International friendly
Austria	2	2	Scotland
			Miller
			O’Connor

Outstanding! Tremendous! Brilliant! Beyond ma wildest expectations! Ya fuggin beauty!

These were just some o’ ma initial reactions tae the news that Denmark had just gubbed Engerlund, the self-proclaimed favourites for the World Cup in 2006, by 4 – 1.

Meanwhile, in Graz, Scotland were playin’ Austria.

Ah suppose it’s a measure o’ how far the Scotland team huz come in the short time that Walter huz been in charge that a 2-2 draw against a decent team and away fae home is regarded as a disappointment.

Mind you, it widnae be Scotland if there wisnae an element o’ disappointment tae contend with. It goes wi’ the territory.

At 2-0 up wi’ seven minutes tae go, the boys wur cruisin’ tae glory.

And then they remembered they wur Scottish and hit the self-destruct button as only Scotland teams can.

It’s just no done fer Scotland teams tae cruise tae glory. It affects the national psyche. Glorious losers, that’s mair oor style.

Big Rab Douglas disnae need me tae tell him he cost Scotland the win they deserved by tamely pushin’ a shot he should’ve held straight on tae an incomin’ Austrian heid fer the equaliser.

Whit he mebbe does need though is a wee lesson in the basic laws o’ physics.

See, in the post-match interview Rab’s excuse fer no holdin’ the shot wis that, and I quote, “the ball moved in the air”.

Aye, well, see noo Rab, that’s whit tends tae happen wi footballs. Fae the second they leave the attackin player’s feet, they move. Often towards the defendin’ team’s goals, and quite often in the air.

If they didnae, we widnae need goalkeepers tae stop them moving.

Fuxxache. Ah wid huv thought ye’d huv learned that by noo.

Still, puttin’ the disappointment o’ the last seven minutes tae one side, there were that many positives tae come ootay this performance it wis hard tae believe this wis actually Scotland ah wis watchin’.

Garry O’Connor hud his best game in a Scotland shirt yet. Apart fae his goal which he took brilliantly, his whole display wis a joy tae watch. Wee lay-off’s, flicks, great runs off the ball, harryin’ defenders – it wis all there in spades.

Nigel Quashie hud a stormer, Craig Gordon looked assured in goal, Kenny Miller wis a perpetual motion machine, the defence wis solid (fer 83 minutes at least) and some of the passing movement wis of a quality no seen fae a Scotland team in many a moon.

All in all, a satisfying night.

Ah think ah’ll pop doon ma local café tae celebrate.

A wee pastry seems in order. Danish, of course.