Down the decades there have been a whole host of iconic moments for Scotland and the Tartan Army – Joe Jordan’s teeth, Archie Gemmill’s “wonder goal”, the fans’ invasion of Wembley in 1977 – and another one has now been added. No one of a Scottish football persuasion will ever be able to look back to Saturday, October 11, 2008 and the World Cup qualifier against Norway at Hampden Park without coming out in a shiver at the memory of Chris Iwelumo’s miss.

Adding a touch of comedy to an already surreal moment, the gaffe-prone Scotland manager, George Burely, later claimed that “99 times out of 100 Chris would have stuck that one away” which, by anyone’s arithmetic, is a tough ask. Iwelumo’s miss, from three yards out and before a gaping goal, is going to be added to that canon of images and episodes that some gloom-laden Scots use as evidence for why we falter as a nation.

That moment after 64 minutes on Saturday only appeared more gruesome the more you studied it on television replays. Following Gary Naysmith’s boisterous run and cross, the ball came into the six-yard box at no great pace towards Iwelumo’s feet. In his vague defence, Jon Knudsen, the Norway goalkeeper, had dived and missed the ball, which left a slight element of surprise at Naysmith’s pass actually reaching the Wolverhampton Wanderers striker. Nonetheless, the goal was gaping, and Iwelumo was actually nearer the back post than the front, which meant, from that angle, he had an even wider expanse of net to find, yet he still contrived to dunt his shot wide of the left post.

It is a moment never to be forgotten at Hampden. Everyone was on their feet, and some fans were already hugging each other with joy at Scotland finally finding a breakthrough. The radio commentators up on the gantry were shouting “goal... it’s a goal for Scotland!” and there was even some highly unprofessional hugging going on in the pressbox.
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But then, it was as if life was suddenly suspended in slow-motion for about 15 seconds. There was bewilderment, as fans’ arms began to slowly disentangle, while people peered over towards that far goal to try to comprehend the scene. “He’s missed,” people groggily muttered, still disbelieving. It was as if a gunshot had gone off on a quiet, sun-kissed beach, with people straining to understand an unusual commotion.

Poor Iwelumo. He faces a test of character, not just now but for the rest of his life – and certainly whenever he enters a Scottish pub – when people ask him about his miss. “So it’s happened, and I’ll have to live with it, that’s football,” the big striker said after the game. And Scotland, in the nervous here-and-now of the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign, will also have to live with it.

Burley received plaudits for the fine achievement, won by brave tactics, in beating Iceland 2-1 in Reykjavik, but he had a lot to answer for on Saturday. For one thing, the shape of his team was baffling, and it cost Scotland 55 minutes of this match, during which they hardly created a chance.

Burley tried to claim that he wanted to “keep continuity” with the 4-3-3 which had played and been successful in Iceland last month, but this team bore no resemblance to that night. Moreover, with James McFadden alone and isolated as a striker, and Scotland quite often pumping high balls to him, the first half was an utter travesty of a Scotland performance. No one else but the manager seemed responsible for that.

Burley changed his shape in the second half, introducing Iwelumo and Steven Fletcher for McFadden and James Morrison after 55 minutes, and the effect was immediate and rousing. The Scots, having survived a number of Norway efforts around their goal, were suddenly galvanised, and the play, mercifully and at last, began to throb around the visitors’ penalty box. Twice Shaun Maloney had decent efforts, and Scotland should certainly have won a penalty when Kjetil Waehler wrapped himself all over Fletcher on the six-yard line.

Yet even amid all this John Carew and Norway were well worth at least a goal, and maybe even two. Carew was a towering menace, and not just in the air. For most of this match he ran the Scotland defence ragged, his long limbs taking him off down various channels, with Gary Caldwell or David Weir in fevered pursuit. On at least two occasions Caldwell made immense tackles, not least in deflecting Carew’s 88th-minute shot inches over Craig Gordon’s bar.

This fine Scotland goalkeeper was also forced to block Steffen Iversen’s shot from point-blank range, all of which only confirmed the impression that Norway were worth their point at the very least.

Where now for Scotland? Even after this setback, things in group nine might not be quite as hopeless as people have been making out.

