Back on track

Well, it may have been overshadowed by England's shredding of Croatia, but no matter - Scotland's 2-1 win away in Iceland has got the World Cup qualifying campaign up and running, and suddenly the mood is much brighter!


After 2 games Scotland has 3 points and has got 2 away fixtures out of the way. It was still a mistake to start with a match against Macedonia in searing late summer heat, but what's done is done. The main thing is that we are firmly in contention in a group that will see plenty of ups and downs along the way.

The Macedonia result also has to be put into perspective. Results for the first round of qualifying games have been surprising all across Europe - yesterday, for example, Denmark beat Portugal, Luxembourg (!) beat Switzerland, and Germany had to come back 3 times against Finland to earn a point.

Meanwhile, Macedonia lost to Holland, which leaves runners-up spot in Group 9 well and truly up for grabs. And that was always the target anyhow.

So, let's not panic. Some very silly things have been said about George Burley over the past few days, and there is probably some truth in the theory that his face just does not fit amongst the "Largs mafia" who control the Scottish game. Having spent almost his entire career in England (apart from a very brief, but successful, time at Hearts, of course), he doesn't seem to fit easily into the cosy West coast club, where friendship counts for more than ability.

It all changed this morning, with even Keith Jackson, a man who thinks Scottish football begins and ends with Rangers, singing his praises in the Daily Record. He does seem to have adopted a prose style uncannily similar to Chick Young, however.

Or take Lee McCulloch's retirement from international football. On Monday, BBC Scotland were happy to insinuate that he had problems with Burley, forcing the manager to defend himself in the press when he should have been concentrating on the Iceland game. By Thursday, they published a story that looks very much like a retraction, and carrying quotes from Craig Brown that criticised McCulloch instead.

The end of McCulloch's international career is, in fact, not that interesting a story. Scotland always need options, but there are plenty of alternatives to him. Far more important is that Burley is trying to introduce a more positive, attacking philosophy - something that McLeish promised, but didn't carry through. The previous backs-to-the-wall approach was effective, but ultimately a failure, and Burley deserves credit for not taking the easy option.

Let's hope that, as with Fabio Capello, a positive result has given the manager some more leeway in the media. Because there is no doubt that qualification from this group will not be easy, and Burley will need all the support he can get.