Attendance 2,326
Scotland suffered an injury blow in the pre-match
warm-up when Charlie Mulgrew of Wolves suffered an
injury, necessitating the introduction of Ryan Conroy.
This was the start of the Alex McLeish reign as
Scotland Boss, and there were no Rangers players
present.
The Germans were in control from the opening seconds,
taking the lead in 21 minutes following an error by
home goalkeeper Andrew McNeil whose poor miskick was
seized on by Patrick Ebert who released Aaron Hunt
through on goal to slot the ball home.
The visitors were a class apart - and McNeil
twice redeemed himself with outstanding saves from
Chinedu Ede and Marcel Heller before the interval.
The break brought little respite for the Scots who
found themselves on the back foot following the
restart.
Substitute goalkeeper Jamie McDonald produced a
miraculous save in 64 minutes when he touched
Ebert's twenty-yard drive onto the underside of
the bar.
Ebert was by a mile the outstanding player afield
- and nine minutes later his free-kick found
substitute Robert Flessers unmarked at the far post,
the Borussia Monchengladbach player easily netting to
make it 2-0.
The goal was more than deserved - and it was
almost three in eighty minutes when Daniel Adlung saw
his shot following Eugen Polanski's exquisite
backheel blocked by McDonald.
The die was cast, and afterwards a realistic Scotland
Coach Maurice Malpas reflected:
“We were up against a very good team, but it was
a great experience for my youngsters. The Germans were
very composed and comfortable on the ball.”
SCOTLAND McNeil (Hibernian) [McDonald {Hearts} 45];
Ross (Dunfermline Athletic), Wallace (Hearts);
Fitzpatrick (Motherwell), Cuthbert (Celtic), Reynolds
(Motherwell); McGlinchey (Celtic) [Smith {Motherwell}
45], Robertson (Dundee United) [Dorrans {Livingston}
45], Naismith (Kilmarnock), Quinn (Celtic) [Adams
{Kilmarnock} 68], Conroy (Celtic) [Considine
{Aberdeen}81]
UNUSED SUBS Kenneth (Dundee United), Cameron (Dundee
United)
GERMANY Neuer (Schalke); Castro (Bayer Leverkusen),
Beiler (Rot-Weiss Essen) [Flessers {Borussia
Monchengladbach} 45]; Tasci (Stuttgart), Muller
(Hertha Berlin) [Boenisch {Schalke} 45], Kruska
(Borussia Dortmund) [Judt {Greuther Furth} 64]; Ebert
(Hertha Berlin), Ede (Hertha Berlin), Heller
(Eintracht Frankfurt) [Rosenthal {Hannover} 45],
Polanski (Borussia Dortmund), Hunt (Werder Bremen)
[Adlung {Greuther Furth} 64]
UNUSED SUBS Kirschbaum (Hoffenheim)
REFEREE Mark Courtney (Northern Ireland)