15/11/2013 Sportscene

A chance for a second goal on the night. It goes in! Gordon

Strachan's men are the toast of Scotland in Croatia. This campaign

could be about to end on the brightest of notes. Our national

drink, our national game, enjoyed the world over. Should we have kept

quiet about the football? In 1934, in Uruguay. Norway, 2009. The final

turn of the knife... England in 1961. The South Americans, once is

forgiveable. But the Americans, that hurt. The Scots, given a football

lesson stateside, suffering their biggest defeat on Craig Levine.

Unlike a good malt, redemption cannot come quick enough. Always

best served cold. The USA have qualified for their

seventh World Cup in a row and we failed to reach the last seven major

tournaments. Brazil 2014 will bring that number to eight. Who is the

real footballing nation now? The glass is always half full for our

guests this evening. Two men with a dozen Scotland goals between them

including this one by Pat Nevin against Estonia. With a member it

is. Bringing back glorious memories. And making his debut, the all-time

record goalkeeper -- goal-scorer of the SPL, Kris Boyd. Both late on a

Friday night but sober as judges. The national team has led many a

Scotsman to drink over the years but there has been a marked improvement

in recent months under Gordon Strachan. Would we be toasting

another victory at Hampden Park tonight or drowning our sorrows?

Billy Dodds and Liam McLeod were there for us.

They have dubbed this park two, redemption. But it is a different

Scotland that takes an the USA tonight to the one that was hammered

in Florida last year. A new manager, new impetus and new hope. Gordon

Strachan has given Scotland their belief back but tonight's

penultimate game, if movement will be a big test against Juergen

Klinsmann's side. This year's report card under Gordon Strachan reads won

four, lost four. There's been a visible improvement in performances

and results and, perhaps, in the future, fortunes as well. Ten months

until the next campaign gets underway.

There is a welcome return for Steven Fletcher to the Scotland line-up the

first time injuring his ankle. There is also a first cap for Gordon Greer

in defence and a second international start for Craig

Conway, on loan at Brighton and Hove Albion. The Americans have been

shorn of their striker, Clint Dempsey, and that Ian Johnson, with

injury. Adding to a list of that already featured Donovan, who scored

a hat-trick at Jacksonville. 24 Rangers players starting. Added up

front is a team-mate Steven Fletcher's at Sunderland. --

Contador. Debbie doubts over Craig Bryson. He does not make the bench.

Ross McCormack, who scored four for Leeds United. It is also time to say

goodbye to Hampden Park for a while as it prepares to host the track and

field events at next year's Commonwealth games. Scotland's games

will have new homes during that period. The draw for the 2016

qualified occasion campaign will be made in the Nice inventory. --

qualification campaign. Billy Dodds is with me. How was it going to go?

I think Scotland are awaiting for continuity. They want to keep the

momentum going. They had good results in the last two competitive

games. Friendlies can be a different kettle of fish but the USA would be

a test. Paisley, already attacking. -- Priestly. He was the left-winger

there. Juergen Klinsmann, a World Cup winner with West Germany in

1990. He won the European Championship as well in 1996. The

Scotland setup, sometimes they said with

The first shot from Fletcher. The first sight of goal. You can go with

Snodgrass or Fletcher. Beasley, who now plays football and

Mexico. -- in Mexico. Only half cleared, angles from Barry

Bannon. Just for a second, it looked like it was gone to drop for Steven

Fletcher. It was a good ball by Bannon. We are up on the second

half. The challenge from Snodgrass was a

good one. Scotland have got themselves out of trouble. The

Americans were looking to build an attack but instead, the hosts are on

the counter. Brilliant from Snodgrass. He has the

right idea. Steven Fletcher. We have seen him take this position is many

times. Bannan is always in the thick of things. People's Gonzales off. --

peoples. Diskerud, far right, playing in France now. -- Bedoya.

