Not 2nd but 4th best Nov. 17, 2007

Footballer :

We had a great occasion at Hampden v Italy despite the reversal. It proved before an ever growing audience that we can compete with the best and the fans are probably the best. Everyone played well – the prodigous Scott Brown looked disappointed that he never got a chance to shine. The midfield was amazing and pushed the Italians back spurred on by the irrepressible captain Barry Ferguson. I thought that as long as the imperious Cannavaro was relaxed at the heart of the Italian defence then they weren’t in trouble. Between the 60th and the 70th minutes he began to look troubled and so too the team. We began to overrun them but we failed to grab a second and take the lead and go on. Too much is being made of decisions. We have to embrace the bigger picture which is more than hopeful.

Our David Weir was fantastic and possibly playing his last big tournament? I feel if we had a younger him and another forward option waiting in the wings and continue to grow in confidence through the next batch of friendlies and the World Cup qualifiers we could become the second best team in Europe behind the Italians who will take some dislodging. I would go further and say that we are possibly only 4th to Italy, Brazil and Argentina at the moment. We beat France home and away.