DEFIANT Craig Brown yesterday promised the Tartan Army that Scotland will soon give someone a hammering preferably at Euro 96.
Goal shy Scotland have scored only twice during four warm up matches for the European Championship finals, where they will face Holland, England and Switzerland in Group A.
Yet Brown remained typically optimistic today in the aftermath of the 1-0 defeat by Colombia in Florida yesterday.
If defeat was a cruel roll of the Miami dice for Scotland, then at least Andy Goram's return surely confirmed he will be the first choice goalkeeper in England.
"The law of averages suggests we will score some goals soon," said Brown after his side had created half a dozen chances against the classy Colombians. "Someone will suffer. If there is a perception that we don't score goals, then that is not true.
Scotland go to England after a hat trick of defeats in their warm up fixtures, going down 2-0 to Denmark in Copenhagen, 2-1 to the United States in New Britain last Sunday and 1-0 to Colombia after a late winner from Newcastle's Faustino Asprilla.
"What should be remembered is these are preparatory games. We have used the trip to the States to work on fitness and refine the team," said Brown. We will go to England after five successive wins in competitive matches, and the morale and spirit in the squad is good."
Rangers striker Gordon Durie scored the only goal of the trip in the 45 minutes he played against the United States before suffering a neck injury, although there is no great concern over his fitness. Durie heads the queue of the five Scottish strikers involved, with Scott Booth of Aberdeen expected to be his partner.
John Spencer has not scored at international level, but the rest have, says Brown. Ally McCoist, 33, missed a couple of fine chances in Miami's Orange Bowl and his match fitness is such that "Super Ally" may be given a super sub" tag in England.
At the other end, Scotland have the comfort of using either Goram or 37 year old Jim Leighton with Goram now odds on for the job.
It is 18 months since Goram started for Scotland, and longer since he completed 90 minutes. Yet it looked as if he had never been away as he saved from Freddy Rincon, Adolfo Valencia land then twice from eventual goal scorer Asprilla. "His performance was very assured When you need a save, Andy makes it," said Browns.
The rest of the side to face Holland at Villa Park on June 10 is almost certainly crystallised in Brown's mind, if not in his public statements.
The first choice defence, now Alan McLaren is out, involves Tom Boyd (Celtic), Colin Hendry (Blackburn) and Colin Calderwood (Tottenham).
The top midfield is skipper Gary McAllister (Leeds), Stuart McCall (Rangers) and John Collins (Celtic).
Celtic's Tosh McKinlay will be the left back, with Brown's other selection choice whether to use highly experienced Stewart McKimmie or Craig Burley at right back.
