Football: Scotland

Kenny Miller's second-half strike cancelled out Fredi Bobic's opener as Scotland earned an encouraging 1-1 draw with Germany at Hampden.

The result was the most impressive yet achieved by the Scots under Berti Vogts, who had been desperate to avoid defeat by the nation he managed for eight years.

Germany had led at the break when Bobic headed in Torsten Frings' right-wing cross in the 23rd minute.

The goal was tough on Scotland, who had made a strong start in front of a passionate Hampden crowd, without really creating any clear-cut scoring opportunities.

But the visitors could have doubled their advantage just before the break when Rab Douglas had to dive to his left to tip a curling 25-yard effort from Bernd Schneider round a post.

Colin Cameron could have grabbed an equaliser soon after the restart but the midfielder scuffed harmlessly wide from right in front of goal 10 yards out.

But Vogts' side did draw level in the 69th minute when Cameron played a quick free-kick to Miller and the Wolves ace rolled a shot across Oliver Kahn and into the net.

Douglas pulled off a wonder save to deny Schneider from a free-kick and Arne Friedrich blazed well over from the resulting corner, but Scotland held on to claim a deserved share of the spoils.

The result sees Scotland go second in Euro 2004 qualifying group five, level on eight points along with the World Cup finalists, who have played one game less.

Well scotland have put themselves in with a good chance of qualifing..A ggod point earned today..

They deserved the point, be nice to see all the home countries doing well.

Yep good to see them get a point,scotland are not the greatest but they do play together well as a unit,they need some more prolific goalscorers...

Don't seem to be many players making the grade at the highest level from Scotland in this day and age.

Saying that look out for Kiegen Parker, Jamie Smith, Tom McManus and Stephen McPhee. Some good young talent coming through the ranks.

Stephen McPhee looks a good player TeflonDon you are right about him...

Yes what you say about scotland is true they have not done very well for years and they have a serious lack of young talent comming through...

James McFadden came off the bench to score his first goal for Scotland and renew the Tartan Army's hopes that they might still be heading for the European Championships in Portugal next summer with a 3-1 defeat of the Faroe Islands.

Whether that happens still depends largely on how many points Germany and Iceland - who drew 0-0 on Saturday - pick up in their remaining games, but Berti Vogts' side achieved its own target of the day, the three points needed to remain realistic challengers.

McFadden, the great young hope of Scottish football, netted the clinching third goal against the band of part-timers who had infamously held them to a 2-2 draw a year ago.

In the first half there had been very real fears such a scoreline might be repeated, especially after Julian Johnsson headed in an equaliser to cancel out Neil McCann's early opener.

Paul Dickov made it 2-1 in first half stoppage time to record his first goal at this level but it was not until McFadden made no mistake with a simple finish that the Scots could relax and prepare for the sterner task which awaits them in Germany in a few days' time.

Scotland's hopes of a Euro 2004 play-off place were left hanging in the balance after their brave 10 men were beaten 2-1 by Germany in Dortmund on Wednesday night.
Berti Vogts saw his team fall 2-0 behind as Fredi Bobic and Michael Ballack both struck for Rudi Voller's side in the Westfalenstadion.

The Scots struck back with a super goal from Neil McCann on the hour but soon after substitute Maurice Ross was red-carded, leaving them with a mountain to climb.

The result leaves Germany on the brink of automatic qualification from Group Five, while the Scots must beat Lithuania on October 11 and hope Iceland fail to beat the Germans on the same date.