If we lose, do it with style

Tonight, it's time for Scotland to restore the nation's pride against Spain.

And they need look no further than the performance of the Under-21 side last night for inspiration.

If we are to lose against Spain, then it is worth losing in the manner of our youngsters.

Millar has scored 10 goals in seven league matches for Rangers in the Scottish Premier League

At Easter Road they lost to Iceland, but did so with a display of passion and pride - and also fine flowing football - going down to two wonder goals, but also scoring a goal of infinite cheek, inventiveness and gallusness in the process.

That swashbuckling style eased the pain for a great crowd of over 12,000, who gave the kids magnificent backing in what is arguably now the best stadium in Scotland.

Like it or lump it Scottish fans are not keen to accept certain styles of play.

They want the type of football which suits the picture we have in our own minds of ourselves as a football nation.

That minds-eye view may be like the portrait of Dorian Gray, a distortion of reality.

But the fans know what they want and it is not a repeat of the 4-6-0 formation from Prague.

Against the best side in the world tonight at Hampden, last night's stylish, if ultimately futile performance from the Under-21's is unlikely to be repeated, but a more positive approach from the big team could pay dividends.

Craig Levein's four-six formation would be unimpeachable if we had midfielders like Iniesta or Xavi, who could break at pace and threaten defences.

It would simply then be an argument over semantics as to what the system was in reality.

No matter how it was labelled, the effect would be the same, we could offer genuine threat to opposing defences.

In the absence of such incisive midfielders though, a lone, quick striker like Kenny Miller seems the best bet in a 4-5-1 set-up, which can - when needed - revert to 4-6 if the manager requires it.

Miller has the ability to hold the ball up and await support from his midfielders.

He also has a tried and trusted work ethic that would ensure he could backtrack to stiffen up the midfield as and when required.

He is a player in the best form of his career, who has matured in game intelligence and tonight we will require intelligence by the bucketful against the genius of Spain.

Tonight is a test of the toughest kind, the manner in which we rise to it will speak volumes about our hopes for the future.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/jimspence/2010/10/if_we_lose_do_it_with_style.html

Alan Shearer Daniel Passarella Davor Suker Sandor Kocsis