Age old concern as pal KO's George Burley's World Cup hopes

Oct 12 2008 Euan Mclean

THEY weren't kicking lumps out of each other this time - but there's no doubt George Burley was left flat on his back as old foe Age Hareide KO'd Scotland's World Cup hopes.

This pair have history, rooted deep in the searing rivalry of the East Anglian derby during their playing days with Ipswich Town and Norwich City.

Both men have lost count of the number of times they went head-to-head - or should that be boot-to-shin? - in titanic derby showdowns during the 1980s.

But while the bruises they gave each other have long since faded, that personal rivalry seemed to burn as strong as ever in both men this week as they drew new battle lines at Hampden.

Ok, so this fight was a lot more civilised, swapping the muddy battle ground of a powderkeg derby clash for a comfy seat in the national stadium.

The blood, mud and snotterstained strips dumped in favour of Burley's crisp finely-cut suit and thick knotted tie and Hareide's humble tracksuit.

Although the relish with which these two went at each other in this new kind of warfare - a battle of wits rather than brawn - hasn't changed.

Even in the build up this week they were a tit. Gently jousting at each other through the papers like a couple of boxers sizing up their length before throwing the big punch.

On Thursday Burley lobbed in the first grenade claiming he and his Ipswich mates - including his ScotlandNo.2 Terry Butcher - had never lost to Hareide.

By Friday Hareide knocked that psychological one-upmanship back in his old rival's face by advising Burley to check his facts.

All good fun stuff but don't think this gentle banter was anything less than the first salvo of a serious battle that could make or break both sides' dreams of reaching the World Cup.

It was the tactics board where this conflict would be decided and the Norwegian gaffer had clearly come to Glasgow to beat the Scots at their own game.

Employing Aston Villa target man John Carew up front on his own was reminiscent of the cagey formation that served Walter Smith and Alex McLeish so well in Scotland's Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. And with pacy Steffen Iversen dashing forward eagerly in support the away side looked threatening on the break.

Burley, in contrast, has vowed to ditch our reputation for stuffy tactics vowing that free-flowing attacking football would carry us all the way to South Africa in 2010.

Yet he still opted to go with James McFadden spearheading a 4-1-4-1 set-up that gave the Scots plenty possession in midfield but an alarming lack of a real goal threat throughout the first half.

By 20 minutes, with Norway growing in confidence, both bosses were out patrolling their technical areas, standing 10 yards apart but what was a million miles away in terms of body language.

Hareide was gesticulating wildly, barking instructions and urging his team on while Burley stood still, arms folded as his master plan unravelled.

The decision to give Faddy a thankless task up front on his own simply wasn't working.

But you had to feel sorry for Scotland's talisman when he became one of the fall guys as Burley opted to change things with a double substitution in 56 minutes.

Hooking the playmaker for debutant Chris Iwelumo was greeted by loud boos from the disapproving Tartan Army.

The shattered Birmingham star trudged off shaking his head and blanking Burley on his way into the dug-out.

That his replacement missed one of the most spectacular sitters in the history of the game only made McFadden's departure even more controversial.

Yet throwing on Iwelumo and Steven Fletcher up front with Shaun Maloney in support put the Norwegians under the kind of pressure we expected long before.

In the end it was Hareide who got his tactics right and could easily have snatched the points.

For Hareide, though, the draw was good enough and he puffed out his cheeks with relief after a warmhandshake with his old rival on the touchline.

Burley might still think he's never lost to him after this draw but he'd better think again.

His only hope is that he can turn the tables on Hareide when the Scots head to Oslo for the return.