Glorious failure, it's been a while...

..since last we met. Having towards the end of the Craigie Broon era and almost the entirety of the Berti Voghts era been used to plain old failure the events of last saturday followed in the best traditions of Scottish football. We threw away a cheap goal, fought back level had the Italians on the ropes and then to rub salt in the wound a nonsense refereeing decision gave them the free kick from which they scored and undeserved winning goal.

It was only when I saw the highlights later that on that it dawned on me just how good a chance McFadden had to put us in front, in fairness he was havingto slide in on a stretch in soaking wet conditions but coming onto his stronger foot I'd have put my house on him turning it home. As it was a draw probably wouldn't have been enough but you can't help but think France might have buckled in Ukraine, Ukraine are a good team albeit with not a lot to play for against a team of Frances undoubted class only needing a point. Though if that late goal had been an Italian equaliser rather than a winner it would be infinitely more frustrating and the sense of injustice doesn't bare thinking about.

As for injustice I try to resist the forces of paranoia but some of the decisions that didn't go our way over the last three qualifiers beggar belief. Forgetting the ukraine game as we won anyway and we also got a bit lucky with a decision ourselves the stonewall penalty we were denied in Georgia looks to have proven the most costly. Though we didn't really merit much from that game and you can't argue that the best two teams haven't went through.

Where did it go wrong. I think away games in Ukraine and Georgia are the ones we can't entirely say no regrets, or we did our best. I think in the Ukraine we were far to negative, now maybe they just outplayed us on the day they are as I said a good team but their biggest weakness is a slightly dodgy defence. We needed to show more ambition, from what I remember we started on the back foot and played for the draw. Ukraine are good but no Italy or France and in Italy we had a go and were unlucky to an extent.

As for the Georgia game alhough not helped by injury and suspension problems we got suckered into believing they were going to be a soft touch, they did field two 17 year olds and one 16 year old and trumpeted this fact in the build up. We went 4-4-2 and flung in an unfit Darren Fletcher who toiled noticeably, in hindsight we should stuck with the 4-5-1 formation with couple of the midfielders given licence to get forward and said you come on and break us down and we'll try and nick one. As even now one more gleaned point would still give us that fraction of hope for Ukraine doing us a favour. As it was all three Georgian youngsters played well, the striker and creative mid very well and we despite the stonewall pen denied and a couple other decent chances missed were largely frustrated and outplayed on the night.

Still no point getting to down in the mouth, relatively speaking we are still resurgent, most of the squad has their best years in front of them and we'll be in pot 2 for the forthcoming World Cup qualifying draw. Only downside is I think only group winners go through but it should make a play off a reasonable target rather than a hopeful dream and least an outside chance of winning group.