Double dose of defeat leaves hopes in tatters for suffering Scots and Irish
SCOTLAND’S World Cup dreams were left shattered last night, as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat against the Netherlands at Hampden Park.
George Burley’s men needed a win to have any realistic hope of snatching a play-off place but Dutch substitute Eljero Elia stepped off the bench to hit a late winner and break Scottish hearts.
The defeat compiled with a 2-1 win for Norway at home to Macedonia meant the Scots slipped to third in the Group 9 standings, but manager Burley still believes he is the man to take Scotland forward.
“It wasn’t to be,” boss Burley said afterwards. “But it certainly wasn’t for a lack of passion, determination and quality that we didn’t get anything out of the game.
“I want to continue as manager of Scotland, of course I do. I was proud of the players tonight, they couldn’t have done any more.”
Meanwhile, Slovakia all but ended Northern Ireland’s hopes of qualification for next summer’s finals after their 2-0 victory at Windsor Park.
It was the first home defeat suffered by Northern Ireland in seven games and a result, which now leaves Nigel Worthington’s team needing to beat Czech Republic in their final group game.
And Wales were another home nation to suffer World Cup heartache as Russia raced to a 3-1 victory at the Millennium Stadium to see off their faint chances of qualification.