

And McLeish has urged the country to remain positive – as he is sure his team can get better.

“We live for these kind of games and it’s unfortunate that we won’t be at Austria and Switzerland but I think we gave some of the big teams a fright,” the former Scotland defender said.

“This group of players have got years ahead of them and they have to take great confidence and belief from what they have done.

“They are going to grow in stature, technical ability and mental toughness.

“We’ve got to go forward with positivity. It’s human nature to be disappointed by this but not for too long.

“Let’s keep moving forward because we have given the Scottish game a shot in the arm.”

After weeks of hype, the Scots’ bubble was almost burst within three minutes.

Toni found the roof of the net after Scotland failed to pick up Antonio Di Natale at a throw, and Mauro Camoranesi fired just over moments later.

But McLeish was delighted with his team’s response and felt they had been on the verge of glory, especially when McFadden had the goal at his mercy with the scores tied.

“I’m really proud of the players for fighting back,” McLeish said.

“They have shown before they can come back from a setback and they did it yet again.

“For the last 10 or 15 minutes, we had the Italians on the ropes. I really felt that we were going to get it.

“At Faddy’s chance, my life flashed before me and I thought we were going to Austria and Switzerland.

“But it’s a fine line. Italy are a good team, and we wish them luck, but I thought they got a little bit of luck.”