Grant Hanley pointing to the ball. He is claiming he won it favourably

against elder daughter. -- won it fairly against Contador. Sometimes

you have to stand your ground. Grant Hanley might be rusty. He has not

played since the Croatia match. It was well one and then thumped

over the bar by the man who won it. He potted across, Gonzales. And it

falls in the edge of the box. Alitidore does not hit the target.

He was trying to get over it but he got under it.

David Marshall and golden night. Ali McGregor is injured. -- in the goal

tonight. Bannan was caught. That is a free

kick in a good area. Gonzales was the offender. So therefore Steven

Fletcher. -- Sore for. A definite free kick.

Closer this time. Howard had it covered. It is a goal kick. Plenty

of pace, but you can see Howard was already there, waiting. He knows it

is going over. No problem for the big goalkeeper. The United States

play so many games. This is the 22nd game of 2013 compared to Scotland's

ninth. Given Scotland's form, I'm sure

Gordon Strachan would like that kind of ratio.

Alan Hutton could not get the trajectory that he wanted.

A good option on the left with Conway, and that is surely where it

should have gone. He took the wrong option. Great play from Brown. He

fired it in. Snodgrass picked it up, and I'm sure Conway would have had a

chance. The wrong choice. Snodgrass has been terrific for

Scotland this year so I'm sure they will be let off that one. -- and he

will be. After about of concussion sustained playing for Norwich. --

back after a boat. Steven Fletcher! Rolling it in! A

glorious opportunity for Craig Conway. The American got it all

wrong. Not to take anything away from Scotland. Fletcher chose the

right option with Craig Conway. But it has to be the far corner and he

went near post. At this angle, you guide it in. He got the connection

all wrong. Tremendous memories of that particular goal, having scored

for Dundee United in the cup final here against Ross County in 2010.

Scott Brown Windsor back. Scotland fans looking for a penalty. But

they're not getting it. But they are getting the half-time whistle.

Gordon Strachan will feel that his team should have been in front

because of Craig Conway's chance early on. That means that Abbey

National Stadium, it is no mail. -- at the National Stadium.

So far, Scotland have one two so far. -- won two. It was a Euro 1992

warm up match, where Pat Nevin but the only goal of the game. -- got

the only goal. Much better from Scotland than in for 18 months ago.

-- than in Florida. Geoff Cameron scored an own goal

that briefly gave the Scots some hope.

The USA finished top of their group. Attica went into the play-offs where

they beat New Zealand handsomely. -- America. The only team to beat

America in real competition in 16 months is Costa Rica, in December --

December. Write down the throat of Marshall from.

Just a little passing between the two, going down the left-hand side.

Decent strike, but would have not beaten Marshall.

Conway did get there, but got too much of Conway. Not to the

referee's liking, and Scotland, not -- and in a good area. I thought

Edwards -- Evans got a bit of the ball, but just a little touch on it.

Going over the legs. Quite fortunate to get a free kick when you see

that. Just did not look as though Steven Fletcher's ball had enough

pace to get to his team-mate. Not enough weight on it to sevens

into conceding a free kick in a very good area. -- to force Evans.

Barry Bannon was over it. Not quite sure that was what was intended.

Steven Fletcher when Fred. Into the arms of Tim Howard -- went for it.

This is the counter from the United States. Not a good touch from

Bedoya. I saw him trying free kick at Aberdeen, in a friendly. -- try

that free kick. Whitaker. It looked a heavy touch,

but it worked out. Steven Fletcher moving forward. Wonderful play by

Steven Whittaker. He has drawn the free kick. He looks graceful on the

run. He sucks in Jones, touches it past him. Gonzales comes, and

touches him -- touches it past him. I remember him scoring a goal for

Rangers against sporting Lisbon. Free kick, dangerous area. They will

be looking at Snodgrass, who will want a bit of this. And why not?

Terrific area for a strike goal here. Snodgrass fancies it, and he

takes it. Tim Howard is equal to it. That is a great strike, and equalled

by the save. Certainly going in, plenty of pace

on it. The long arm of Tim Howard always covering it. Dipping under

the bar as Bannon takes the corner. Altidore with the scraps.

