Holland 3-0 Scotland

Mar 29 2009 Mark Guidi At Amsterdam Arena

GEORGE BURLEY'S decision to pick Allan McGregor over Craig Gordon backfired last night as the keeper was culpable at Holland's killer second goal.

Robin van Persie capitalised on McGregor's unwillingness to come off his line at a corner and headed the Dutch 2-0 up right on half-time.

Jan Klaas Huntelaar had opened the scoring and Dirk Kuyt wrapped it up from the spot after the interval.

Scotland must now beat Iceland on Wednesday or their hopes of finishing as a best-placed runner-up will disappear.

Scotland were comfortable in the opening stages, well organised and using their 4-5-1 formation to their advantage.

To the surprise of most inside the Amsterdam ArenA they created an excellent chance in 11 minutes.

Darren Fletcher sent a 30-yard floated pass into the Dutch penalty box and Kenny Miller ran on to the ball after spinning Gio van Bronckhorst to go one-on-one against Maarten Stekelenburg.

But the Rangers striker delayed pulling the trigger and that allowed Joris Mathijsen to get back and rob him of possession with a well-timed slide tackle eight yards out.

It was a huge disappointment and Miller ought to have at least tested the keeper.

That said, it was a fine first 25 minutes for Scotland as they passed fairly well and caused problems on the counter attack.

They could have got at the Dutch more through Gary Teale but the winger was wasteful in possession and lost his footing too often on the left flank.

On the half hour Arjen Robben showed a wonderful first touch to collect a 40-yard Mark van Bommel pass and his acceleration allowed him to go past Scott Brown and Gary Caldwell with ease.

He was in on McGregor, albeit at an acute angle, and his shot was saved by the legs of the keeper.

The warning signs were evident.

Just sixty seconds later Bert van Marwijk's side broke the deadlock through Huntelaar as a lack of communication and awareness cost Scotland. Gary Naysmith and Teale did not combine well enough to stop van Bommel whipping a dangerous cross in to the heart of the box.

Caldwell tried desperately to get to the ball before Huntelaar but could not and the Real Madrid hitman headed home with ease from seven yards into McGregor's bottom left hand corner.

It was poor defensively from Scotland and Graham Alexander could have tucked in to offer Caldwell more support.

The goal gave the home team a big lift. They started to move the ball quicker, run faster and attack in greater numbers as they often moved in to a 2-4-4 formation. The second goal was a painful one to watch, coming in first-half stoppage time.

Robben's corner swirled into the six-yard box and van Persie easily escaped Fletcher to head home from four yards.

But McGregor was to blame. He should have commanded the situation but was rooted to his line.

A shocking time to concede a goal. So amateurish. It killed the game as a contest. For the second half Ross McCormack and Teale switched wings.

Kuyt shot narrowly wide from 12 yards then Robben forced McGregor into a good save. Brown had an energetic and aggressive first half and he continued that way after the break as he tried to drive forward to support Miller, as did Fletcher.

But there just was not enough possession for George Burley's team in the Dutch half.

Holland were controlling the game. They slowed it down in their half and then increased the pace when they ventured in to the final third.

Steven Fletcher came on for Miller in 71 minutes and Alan Hutton soon replaced Alexander.

Caldwell had the ball in the net in 74 minutes when he headed home a McCormack corner. But French ref Laurent Duhamel ruled it for a foul by Teale on Stekelenburg. It appeared harsh on the Derby player.

The whistler then awarded a penalty to the Dutch in 76 minutes when Christophe Berra brought down Huntelaar.

Kuyt sent McGregor the wrong way from the spot. Holland deserved a third goal and it hammered home their status as group favourites, a class above Scotland.

Burley's boys must now prove they are better than Iceland. If they don't another major tournament will have passed them by.

Taken from the Sunday Mail