Scotland top Group I after a crazy night
Scotland's should-have-been-home-banker against Liechtenstein (FIFA ranking - 141) produced one of those brilliant finishes that reaffirms why, despite growing disillusionment with ticket prices, player wages and so much else, football is so impossible to turn your back on.
Craig Levein's side were seconds away from being given the jeering of a lifetime at Hampden Park when Stephen McManus nodded in from a corner in the 97th minute to an almighty roar, remarkably sending Scotland to the top of Group I.
The former Dundee United boss lost his glasses celebrating the winner then took to the pitch to congratulate his players one-by-one for the least glorious of triumphs, however while the result itself wasn't much to crow about, the overall qualifying picture suddenly looks far brighter.
Czech Republic's shock home loss to Lithuania in the group's other game didn't only illustrate that the Tartan Army's draw in Kaunas on Friday may not have been a disastrous result, it also gives them genuine reason to believe that a play-off place is achievable.
The 1996 finalists are expected to provide their main competition for second but have now won just two of their last seven competitive matches, and also lost a friendly in Glasgow in March.
If Scotland avoid defeat in Prague next month, or even better take three points then last night's struggle will swiftly be forgotten. They also welcome Spain to Hampden in October, and there's even perhaps the thinnest of straws to clutch for that one too after the world champions lost 4-1 in Argentina!
Can they complete the most incredible of turnarounds? They're [8.2] to win the group...
Published: 8 Sep 2010
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