Robert Snodgrass looking to score in back-to-back games at Hampden Park.

He opened the scoring against Croatia.

Good interchange between Steven Whittaker and Snodgrass. Conway.

That looked like a handball. It is only a corner. It certainly came off

the hand of Gonzales. He doesn't know much about it though. Certainly

hits his hand. An unnatural position, but he does not know much

about it. Looking the other way. Much as you want it, it would have

been harsh. He wins it well, Fletcher. He goes

and attacks it, and anybody around the back post might get a tap in.

Johnson wants it on the left-hand side, and so does Beasley. He gets

it. Straight to Geoff Cameron, the

centre half. Altidore! Not far away. That will be inches. Just a little

tonnage sets free -- a little touch sensing free. That is a great.

Marshall is beaten. -- sets him free. The camera behind the goal

knows all about the strike from Jozy Altidore.

Mc Cormack. Well held up by Ross McCormack. Barry Bannon. Early ball

to Fletcher. Mulgrew tried to knock it through to Ross McCormack.

Bradley, and it is starting to open up a bit. Bradley's ball finds

Johannsson. Great play from Johannsson, wonderful from him.

. Johannsson looks lively. He was in the Iceland squad for the start of

the qualification group, and they are in the play-offs now. Johannsson

currently in the US team though. Ross McCormack to Hudson. Trying to

return it to the right back. -- Hutton. Precious little in the way

of attacking threat through the game, but particularly the second

half. Scotland did force a save from Tim Howard from the Snodgrass free

kick early on. The US have an option on the left-hand side. Bedoya finds

shape -- hint of a handball. Certainly clips

it. An unnatural position again. Hands up, hands out. Maybe got a

little bit lucky there. 1-1 in shouts for handball is not given.

American corner, taken by Bradley. Swinging over, and David Marshall

does well. This is Altidore. Johannsson has

continued the run. Alan Hutton is there though. Shea. Shea coming in

from the back. Lovely first-time ball from Altidore. Hutton Thaksin.

Good defending from both players. Scotland leapt up to 35th in the

recent world rankings as a result of the victory over Croatia last month.

They continue their revival. But the US might be in with Altidore. Greer

has given it away. Marshall makes the save, and somehow it stays out.

Brilliant from Hanley. We really get lucky. Once Greer clears it, a few

ricochets. Good strength from Altidore. Johannsson has the strike

and you think Altidore will get the tap in, but Hanley boots it away

from him. A little bit of luck, a little bit of good defending. I will

take it all day long. David Marshall looking to keep his first clean

sheet for his country over 90 minutes. He did keep one in

Macedonia, but he went off at half-time. Six and a half minutes of

90 to go. Lee Wallace. McKay Stephen --

Mackay-Steven. Scott Brown looks every inch an

international player these days. Eight years on from making his debut

against the same opposition. Good hanging in the air from Naismith,

like Steven Fletcher, he's good at doing that. Ross McCormack loses

out. He has the beating of Greer here. Cutting it back. Johannsson! .

It goes past. The three substitutes, I know they are fresh, but they have

looked very lively. Shea Has the pace on Gordon Greer. Finding

Johannsson. You think it is in the net. You can see from this angle

it's going wide, but what a chance. They have had two fantastic chances

in the last few moments. We are hanging on. No goals, and it has

been stop start in the second half. Anything positive to Gordon Strachan

tonight? I think getting Fletcher back, and Brown in the central area.

They have kept a clean sheet with the new pairing at centre half. A

few positives. If they can hold on, they might even make it. It's

another game going unbeaten, that's three now. Foul on Ross McCormack.

This might be Scotland's chance. Charlie Mulgrew still on the park.

Gordon Greer has been sent forward, and the grand Hanley. -- grand

Hanley. Just two minutes left of the 90. -- Grant family. Mulgrew waits

over the free kick. Good free kick from Mulgrew, and a

slight Fleck from Hanley. Only takes it to Tim Howard -- a slight flick.

Probably needed the touch to take it off the path. He saw it all the way.

