World Cup qual. - Scotland held by Norway

Eurosport - Sun, 12 Oct 12:41:00 2008

Scotland drew 0-0 with Norway in a World Cup Group 9 qualifier at Hampden Park, with Chris Iwelumo guilty of a staggering miss.

2008 Scotland-Norway Chris Iwelumo - 0

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Iwelumo made his debut, aged 30, as a second-half substitute, and booked himself a place in DVD compilation hell with a truly remarkable blunder.

With 64 minutes on the clock, Gary Naysmith crossed low from the left past goalkeeper Jon Knudsen, finding Iwelumo completely unmarked three yards in front of an open goal.

It was the simplest finish imaginable, but somehow Iwelumo failed to set himself and sent the ball wide when such an outcome appeared mathematically impossible.

In truth, Iwelumo should have been given offside, having strayed beyond the last defender, but the linesman's flag stayed down and the goal would have counted.

Under-pressure manager George Burley had opted to play James McFadden as a lone striker, supported from the left and right by Shaun Maloney and James Morrison.

But the downside of his decision not to use a second man up front soon became apparent as McFadden found himself isolated.

The burly likes of Brede Hangeland and Jon Inge Hoiland ensured the Birmingham striker saw little of the ball.

As the home side toiled away, a boisterous Hampden Park crowd became anxious, with last month's defeat in Macedonia having already compromised their hopes of reaching South Africa in 2010.

Scotland's lack of speed in central defence was soon exposed. John Carew is renowned more for his imposing physique than his searing pace, yet time and again he outstripped David Weir and Gary Caldwell to creat opportunities for himself.

As early as the ninth minute he accelerated through the middle with worrying ease, only to be denied by a last-ditch tackle.

Just before the mid-point of the first half he tested goalkeeper Craig Gordon with a low drive from the left corner of the box. Gordon parried and Steffen Iversen blasted the follow-up over.

It took another impressive block to deny the Aston Villa striker on 40 minutes after he ran onto an intelligent knock-down from Fredrik Stromstad.

Although the central midfield trio of Darren Fletcher - captain in Barry Ferguson's absence - Scott Brown and Barry Robson ensured plenty of possession, Scottish chances were at a premium.

Their best chance of the opening period came seconds before the break when McFadden peeled away on the left side and curled a superb cross onto the head of Morrison, who headed over from close range at the far post.

The situation seemed to cry out for attacking reinforcements by Burley, but when Iwelumo came just before the hour, he replaced the deeply frustrated McFadden and Scotland persisted with their flawed 4-5-1.

Barry Robson almost immediately fired a first-time shot left-footed, but it was straight at Norwegian keeper Knudsen - another 30-something debutant.

Iwelumo has been on only eight minutes when his big moment arrived, but the ball somehow ended up in the crowd. It really was the stuff of nightmares.

His error seemed to galvanise the home side, who then enjoyed their best spell of the game, dominating possession and forcing Norway back.

Maloney saw a shot deflected wide after picking up an astute Iwelumo knock-down, then fired just wide from the edge of the box.

Then late nerves set in, as Steffen Iversen, Kjetil Waehler and Carew all went close to nicking a an away win - but a goalless draw was cruel enough for Scotland.

Alex Chick / Eurosport

Comment 47 - 66 of 126

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. i like germans more than you ENGLISH, that doesnt mean to say i hate uz,i just feel sorry for uz and yer watters @#$% as well.remember when we took half a wembley back hame in 77 ha ha

    From dchurch58, on Sat 11 Oct 7:57PM

  2. peter.murphy25
    I want you barred as well.
    Football's only a game you say; i would gladly sacrifice my life for my club!

    From cameron w, on Sat 11 Oct 7:55PM

  3. Hahah. Three games in and scotland have failed to qualify already, whoop whoop. Never mind. You can always compensate by supporting "anyone except the english". As usual.

    From MrSyrett, on Sat 11 Oct 7:50PM

  4. 'ok, stephen, u were drawing 0-0 at half time with one of the worst teams in the world, we drew against quite a good team, u english are stereotypical snobs, while us Scots have lifes'

    I think lewisbarca is absolutely correct. 2nd half goals don't count in football, so the 5-1 and 9 points-out-of-nine by England is terrible when compared to the 1 win out of 3 and 4 points-out-of-none from Scotland.

    I also think that lewisbarca was not angry or bitter about the English when calling them 'stereotypical snobs' - she means it affectionately. She knows that insults would be a sign of crying and/or jealousy.

    The numerous spelling mistakes, such as 'lifes' are also deliberate, you see when you have 'lifes' it doesn't affect your spelling.

    From Johnny W, on Sat 11 Oct 7:47PM

  5. most recent get a life guys its only a game chill

    From PeterM, on Sat 11 Oct 7:41PM

  6. get a life guys its only a game chill

    From PeterM, on Sat 11 Oct 7:40PM

  7. DHowie said this...

    'to stephen the english @#$% were yous at the last major tournament i think not'

    Were Scotland?

    'I think not'

    Your attempt to criticise the English is just as insulting to yourself.

    Well played.

    From Johnny W, on Sat 11 Oct 7:38PM

  8. and u can shut up to johnny

    From lewisbarca, on Sat 11 Oct 7:38PM

  9. ok, stephen, u were drawing 0-0 at half time with one of the worst teams in the world, we drew against quite a good team, u english are stereotypical snobs, while us Scots have lifes

    From lewisbarca, on Sat 11 Oct 7:37PM

  10. For the scots on here who aren't that insecure that they have to hate the english, you were unlucky. To all the haters - Don't hate.

    From Johnny W, on Sat 11 Oct 7:36PM

  11. make a formal protest ya bawbag!!! FTQ

    From GLASGOW REPUBLICAN, on Sat 11 Oct 7:33PM

  12. For the comments on here from Scottish people who say they hate English people, HAHAHAHAHA. Your team is hopeless.

    From Johnny W, on Sat 11 Oct 7:32PM

  13. It is back to the drawing board for the haggis heads. What a sad day. Never mind look on the bright side, another British team won 5-1 not a million miles away. I wonder who that can be? Rejoice you saddos! I'll have a pint of heavy and a large dram!

    From Geoff, on Sat 11 Oct 7:25PM

  14. scotland the brave?where............................................ .?

    From stephen, on Sat 11 Oct 7:20PM

  15. stephen, marcmcaloon,
    Will the regulators of this forum please bar the 2 above mentioned from posting any more comments on this forum? Or will i have to make a formal protest?

    From cameron w, on Sat 11 Oct 7:18PM

  16. all you jocks hate us because you wish you had a football team like us

    From linkslad69, on Sat 11 Oct 7:17PM

  17. Oh yes, and "andrew mcdickhead" is the least offensive and least creative nickname I've ever heard anyone being called before... I mean, even I could come up with a better insulting nickname for myself.

    From Andrew M, on Sat 11 Oct 7:16PM

  18. to stephen the english @#$% were yous at the last major tournament i think not

    From d.howie7, on Sat 11 Oct 7:15PM

  19. aye trust me, we hate u, the ground u walk on,the air u breathe, everything about u! go and boast about ur 5-1 win against team ranked 131st in the world.

    From stanleyippkiss2003, on Sat 11 Oct 7:15PM

  20. Envious of a country of embittered losers who make a big fuss when they lose to a big team and an even bigger fuss when they win against a small team? I don't think so, stephen.

    From Andrew M, on Sat 11 Oct 7:14PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account