Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

All shook up so Scots give Pressley his stage

Ill wind of the Faroes blows kindly for the man who tamed Raul. Phil Gordon reports on an icy baptism

Sunday 06 October 2002 00:00 BST
Comments

For a man whose personal best was in the inspirational setting of Barcelona's Olympic Stadium, it has taken Steven Pressley a long time to complete a short journey. Six years have passed since the rugged Scot subdued the world's finest goalscorer, which makes the belated call from his impoverished nation all the more bewildering.

Pressley was once good enough to have the shirt off Raul's back, so filling the one belonging to David Weir should present no fears. While some may regard being pressganged into Scotland's defence as a poisoned chalice after last month's nadir in the Faroe Islands, the Heart of Midlothian player cannot wait to get to Iceland on Saturday and dip his toe properly in international waters.

The chill air of Reykjavik could not offer a greater contrast to the Catalan heat high up on the famous Montjuic hill in May 1996, as Scotland's Under-21 side rubbed shoulders with a continent's emerging elite. Being alongside Spain, Italy and France in the last four of the European Under-21 Championships hinted at a new dawn: six years later, though, an ugly Scottish mood prefers to see its footballers shot at dawn.

Though almost all of Berti Vogts' team in Toftir four weeks ago were culpable of contributing to the worst-ever result in Scotland's 130-year international history, Weir and Christian Dailly – two defenders who earn their living in the English Premiership – bore the brunt of the criticism for the 2-2 draw with the Faroes, which has jeopardised hopes of qualifying for the European Championship finals before Group Five has even begun.

Weir was deeply wounded by Vogts' public criticism and quit the national side. Ironically, the beneficiary of the Everton player's decision is Pressley, who was his defensive partner at Hearts until Weir moved to Goodison three seasons ago. "I wouldn't say I was a direct replacement for David," insisted Pressley on Thursday as he savoured his first call-up from Vogts.

"I was hoping to be involved in the squad anyway. However, I really feel for David. He is a smashing lad and has been one of the most consistent defenders in the Premiership. Some of the criticism levelled at him has been unjustified – he has never let Scotland down."

Vogts feels differently. The ill North Atlantic wind that blew down from the Faroes has done Pressley a favour. Now, the 28-year-old, whose two caps to date have come in friendlies, will be given the chance to taste competitive action in the most crucial fixture Scotland have had for years.

He will have to tame Iceland's national hero, the Chelsea striker Eidur Gudjohnsen, but if you have handled Raul, then no one else should bring out an anxiety attack. Pressley only has to look in his display cabinet to recall the evening he snuffed out the Real Madrid icon.

"I've still got Raul's shirt," he smiled. "I was marking him when Scotland lost 2-1 to Spain in the European Under-21 semi-finals. I did a reasonable job, because he didn't score and was substituted. When the game finished, he left the bench and came over to swap shirts with me, which was a nice touch.

"He was the boy wonder of Spanish football then. Now he is probably regarded as the best striker in Europe, if not the world. His movement was fantastic, but I really enjoyed my duel with him and I felt I'd done myself justice."

Yet, while Raul flourished, as did many of the other precocious talents drawn to Barcelona, Pressley and most of his young Scotland colleagues were simply put into cold storage.

"It was a great achievement for us to reach the top four in Europe," he reflects. "All the teams stayed in the same hotel, so we bumped into guys like Raul, or Allesandro Del Piero, who was playing for Italy, and many of the French side who are now top stars.

"I remember playing against Robert Pires when we faced France in the third and fourth place play-off, while [his Arsenal team-mates] Sylvain Wiltord and Patrick Vieira were also in the side.

"It's hard to put your finger on why so few of that Scotland side made it into the full team. Christian Dailly and Jackie McNamara did, but people like myself and Steve Crawford are only getting a chance now."

Craig Brown's policy of depending on thirtysomethings was rewarded by reaching the 1998 World Cup finals, but two successive qualification failures since then have underlined that he also missed an opportunity to promote a young generation.

"Two years ago, I started to become a regular in Craig's squads but I only played in friendly games against France and the Republic of Ireland. Then, when the new manager came in, I injured my back and missed his first six games.

"Berti Vogts has chosen to go with youth. It's the way forward and while players should not be disregarded because they are too old, it's good that Scotland now seems to be willing to promote its Under-21 players the way other nations have."

Ironically, Pressley was a fast learner. He was in the Rangers side at 18, marking Rudi Völler in his Champions' League baptism in a 2-2 draw with Marseille. "I was at fault for his goal," recalls Pressley, "but defending is a job that you only fully grasp with age."w

A move to Coventry City was, by his own admission, ill-judged and he regrouped at Dundee United before moving to Tynecastle four seasons ago. Four weeks ago, he was on the outside looking in. "I watched the match against the Faroes on television like everyone else," he says.

"But it's easy to sit there and criticise, it's much harder to do it. Scotland could not afford to look down its nose at any side before the Faroes game, least of all one like Iceland who went to the Stade de France two years ago and beat the world champions 2-1. Now we have have to show some character."

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in