[Europe Group 4]
10 Matches 7 Wins 2 Ties 1 Loss (23 Points)
| 8/31/96 | Vs. Austria | Draw | 0-0 |
| 10/5/96 | Vs. Latvia | Win | 0-2 |
| 11/10/96 | Vs. Sweden | Win | 1-0 |
| 2/11/97 | Vs. Estonia | Draw | 0-0 |
| 3/29/97 | Vs. Estonia | Win | 2-0 |
| 4/2/97 | Vs. Austria | Win | 2-0 |
| 4/30/97 | Vs. Sweden | Lose | 2-1 |
| 6/8/97 | Vs. Belarus | Win | 0-1 |
| 9/7/97 | Vs. Belarus | Win | 4-1 |
| 10/11/97 | Vs. Latvia | Win | 2-0 |
| Offense |
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Defense |
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| Organization |
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Experience |
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| Talent |
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Capacity to surprise |
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Because of the absence of world-class players, Scotland used teamwork as its main weapon to secure its 8th World Cup appearance. However, in all their seven trips to the World Cup, the Scots have been shut out of the championship tournament and it is a fact that in terms of firepower, they are in an extraordinarily difficult position for this 8th appearance too.
The regular goalkeeper is seasoned veteran Leighton. He has definitely passed his peak, but Goram who has more power and should be the regular goalkeeper is cast as a substitute because of disruptions in his private life, so there is no choice but to entrust the net to the experience and stability of Leighton. The defense is three players, with Calderwood set in the center and Hendry and Dailly as the double stoppers. The wing backs on whom the Scots pride themselves are Burley on the right and Boyd on the left. Burley, called the unsung key player, is a Celtic utility player who can also swing around to midfield and Boyd also has experience as center back. As shown by the figure of three goals given up in the preliminaries, this team features stable defense.
In the midfield are main pillar Macarista's understudy Gemmill with Lambert on the right and Collins of Monaco on the left. The Achilles' heel, the two tops, is fluid, but Gallacher and Durie are the most likely choices. However, the absence of a striker is a headache for Coach Brown, who has waved the director's baton since 1992.
*THE SCOTTISH
FOOTBALL.
[Address]
- 6 Park Gardens
- Glasgow G 3 7 YF
[Establish] 1873
*8th World Cup
(1954, 1958, 1974, 1978,
1982, 1986, 1990, 1998)
No championships |
John COLLINS
* Midfielder
As the on-field commander substituting for the injured Macarista, much is expected of Collins by Coach Craig.
If it is possible that Macarista, who had been the on-field commander and center player for the team, will not be able to play due to injury, the key player for Scotland will be midfielder John Collins. This midfielder with un-Scots-like flexible technique, he is also the only player to give the team some accent. Essentially, he served the role of picking up loose balls, in other words Macarista's assistant, but in the future, the expectation from the coach on him as the game maker will be even greater. His debut on the national team was in the 1988 match against Saudi Arabia. Currently, he plays for Monaco to which he transferred from Celtic in 1995.
Craig BROWN
In his playing days, he was expected to have a bright future, but ultimately his talent never fully bloomed and in 1972, he became the coach at Mazawell. Then, he steadily continued the path of success as coach, was the national youth team coach, then became the assistant coach under Coach Coxborough for the national team A squad in 1986, and in 1992 because the Scots national team head coach. His greatest characteristics is that he trusts his players and is able to get the maximum production from minimal raw material. Even in Euro 96, the Scots were kept from moving past the qualifiers and in this World Cup in France, he must do every thing with his own power. He is a greater leader who holds the most significant key to this team.
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