James McFadden is determined to put Scotland's Euro 2008 heartache behind him and help his country qualify for the 2010 World Cup.The Tartan Army are licking their wounds following Italy's last-gasp 2-1 win at Hampden Park on Saturday, but they will soon be able to start formulating travel plans for their next campaign when the World Cup qualifying draw is made next Sunday.

Scotland will be among the second seeds for the draw after their positive European Championship campaign when they finished above higher-ranked Ukraine and pushed World Cup finalists France and Italy to the end.

McFadden felt "robbed" by the free-kick award that led to Christian Panucci's winner but he was encouraged by the way Scotland fought back from Luca Toni's second-minute opener.

The Everton striker had two chances to grab a winner after Barry Ferguson's equaliser, but just had to stretch too much for his best opening and hit it wide.

"Losing the early goal didn't help us but the second half especially we played some good stuff," he said.

"We cut them open at times. I had a great chance to win it but unfortunately I couldn't do it.

"But I think we can take a lot of credit from this, and it's something to build on for the World Cup. We have played some good stuff over the campaign.

"I think for the players and fans and the whole country, we deserve to be there but we're not, so we will look to the World Cup and hopefully we can qualify for that."

Scotland's effort was lauded by their fans who stayed behind to demand their heroes take a bow at a rain-soaked Hampden.

And McFadden said: "Us coming out was for us to show the fans our appreciation of them.

"They have been absolutely brilliant and hopefully they will be back for the World Cup campaign."

While the former Motherwell striker was able to look forward to the World Cup, he could not disguise his sense of injustice at the decision to award a free-kick against Alan Hutton, when he was barged by Giorgio Chiellini.

And he felt the controversy had been a recurring theme in the latter stages of the campaign.

The 24-year-old was denied strong penalty claims in both the previous games against Ukraine and Georgia.

"I know you are not supposed to say these things but we were robbed by the referee, blatantly robbed and it's hard to take," McFadden told BBC Scotland.

"I don't think the ref helped us, he was more for them than he was for us.

"If you go back to the Ukraine game there have been some dodgy decisions given against us and maybe not gone our way.

"And I think it goes to prove we weren't wanted at the big championships.

"It is punishing for the team but it is a kick in the teeth for the whole country.

"It's not a foul, we have had possession of the ball and he has given a foul."

Hutton was as bemused as anyone at the decision, which was given by Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez on the signal of assistant Juan Carlos Jiminez.

"It's hard to take, especially the way they got their second goal, it is really disappointing," the Rangers full-back said.

"It was a terrible decision from the ref.

"I was in control of the ball, their player hit into me and they managed to get a foul out of it. It is beyond me.

"It has put us out the competition, how big a decision is that to make?

"On a personal level it was absolutely terrible, but what can you do?"

But the 22-year-old could also find some solace in Scotland's overall performance in Group B.

"It was such a hard group, everybody wrote us off from the word go," Hutton said.

"To do as well as we have done, the boys have been absolutely magnificent.

"It is hard to

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