Scotland held on home soil

Scotland's final preparations for their crucial UEFA EURO 2004™ qualifier against Germany were completed tonight with a 1-1 draw against New Zealand.

Nelsen equaliser
Berti Vogts side failed to capitalise on Stevie Crawford's tenth-minute goal as the Group 5 clash with the Germans at Hampden Park on 7 June draws closer. Instead, New Zealand equalised in the 47th minute through Ryan Nelsen and denied Vogts not only a confidence-booster ahead of the Hampden match but only his fifth win in 15 games in charge of the national team.

Crawford aids McFadden case
Crawford has become a fixture in the Vogts side recently and his early goal may have helped Motherwell FC's James McFadden justify his place selection for the Germany game on 7 June. It was from McFadden's corner that Crawford stole in ahead of goalkeeper Michael Utting to nod Scotland ahead in front of 10,016 at Tynecastle Stadium in Edinburgh.

Lambert missing
Vogts was without captain Paul Lambert and Don Hutchison - two certain starters against Germany a week on Saturday - because of ankle injuries. But captain Christian Dailly moved into midfield and Sunderland AFC's Kevin Kyle stepped in to attack with relative ease.

Vital save
New Zealand offered little threat to goalkeeper Robert Douglas in the first half, but the Celtic FC keeper had to make a vital save from Lines to prevent his team slipping to defeat.

Third place
The Scots are currently third in their EURO 2004™ qualifying group, tied with leaders Germany and second-placed Lithuania on seven points. However they have played a game more than the Germans and a game less than the Lithuanians. While Vogts leads his team into EURO 2004™ action, the Kiwis travel on to France for FIFA Confederations Cup duty.