Scotland v Holland Where once there was only pessimism now there is potential. Scotland emerge into Hampden Park today driven by youthful exuberance, with the Dutch obstructing their passage to a first major championship in five years.
Holland, perennial underachievers, remain imposing opponents, yet the hope burns bright in Glasgow that the future may be more tartan than orange.
It is 20 months since Berti Vogts, Scotland's first foreign manager, blinked as the flashbulbs popped and he mused publicly how best to rejuvenate his adopted nation's stumbling team. A failure to reach successive major tournaments for the first time in 30 years demanded drastic action.
"The quality of players available is not poor, but we must go a new way and look towards a new generation," he said. "I have to cultivate the youngsters."
Now, after a qualification campaign that lurched from passionate to downright pathetic - the humiliations in Toftir and Kaunas will not be easily exorcised - Vogts' vision is steadily becoming a reality.
Eight of the squad preparing for these play-offs are 23 or younger. Significantly, Rainer Bonhof's under-21s trot out at the Varteks stadium tomorrow for a play-off with Croatia having topped their qualifying group. If ever there was a time for Scottish optimism, this is surely it.
The list of burgeoning talent is encouragingly long, though it is the pair of bright young things who inspired the senior side's pivotal 1-0 success over Lithuania last month in whom most hope is vested.
There will be heavy expectation on the shoulders of James McFadden and Darren Fletcher on Clydeside this afternoon, though neither the Everton winger nor the Manchester United midfielder appears dazzled in the spotlight. "I'm 19 and still the same Darren Fletcher as before 'that goal' against Lithuania, so I'm hardly carrying the nation's hopes," said the Edinburgh-born teenager.
Fletcher remains a player of immense promise on the periphery at Old Trafford, his progress obvious from regular sorties from the substitutes' bench as well as a handful of starts. In Scotland, the volley struck from the edge of the area four minutes after his introduction last month wrecked any prospect of such anonymity.
"It's all been a bit of a blur," he added. "Every time I get even a split second to think about what's happened there's another Premiership, Champions League or Scotland game around the corner. At the end of the season I'll get a chance to catch my breath, but I joined United because I wanted to play in games at the top level, so I relish the prospect of playing the Dutch."
There is a rare balance to Fletcher's play, a confident swagger and awareness of those around him, which is supposed to come only with experience.
"He's going to be a great player in Scotland's future," said Vogts, who will hand Fletcher a third cap today. "He reminds me of a young Lothar Matthaus, he's that strong."
"He's a lovely footballer with great skill," said Alex Ferguson. "Roy Keane said he had been sensational in training on our pre-season tour of the United States and wanted me to play him in the middle. That says it all."
Both the United manager and Vogts envisage Fletcher flourishing in a central role, though, having witnessed the midfielder struggle through two years of injury, they are pushing him to the flank for the moment.
Holland will become aware of his threat, just as they will be of that posed on the opposite flank by McFadden. The 20-year-old has flitted between insipid and inspirational for Everton since arriving in August from Motherwell, though Leeds wilted under his flashes of brilliance in September and Blackburn, with the Scotland captain Barry Ferguson in their ranks, wheezed in suppressing him at Ewood Park last Monday.
"He has the talent which can sometimes eliminate an opposition's player," said the Everton manager, David Moyes.
"He can be a dream to watch," said Terry Butcher, who coaxed the best from McFadden at Fir Park before financial necessities forced his sale.
"He's got great ability, a great left foot and scores goals with his right. He runs at people with pace and he's strong. People worried he might not be strong enough, but, while he might look frail and a bit timid, he's not."
"I've watched James develop since he was an 18-year-old with us on tour in Hong Kong," said Vogts. "Dick Advocaat will know a lot about Scottish players, but he won't know James and Darren. They're special talents, as is Shaun Maloney at Celtic."
Maloney is a regular only in the under-21s as yet, with the Blackburn forward Paul Gallagher making waves at junior level. In the senior set-up, the centre halves Andy Webster and Lee Wilkie of Hearts and Dundee, Motherwell's winger Stephen Pearson and the Wolves striker Kenny Miller have already made an impact.
The £1 million generated from the play-offs, together with the £3.4 million minimum should they reach Portugal, will help Vogts's plans to finance teams at under-16 and under-18 levels to ensure the conveyor belt continues to produce talent.
Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Midfield Age: 19 Caps: 2 Goals: 1 He says: "I won't be overawed. I played against Davids in the summer, I train with Van Nistelrooy every day and I just relish facing these players."
Could be the new Lou Macari.
James McFadden (Everton)
Striker Age: 20 Caps: 7 Goals: 1 He says: "I think the Dutch are
there for the taking." Vogts
says: "I regard James as a bigger talent than (Wayne) Rooney."
Could be the new Pat Nevin.
Kenny Miller (Wolves)
Striker Age: 23 Caps: 6 Goals: 2 He says: "It has always been my dream to score
at Hampden." Vogts says: "Scotland needs Kenny Miller."
Could be the new Ally McCoist.
Lee Wilkie
(Dundee)
Defence Age: 23 Caps: 9 Goals: 1 Vogts says: "Okay, maybe he made one mistake. That is normal. Franz Beckenbauer in
one season made five own goals." Could be the new Colin Hendry.
Stephen Pearson (Motherwell)
Midfield Age: 21 Caps: 0 Goals: 0
He says: "To be drafted into the Scotland squad for such vital matches is the ultimate honour." Vogts says: "Stephen is aggressive, quick, skilful." Could be new John Collins.
