Nice to leave for the game only 30 minutes before kick off and still have time to find a seat and get comfortable.

A very wet day in Dunfermline blended in to a very damp evening. Pitch was okay, crowd was 5866, not too bad really, roughly 50% full, or empty I suppose.

For the parochial English the Scottish team included our two boys, Warren Cummings from Chelsea at left back, Richard Hughes (20p to the first person to name his English club) Michael Stewart from Man U and Mark Burchill. The other names you may have heard of were Easton from Dundee Utd, Severin from Hearts and the 'next Ally McCoist' Kenny Miller from Rangers.

Scotland played 4-4-2 throughout, Belgium played 4-3-3.

It took nearly 45 seconds for Belgium to score, their right back hooking in a shot from a poor corner to the edge of the box. No blame on our boys but a standard Newcastle defensive performance seemed on the cards.

The game was very poor. I'd like to say it was men and boys but it wasn't. The Belgians were just better all over the park and should have had it wrapped up before half time. In particular there 4 most attacking players were just excellent. Stevo may know one or two of them ..... Soetaers (from Roda) who played left midfield and his mate Chatelle (RC Genk), Smolders a big centre forward from Club Brugge, but the best for me was the beautifully named Gregory Dufer. (If Gary can be called Speed and have none, then Dufer can be brilliant).

Dufer made both the Caldwell boys look slow but I think it was his pace rather than their lack of it. Then two other Belgians left Stevie C standing and I started to wonder whether it was him. Stevie got the nights only yellow card when he raked down a guys calf, the guy had already beaten 3 Scottish players and deserved to be kicked apparently.

The brothers grew into the game and through most of the second half were clearly the most vociferous of the Scottish player, Gary giving one of his fellow defenders an absolute bollocking at one point.

Gary had a wonderful ten minutes in the second half. He cleared off his goal line when the whole defence was taken apart. A couple of minutes later he stuck a lovely centre in which was cleared for a corner. He got his head to the corner and hit the inside of the post, the goalie scrambling back to dive on it on the line, as the guy next to me grabbed me to rejoice before realising it wasn't in.

Scotland got better and better. It was difficult to tell whether they played better or were fitter or what, it really was so poor generally. Belgium broke away at the end and the Dufer curled a lovely shot from the edge of the box onto the inside of the post and out again. Final score 0-1

Stevie looked okay by the end but looked woefully short of pace several times, not really up to it. Gary started slowly, didn't do anything wrong, just didn't stamp any authority. By the second half he'd realised it wasn't that hard and was probably Scotland's man of the match overall. He is a photocopy of Aaron Hughes in size and style, although slightly more inclined to play the ball forward.

Long term I'd be happy to see Hughes/G Caldwell when we play against mobile forwards, only when we play aerial teams would Stevie be the choice.

Bloody cold by the end, but nice to have seen those 4 Belgians and Gary.

Oh yeah Kenny Miller didn't look that special and Burchill was subbed. Scotlands future looks pretty bleak.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001

Answers

Thanks for that Macbeth - you should be used to that sort of performance by now. Watched England U-21's on telly - they were very good, but in truth Finland were poor.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001

Great report! Thanks! Why don't we buy Dufer then? He plays down the road from me at Charleroi. Friend of Philippe Albert. And we don't even need to buy him a new shirt as he already plays in the Black and White stripes of "Les Zebres". I'll pop down to the next game and put a good word in.

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001

>>>Why don't we buy Dufer then?<<<

'cos we've got far too many duffers aalready ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 23, 2001

Richard Hughes plays for Bournemouth!!!

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001

20p to that man

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001

BOURNEMOUTH midfielder Richard Hughes has admitted he is aware of interest in him from both West Ham and Serie A giants Juventus. The Scotland Under-21 international, who played for his country in the game with Belgium, revealed that he had been contacted by the Turin-based club.

The former Atalanta youngster admitted to being tempted by a move to the bigger stage, but stated that his immediate future lies with The Cherries.

"I am aware of interest from both Juventus and West Ham," he declared. "I want to play at the highest level and Juventus are certainly there.

"Nobody in their right mind would turn down the chance to go back to Serie A and play for Juventus if a serious offer was on the table.

"I don't know what is going to happen as I am still contracted to Bournemouth until the end of next season."

Hughes admitted that West Ham ace Paolo Di Canio is his idol, and revealed that he could have been playing for The Hammers had things turned out differently.

"Paolo is my favourite player," he enthused. "And it would be great to play in the same team as him.

"It almost happened a few weeks ago when West Ham had an injury crisis and Harry Redknapp asked to take me on loan until the end of the season.

"Bournemouth refused to let me go at this late stage of the season and that was that."

The 21-year-old also admitted that he would consider playing in the Scottish Premier League, but Juve may be favourites to take him to Serie A, with the player able to leave Dean Court if any club matches the £500,000 release clause.

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001

he was okay, turned his full back a couple of times but didn't get a decent centre in, I wouldn't be interested in him coming to us

-- Anonymous, March 26, 2001