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You are in: Football: Internationals: Scotland |
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Friday, 14 February, 2003, 14:55 GMT
Vogts' report card
![]() Bright spots: Paul Devlin and Stevie Crawford
Twelve months and 42 players into his reign as national boss, Berti Vogts appears to be no nearer finding 11 capable of restoring Scotland to the top tier of world football. Wednesday's 2-0 defeat at home to the Republic of Ireland was his seventh loss in his first 11 games. His was greeted two days later, on his first anniversary, with newspaper headlines suggesting that he - and not the dearth of talent currently hampering his cause - was to blame for yet another alarming performance. As with England's Sven Goran Eriksson, the media appear to be giving Vogts one more game before finally calling for his head to roll.
There is no room time for experimentation, his next opportunity to prove his worth as a coach being the European Championship visit to Hampen of Iceland in March. After an extensive search for any talent with remotely tartan blood, only Birmingham City winger Paul Devlin has emerged during Vogts' reign as a possible new force on the international stage. Stevie Crawford was given a re-call and does not look out of place among those from more fashionable clubs. Steven Thompson won a move from Dundee United to Rangers on the back of showing some promise in dark blue and, once he is over his injury and suspension problems, could make his mark alongside the Dunfermline Athletic striker. Leeds United's Dominic Matteo and Everton's David Weir, neither of whom matched club form with their country, retired from the international scene. Defender Lee Wilkie, who had been farmed out on loan to Notts County, was plucked from obscurity and looked the part in their absence until being strangely relegated to the Futures side instead of facing Republic of Ireland. It is to that development squad - the most radical of Vogts' reforms - and to the Under-21s where Scotland must look for the brightest glimmers of hope. Vogts will hope that the nurturing of the likes of Motherwell forward James McFadden, Celtic striker Shaun Maloney and Hibernian pair Ian Murray and Garry O'Connor can be swift enough to save his skin.
On the ball
Stevie Crawford (Dunfermline Athletic): has proved inspirational up front against lesser opposition but has so far struggled against better nations. Paul Devlin (Birmingham City): newcomer who could become a major player due to his pace and willingness to take on defences. Steven Pressley (Hearts): has been unlucky with injury and illness but is admired by Vogts for his organisational skills in defence.
On the fringes
Gareth Williams (Nottingham Forest): composed passer of the ball but has failed to make the transition from the Under-21s to the seniors. Ian Murray (Hibernian): only given a brief chance against Canada but is a consistently exciting talent for his club. Kevin Kyle (Sunderland): was Vogts' big hope for a tall target man, but the lumbering Sunderland reserve has slipped out of the reckoning. Garry O'Connor (Hibernian): was too raw in becoming one of the youngest ever to play for Scotland, but his fine club performances mean his time will surely come again.
On the way out?
Out in the cold
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13 Feb 03 | Scotland
12 Feb 03 | Scotland
14 Feb 03 | Scotland
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