Scotland 2-1 Iceland
World Cup 2010 Qualifiers
Group Stages
Wed 1st April 2009
20:00
Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)
Att: 42,259
McCormack(39)
S Fletcher(65)
C Gordon
A Hutton
S McManus(C)
G Caldwell
G Naysmith
J Morrison (G Rae 90)
D Fletcher
S Brown
R McCormack
K Miller
S Fletcher (G Teale 78)
Manager:
George Burley
FIFA Ranking: 28
I Sigurdsson(54)
G Gunnleifsson
HV Danielsson
K Sigurdsson
I Sigurdsson (A Bjornsson 80)
B Eiriksson
G Steinsson
A Gunnarsson (E Jonsson 70)
H Hreidarsson
P Palmason
E Gudjohnsen
A Smarason
FIFA Ranking: 75
Key: Goals Missed Penalty Red Card
| 1 | Craig Gordon (Sunderland) | (36 Caps) | Age: 26 | ||
| 2 | Alan Hutton (Tottenham Hotspur) | (10 Caps) | Age: 24 | ||
| 3 | Gary Naysmith (Sheffield Utd) | (46 Caps) | Age: 29 | ||
| 4 | Stephen McManus (Celtic) Captain | (18 Caps) | Age: 26 | ||
| 5 | Gary Caldwell (Celtic) | (33 Caps) | Age: 26 | ||
| 6 | James Morrison (West Bromwich Albion) | (5 Caps) | Age: 22 | ||
| 7 | Darren Fletcher (Manchester Utd) | (42 Caps) | Age: 25 | ||
| 8 | Scott Brown (Celtic) | (16 Caps) | Age: 23 | ||
| 9 | Kenny Miller (Rangers) | (42 Caps) | Age: 29 | ||
| 10 | Steven Fletcher (Hibernian) |
 |
(4 Caps) | Age: 22 | |
| 11 | Ross McCormack (Cardiff City) |
|
(3 Caps) | Age: 22 | |
| 13 | Gary Teale (Derby County) | (13 Caps) | Age: 30 | ||
| (Replaced Steven Fletcher 78 min) | |||||
| 16 | Gavin Rae (Cardiff City) | (14 Caps) | Age: 31 | ||
| (Replaced James Morrison 90 min) | |||||
 Yellow Card  Red Card  Double Booking Goals Scored  Penalty Save |
|||||
10 Steven Fletcher
World Cup 2010 Qualifiers
Group Stages
Wed 1st April 2009
20:00
Hampden Park, Glasgow (H)
Att: 42,259
The big news that broke on the day of the Iceland match was that both Barry Ferguson and Allan McGregor were being dropped. This was because they stayed out late drinking after the Holland match. The positive news was that Stephen McManus was fit enough to play, and he was given the captain's armband. Craig Gordon was also recalled.
Early in the game, Scotland had the lion's share of the possession but had no great chances to take the lead. After 39 minutes Scotland took a deserved lead. Alan Hutton went on a run down the right wing, before he put in a low ball across the penalty area, which was dummied by Steven Fletcher. Ross McCormack collected the ball and hit a high shot past the keeper. Nine minutes into the second half, the visitors silenced the Hampden crowd when they equalised. Palmason beat McManus in defence, before unleashing a powerful shot that rebounded off Gordon's right hand post. Sigurdsson was on hand to volley the rebound past Gordon to level the scores. Eleven minutes later Scotland regained their lead. A corner from McCormack was headed back into the penalty area by McManus, to be met by the head of Steven Fletcher to power home a header for his first international goal. Scotland had a couple of scares late on. Firstly Gary Naysmith had to make a clearing header off the line, and then in the final minute Craig Gordon made a double save from Jonsson and Hreidarsson before Palmason hit the loose ball over the bar. Scotland held on though to gain a vital three points and give George Burley only his second win.