Football: Goram back for Scotland

ANDY GORAM yesterday accepted the invitation of the Scotland manager, Craig Brown, to reverse his decision to retire from international football, as Brown denied there had ever been a fall-out between the two.

The 34-year-old goalkeeper, now playing for Motherwell, walked out of Scotland's training camp in the United States three weeks before last summer's World Cup, declaring he would never play international football again. However, after impressing Brown since signing for Motherwell a month ago, Goram accepted the chance to rejoin the international fold.

The decision to revive his Scotland career signals a sudden change of heart from Goram, who had only recently ruled out such a move.

"There was never any acrimony on my part because I accepted his reasons for leaving us when he was in America," Brown said. "It was always the case that if he felt differently then I would reconsider him, and when I spoke to him I put the matter to him again."

Goram looks certain to be recalled for the Euro 2000 qualifying double- header when the Scots meet Bosnia on 27 March and the Czech Republic four days later, both at home. Wimbledon's Neil Sullivan is likely to remain first-choice keeper.