Euro dream over as Scots are beaten but unbowed

THEY had their hearts broken only for them to be patched up. Then, with seconds to go and hope springing eternal, those same brave hearts were broken again and tears flowed at Hampden.

Scotland's fans did their country proud before, during and after the devastating 2-1 defeat by Italy, whether among the throng at Hampden Park or clustered around TV sets from the deserts of Afghanistan to the sports bars of New York.

After the last-gasp Italian winner following a disputed free kick, disbelieving members of the Tartan Army - Prime Minister Gordon Brown and First Minister Alex Salmond among them at the rain-soaked national stadium - could only reflect on what came so tantalisingly close but was cruelly snatched away in the classic Scottish tradition.

Salmond delivered an upbeat verdict, saying: "They restored national pride and won international respect."

Many ordinary fans agreed, including student Stuart Laing from Dunfermline, who said: "I'm gutted by the result tonight, but I am really proud of the way Scotland played.

"They gave everything they had and you can't ask for more than that.

"Two years ago we were 88th in the world and now we are pushing the world champions right to the wire. We have got our pride back and I'm sure we'll make it to the next World Cup finals.

Ewan McIntosh from Inverness said: "We are still going out to party.

"We made the Italians look pretty ordinary and I think they would have been happy with a draw, which says something. It's going to go down as yet another glorious failure for Scotland, but I think our team is going to get stronger in the coming years."

Pensioner Dave Robb from Glasgow said: "The quality of refereeing was absolutely appalling. The second Italian goal should never have been allowed to stand. I don't mind losing to a better team, but tonight I feel cheated."

Last night, Scotland manager Alex McLeish backed that view, declaring: "The Italians got up the pitch, got a dodgy decision. It was a very bad decision."

Police reported 12 arrests in Glasgow following the game, but match commander Chief Superintendent Robin Howe said: "I'd like to commend both sets of fans for their excellent behaviour."

In Dundee, where the city centre pubs had been packed since lunchtime, Frank Henry, a 23-year-old gas engineer from Dundee, said: "I am devastated. You can't fault the performance. The team were brilliant and they made the world champions look ordinary."

Bar manager Steven Carr said he was "heartbroken" at Scotland's last-minute defeat. "At 90 minutes I was looking forward already to the Ukraine-France game, hoping the result would go the right way. I was also looking forward to going to Austria and Switzerland next year, but it is not to be."

Italian fans, walking through Edinburgh's Grassmarket, showed great diplomacy. Marcus Venerus, a 19-year-old waiter from Dalkeith, said: "My dad's Italian. One-one would've been fine for Italy. It would've been nice if they could both have gone through."

Morena Canino, 24, a teaching assistant, said: "I'm pleased Italy won, but I don't think it was very fair. I didn't like the match. I don't think we played particularly well. I can't really celebrate now as most of my friends here are Scottish!"

In outposts such as Hong Kong, weary members of the Tartan Army branch sloped away from the Amici bar at around 4am after a 1am kickoff. Scott Semple, from Glasgow, said: "The atmosphere was amazing beforehand but it went a bit flat when Italy scored. By half-time everyone was refreshed and we went mad when Ferguson scored.

"Disappointing doesn't sum up what happened at the end. There is a real sense of injustice because it should never have been a free kick."

Pubs throughout Scotland reported record takings as fans crowded in to see the game, which was only broadcast on satellite TV.