The final minute of stoppage time at Hampden Park. Alan Hutton. Naismith.

Brown. Will Scotland get one last ball into the middle? Brown, but too

close to Tim Howard. The story of the night. When you come in from

those areas, deep and wide, especially against a tall, physical

back four, and the goalkeeper as well, it has to be played in place,

going away from him, but it was hung up. The last chance of the game will

fall to the Americans. Shea, with Johannsson. Back with Johannsson

now. Intricate. The turn was blocked, and that is the final

action. And it is the final home International of the year as Juergen

Klinsmann and Gordon Strachan exchange pleasantries at the end of

a match that was fairly even, you have to say. Scotland did have a

couple of good chances, Craig Conway in the first half, then a wonderful

free kick from Robert Snodgrass in the second, which was tipped over by

Tim Howard. Good showing from the defence, particularly from Hanley,

and David Marshall keeps a clean sheet with Steven Fletcher back in

the fold. It finishes at Hampden Park, 0-0.

0-0 the final score and it won't go down as a classic. After the match,

we spoke to the Scotland manager, Gordon Strachan.

There were competent performances. A couple of terrific performances.

I've said in the dressing room, but they put in a terrific performance,

and the other guys think they could have been better. It reaffirmed what

I thought about the team and how we are going. We need to progress. To

beat teams as big as strong and that, we're not as big and strong.

We have to be really nimble and agile and sharp on the edge of the

box and putting good passes and be brave. That is what we're looking

for. If we do that, we'll do very well. I think it was an interesting

game and the pace picked up in the second half. We corrected a couple

of things at half-time. I was not happy with the first half too much.

I think we played too slowly and we did not find Jozy Altidore quick

enough. We did not combine quick enough. No urgency and no drive,

really. That all changed. I think the second half you saw it team that

raised the tempo and created chances. Scotland had their

chances, so a fair result. You were a fingertip from Tim Howard.

In Their will be changes. I've purposefully did not put on a couple

of the lands, knowing that they will be starting the game. Utility that

victory would always be the priority. It is the same thing for

every game. Under Gordon Strachan, would you expect Scotland to reach

Euro 2016, given that it is a bigger tournaments now? Well, to qualify in

Europe is very tricky and difficult. God knows that. -- Gordon. It is

good to be a battle. I think they have more opportunities now, when it

steps up to 24 teams. But he will not take it easy. I'll wish Scotland

the very best to qualify for the next big tournaments has everyone

wants to see them in the tournaments. Let's be honest, it was

not a thriller. How would you sum it up? It was a clean sheet, which is a

positive, but we had a lot of possession but we never threatened.

At think that is a bit disappointing. How do you sum it up?

What we take from tonight? One of the positives is that they hammered

us last time, they really hammered us. It was five but it could have

been more. We stood up to them today. Technically, we looks good. I

think some of the changes that he tried to make have worked quite

well. He was looking for some partnerships. I think some of those

worked well. But it was not a classic. The other thing to take

away, there are some more to come in to add to the group. It keeps on

going, and there are positives but let's not pretend it was a cracker.

It looked like being a 4-31, which was likely surprising. -- 4-2-3 one.

How did it work? was likely surprising. -- 4-2-3 one.

