FOOTBALL

SCOTS CAN MAKE UP FOR DRAW

BROADFOOT: Confident

Monday October 13,2008

By Paul Anderson

SCOTLAND full-back Kirk Broadfoot claims Norway hustled them out of their stride in their goalless World Cup qualifier at Hampden Park, but the Rangers defender insists the national team can make up for the missed chance by going to Oslo and getting a result.

Norway had the better opportunites in the first half as Scotland struggled to support lone striker James McFadden.

However, substitute Chris Iwelumo blew the chance of the game – and the best he could ever have hoped for on his Scotland debut – when he missed an open goal from three yards in the 64th minute.

“We’re a bit disappointed, we had chances to win the game, but they had chances as well,” said Broadfoot, above. “So maybe a draw was a fair result.

“We still have a chance but we need to get results.

“I think in the first half they had a plan to close us down quickly and it worked. In the second half we got the ball in their third more.

“It was a huff-and-puff game, to be honest.

“With the crowd behind us, I would say it’s a missed chance to get three points.”

Scotland lost to Norway at Hampden in their last World Cup campaign but a Kenny Miller double handed them a revenge victory in Oslo.

And Broadfoot insists they can get a winning result there again next year.

“It will be difficult, they have quality players who play in big leagues, but I don’t see why we can’t go over there and get a result,” said the 24-year-old.

“It will be tough to qualify, there is no getting away from it. But we will keep going, we will keep trying and I don’t see why, if we win the rest of our games, we can’t qualify.”

The Scotland squad stood firmly by Iwelumo after the game and Broadfoot urged the Wolves striker to look ahead to the next game.

“It was a good chance to score but these things happen in the game. At least he was there to miss the chance,” added Broadfoot. “But that happens in football, there is nothing we can do about it.

“We now just need to pick ourselves up and look forward to the next game.”