Scotland Sunk By Macedonia: World Cup Dreams Over

I'm absolutely furious right now.

My country has let me down again, and boy it hurts.

Macedonia were always going to be tough opposition but we couldn't have helped them any more.

This was meant to be Scotland's glorious World Cup campaign with only Holland standing in our way, but, in reality, we played like the bumbling Scotland of old and probably didn't deserve to win.

They could at least have earned us a point.

The defeat leaves us staring down the barrel as far as World Cup qualifying group nine is concerned, and we are already left hoping other countries will do us favours over the next year.

Scotland were missing Alan Hutton, Barry Ferguson, Davie Weir, Kevin Thomson and James Morrison in the heat of Skopje, but it was Italy all over again as Scotland handed Macedonia the lead inside five minutes.

An indirect free kick routine led to a Macedonian blast that Graig Gordon did well to tip onto the post, but Scotland were left standing as Ilca Naumoski swept home the rebound.

I could debate all day about whether it was actually a free kick, but the defending deserved to be punished.

The Scots continued to struggle for the whole first half and were lucky not to find themselves two down after a long ball caught the Scotland defence sleeping. Gary Caldwell's last ditch tackle certainly was spectacular, but why it was needed nobody knows.

The nerves were clear for all to see.

Scotland improved after half time and were by far the better side. The chances, howeve,r kept falling Macedonia's way and it was Graig Gordon who'll walk away with any Scottish man of the match award. He was outstanding today and saved us time after time.

The introduction of Kris Commons and Shaun Maloney finally sparked Scotland into the force we know they can be. Macedonia didn't get out there own half after 60 minutes and Scotland played some quality attacking football, but this was never going to be our day.

Misplaced final pass after misplaced final pass resulted in a lack of chances, but how we didn't get a goal I don't know.

As a team, we promise so much, but we are Scotland and we'll always disappoint in the end.

There was one major talking point late on when the referee somehow missed two Scotland penalty claims in the space of two seconds.

First Miller was felled in the box with a clear trip with the ball falling to McFadden, who was instantly pole axed by the Macedonian keeper.

It was as clear as the Macedonian sky that Scotland had been done. The referee waved the protests away and with it our vital World Cup qualifying point.

The final whistle may not have ended Scotland's hopes of World Cup qualification but we are on our way to accident and emergency in Skopje tonight.

So what went wrong then?

Well who died and made Gary Caldwell the Scotland playmaker for a start?

The big centre back kicked the ball away all game. He was pretty good defensively but win the ball and lay it to the midfield. How hard is that?

There were three Celtic players in the midfield today along with Darren Fletcher and only Barry Robson made any kind of impact.

Scott Brown flatters to deceive and his lack of form must be alarming to Celtic fans as well as the Scotland management. A couple of strong runs for 90 minutes work is not good enough!

Paul Hartley was exposed today. Against better teams he works tirelessly winning the ball and laying it off. That's what he's good at but against teams like Macedonia he finds himself with time on the ball and he doesn't know what to do with it.

He was giving it back to bloody Gary Caldwell!

Darren Fletcher you are not Paul Scholes and you never will be. I love his heart and passion for the cause but I'd like to see it in a Scotland shirt. Not a wannabe Paul Scholes. How many times are you going to blame someone else for your poor pass?

Things weren't much better up front with our headless pair of James McFadden and Kenny Miller who managed about one shot between them.

We need an out an out striker for McFadden to play off. Miller was nowhere to be seen and certainly not in a goal scoring position.

As for McFadden, when your in the box, just shoot, will you.

You're costing your team!

Well done to Kris Commons, who impressed when he came on and I'll be expecting Maloney to start in Iceland on Wednesday night.

I'll be back down the pub then, hoping the hospital in Skopje has performed a miracle but I may well just be setting myself up for yet more heartache.

But while there is a chance we will follow and we will support.

After all, that's what the Tartan Army is all about.

Come on, Scotland!