Scotland's bravery foils fluid Dutch side

THE best crowd, the best referee and, by no means coincidentally, the best match. You had to admire the Dutch football, but you also had toe admire the Scots' spirit. Scotland the brave indeed.

They had to be as well, for the Dutch came at them in orange waves for the first half hour. Putting aside the absence of key personnel and some individual loss of form, the Dutch rekindled the spirit of their game against the Republic of Ireland at Anfield with their fluid football, first touch passing and sharp movement off the ball, allied to incisive through balls and crossing. When in this mood, they're a joy.

Scotland rode their luck, overcoming some surprising early vulnerability at set pieces in the air never more so than when John Collins clearly used his arm to deny Dennis Bergkamp on the line from a seventh minute corner.

A breakthrough penalty then, and who knows? Holland would surely have gone on to win had they taken the lead, for Scotland's was essentially a backs against the wall performance. This was not quite the awesome Ajax inspired force of Anfield (Patrick Kluivert was a comparatively sluggish impersonator of that night's dark destroyer when coming on for the final 28 minutes).

Scotland's back eight of midfield and defence generally restricted the Dutch to long range efforts.

They were out on their feet at the end, but only in the last 15 or 20 minutes did their effort begin to take a discernible toll. What's more, by contrast to England last Saturday, the Scots enjoyed barely 30 per cent of possession and so had more running to do.

Heroes were everywhere, the battle hardened Colin Hendry clearly ready and willing to die for the cause. The midfield patrolled in front of them vigilantly, none more so than anchorman Stuart McCall.

Gary McAllister, showing what " good player he can be in a team with spirit, did the donkey work but also looked Scotland's most dangerous player. He and John Collins generally provided what relief there was by holding on to the ball and distributing it skilfully. From the off they were, doing the vast majority of their work when the Dutch had the ball which seemed to be all the time.

Craig Brown, Scotland's unassuming but wily manager, reverted to a flat back four rather than the team's tried and trusted system of using three central defenders, so as to counter Holland's use of two wingers.

Stewart McKimmie and Tommy Boyd were still extended early on as the excellent Ronald de Boer and Richard Witschge looked to feed the wide men, Gaston Taument and Jordi Cruyff, quickly. The frustrating Taument was given early encouragement by a fourth minute booking for Boyd one of four in the first 32 minutes.

Thereafter Boyd was fearful of lunging in, but Taument petered out and was substituted.

Jordi Cruyff, son of Johan, began brightly, but flattered to deceive. Clarence Seedorf didn't quite hit it off with Dennis Bergkamp as the apex of the midfield diamond and the central striker respectively demonstraably having one of several internal arguments amongst an increasingly frustrated Dutch side in the second half.

Their frustration was under standable. Despite some rough edges, the Ajax 3-4-3 system and the typically superb Dutch technique (seemingly inculcated from teething years - is it in their milk?), saw them take the game to Scotland in characteristically fluid fashion.

Chances came frequently in a surprisingly open and positive start. Bergkamp hared away to the byline on to a ball from Witschge and pulled it back for Seedorf, only for Goram to spread himself brilliantly.

Whatever the TV replays might suggest, the impulsive reaction to Collins's block from the ensuing corner was that he deliberately denied a certain goal with his arm.

The Scots lifted the siege, orange shirts backing off and inviting Collins to deliver a shot which Edwin van der Sar awkwardly punched away after 14 minutes. Scotland had their tails up, and Boyd played McAllister through an invitingly vacant inside left channel, but he shot tamely with his weaker left foot. A curling, dipping, 25th minute free extended van der Sar into a good, groping, tip away.

But soon it was back to the established pattern. Witschge, having tested the alert Goram with one free, delivered another which fell to Johan de Kock, but he was unable to force it home from close range. Bergkamp was similarly unsuccessful when the ensuing corner fell to him 10 yards out.

The Dutch had all the width and the Scots backpedalled. The biggest gulf in technique was at the back where the Dutch effortlessly retained the ball under pressure, initiating another fresh attack. Increasingly, Scotland's defenders resorted to playing the ball long, not allowing the mid field time to give support. Back it came.

The openings weren't so frequent after the break, but it was compelling stuff until the end, substitutions galore adding to the intrigue. Aaron Winter and Philip Cocu slotted in effortlessly into the Dutch midfield, while Kluivert came on as striker and Bergkamp switched to right wing. These boys can play anywhere.

Still the pressure mounted as the Scots wilted. Shots rained in. They could have gone anywhere, one by Seedorf on the turn looping violently just over the bar. A thicket of Scottish bodies deflected the shots behind, while the corner tally mounted.

Somehow Scotland the Brave held on. But heaven help their opponents if the Dutch really click. Tantalisingly, thankfully, that now seems more of a possibility.