Four points from three opening games is being hailed as a calamity, yet had these points been garnered in different circumstances – say, by beating Norway at home, drawing with Macedonia away and losing to Iceland – then the situation might not be viewed as quite so ghastly. Holland play Norway on Wednesday night and, if the favourites win, then the Norwegians will not feel in a very healthy state themselves.

But Burley, having done so already in Reykjavik, now has to once again show that he is sharp and clear in his judgment when Scotland return to their 2010 qualifying business in the spring against the Dutch. On Saturday that judgment failed the Scotland manager, even if the game was wrenched from his team’s grasp by a garish and unforgettable miss.

Scotland ratings

By Phil Gordon

4-1-4-1

Average rating 6.2 8

8 Craig Gordon Yet again proved his worth on the international stage. The Sunderland goalkeeper produced three important saves from John Carew in the first half, then, with Scotland chasing victory, stood up well to deny Steffen Iversen.

5 Kirk Broadfoot Dreadful distribution in the first half and Norway targeted him as the weak link but after the interval he tightened up in his tackling and pushed further up the pitch, whipping in a last-minute cross that Steven Fletcher and Iwelumo just failed to force in.

8 Gary Caldwell A matchsaver. The much-criticised defender’s refusal to consider lost causes ensured crucial tackles on Carew in the eighth and 88th minutes. Television replays later showed vital touch from his lunge in the latter deflected the Norway striker’s shot over the bar. Unable to live with Carew in the air in first half – but who can?

5 David Weir Not the most assured display from a man who rarely put a foot wrong over the last year. Exposed for pace on several occasions and bailed out by Caldwell. Blunder with late headed passback that gifted Carew a chance; best moment was first-half block on Carew in the box.

7 Gary Naysmith His best Scotland display in a long time. More composed on the ball than Broadfoot in the first half and became an integral part of the Scotland threat in the second as he dovetailed on the left with Maloney and Brown, most notably in creating that chance for Iwelumo.

9 Scott Brown Quite simply, flawless. Given the role of sitting midfield player in the first half, he flourished as the playmaker in the second. Remarkable energy levels, underlined by contribution in the last minute when seconds after chasing back to steal the ball from Carew, he provided sublime reverse pass for Broadfoot’s cross.

4 James Morrison The West Bromwich Albion midfield player swapped places with Robson midway through first half but made no impact, other than getting in at the back post in the 44th minute to get on the end of McFadden’s cross but sent header over. Replaced by Steven Fletcher in 56 minutes.

5 Barry Robson A pale shadow of what he can offer. Played out of position on the right in a bid to negate strength of John Arne Riise. Cut down by Norway when through on goal just after interval and contributed raking shot that was saved by Knudsen.

5 Darren Fletcher Captain for the day, and making his 40th appearance, the Manchester United midfield player struggled like everyone in the first half. That was largely due to the snapping at his heels from the tireless Frederik Winses. However, he prompted several moves as Scotland laid siege in second half.

7 Shaun Maloney The only Scot to take the game to Norway in first half but had greater success in the second as he made three chances with trickery and pace coming in from the left. One dipping effort just wide, the other netbound shot blocked by Riise. Needed to vary his runs, though.

5 James McFadden Could not really complain about being substituted even if he was given a thankless task of competing against a robust Norway defence on his own. With McFadden, the promise of magic is always there – one deft bit of skill just before replacement was too late to change Burley’s mind.

Substitutions

4 Steven Fletcher (for Morrison, 46min). Brought his great skill into trying to open up Norway. was denied a penalty when Brede Hangeland held him back.

4 Chris Iwelumo (for McFadden, 57min). THAT miss will resonate down the years. but his arrival finally gave Norway an aerial problem.

Not used: Allan McGregor, Graham Alexander, Kris Boyd, Paul Hartley, Christophe Berra.

Norway (4-4-2) J Knudsen 7 – J Hoiland 6, J Waehler 6, B Hangeland 7, J A Riise 7 – B H Riise 6 (sub: D Braaten, 56 4), F Stromstad 7 (sub: M Pedersen, 76), F Winses 7, C Grindheim 7 – S Iversen 7, J Carew 8. Substitutes not used: R Jarstein, A Haland, T El Younoussi, M Morisbak, T Helstad. Booked: Hoiland, Iversen. Referee M Busacca (Switz) Attendance 51,300

Taken from timesonline.co.uk