How did it The macro look at what he's doing. He picks it up nicely,

getting into an interesting area. But watches movement. He gets in

there, and he is clever and making space. It was good linkup play. He

had half a chance of getting into that area but the linkup, as a

striker... They all seem to know where they are on the pitch. They

were never far away from each other. If you see that one, he probably

should have gone wide. But they are always in position to receive the

ball. To bring each other into play or get it wide. Did we great enough

chances? I think when we get into position, we have to know what we're

doing. Adding the manager stated that. You want fast passes. I don't

think we really got that. We have not had two upfront. Snodgrass was

always one off. And Scotland fans have been crying out for that. I

thought Snodgrass was playing intelligently. Sometimes he was

actually there. He started further up and gave himself the chance to

drop into the goal. A lot of the time, when the guy is in the hole,

you know where to go. He dropped in and picked up the ball. As we have

said, they combined well. It was a pity we did not get a goal. Can you

see yourself combining well for Scotland upfront in the future? It

is up to me to keep scoring goals for Kilmarnock. Butler that the

midfield engine room, Scott Brown and Charlie Mulgrew, doing it for

club and country. How effective where they? Look at that angle. I

think Mulgrew and Scott Brown bossed it. Position Lee, getting into the

right areas. I think with one exception, Charlie Mulgrew was the

best. Look at this. He touches it, then the next player, OK. Scott

Brown gets close, but the ball gets wide. He gets close. This is good

stuff. And then what happens? We get it back. I think that was the thing

all mate. They worked together particularly well. I think it will

be tough to see them move from that position, because when they play

together, they are comfortable. When you look at the game, Snodgrass and

Fletcher did not need to drop far. The two of them lost the game. They

got things down and forward to the strikers. Are they the two best

Scottish players for that position, Kris Boyd? I think they have shown

that. James Morrison is a fantastic player and we have more to come out.

We have a captain to come back, who is obviously going to add something.

We have options. We have spoken about Snodgrass and he has been

impressive recently. about Snodgrass and he has been

impressive This was probably our best chance of the night, would you

say? It was a fantastic save. For the possession that we have had,

further up the pitch, I think that is the only opportunity we had in

the game. How big a player is Robert Snodgrass for Scotland? We have to

add that on because he is fantastic free kicks. His underrated. We can

see in the Premier League he is doing that but we have to remember

that we have shone Maloney and Mulgrew that can also do that. This

could be massive Scotland. -- sieve for Scotland for. For me, Snodgrass

is growing. This game may have been crying out for goals. Could they

have come from the penalty slot? -- penalty spot. There were two

contentious incidents. What did you make of this? yes, it is his hand

and it was in the box. But was a deliberate? No. 100%, no chance. You

can say what you like about the hand being in an unusual position, but

that does not matter. Was it deliberate? That has to be the first

question. And it was not. This one? I think this one is the same. It was

ball to hand. I think the consensus is that they should not have been

penalties. ball to hand. I think the consensus

is that they should not The USA were sporadic in terms of form. They did

create a number of chances. And probably, you would have to say,

they should have scored from them. probably, you would have to say,

they should have They got further up the pitch in -- at that point.

Altidore should have done better. He did not hide away. They came back.

He had another chance on goal. It was great defending this one, to be

fair. That was great defending. But as a striker, you really should be

acting quicker and getting them in the net. It looks harsh in the

replay, because we are talking about three decent chances at the end of

the game. He was Gordon the Gopher pace. He did not do much else wrong

but he was going for pace. They had three chances at the end of the game

and that is what sticks in the memory.

three chances at the end of the game and But over the whole piece, I

think Scotland work at least as good as the USA and probably slightly

better. I was disappointed that they did not win the game because they

controlled the majority. And it should be remembered that they were

missing key players. How much war -- how much did we miss the players who

were missing? The macro I think that is the most important thing about

tonight. Have we got that creativity? We have mentioned

Maloney. I think the left-hand side made a huge difference for the last

game. You can bring him on. Naismith was also mentioned. I think you get

that with him, the ball in the corner. Red cut is another one.

Don't forget about him. Lots of matches throughout Europe this

evening as a scramble for World Cup places kicked off. This was the

first leg. Iceland foot to Croatia. -- Iceland through.

We play Norway on Tuesday next week. There we have it. Sporting is back

next weekend. -- Sportscene. At 5:55pm. Jonathan that. That is it

for tonight. next weekend. -- Sportscene. At

5:55pm. Jonathan that. That is -- join us for that. Thank you for

staying up. Thanks to Pat Nevin and Kris Boyd. It was not a classic from

Scotland this evening, but at least we did not get beaten. 0-0 tonight.

We could have done with a godfather goal.

# Living in America... # Hand-in-hand, across the nation.

# Living in America. # Got to have a celebration.

# Living in America...