Scotland

MIKE STANGER
The Scottish camp were remarkably calm yesterday in the aftermath of their impressive 4-2 European Championship victory over England.
They were unfazed at the prospect of reaching the semi-final stage of the event for the first time, should they win – or even draw – today's final pool match against Belgium.
This would take the Scots, who have never been in a position to win medals in a top-level international tournament, into unchartered territory.
More importantly, they would gain automatic entry to next year's World Cup qualifier in China and retain a place among the elite for the next European Cup in 2007 which, ironically, England have just offered to stage in Manchester.
Jason Lee, the England coach, may have been guilty of underestimating the Scots, but his Scotland counterpart, Mathias Ahrens, is certainly not counting his chickens over the game against Belgium.
"We are determined to get a result today," said Ahrens. "Our plan is to go out and win, to make sure of a semi-final place. We must guard against the Belgian penalty-corner routine, and also not presume Germany will beat England. Our destiny is in our own hands, though."
Eugene Connolly, the Scotland manager, watched German television filming the Scots, then reflected on the reality of Scotland's situation.
"The good news is we might make the semis," he said. "The bad news is that, if we make a mess of the game against Belgium, we could still finish in eighth place, facing relegation."
The structure of European competitions is complicated, but Connolly knows what has to be done. "We've got to go for it, wholeheartedly. Although we've never been there before, we're on a roll.
"In the second half against England, we had four shots on goal, three of them went in. The 40-yard pass from Niall Stott to David Ralph for the second goal could have threaded a needle, while the physical effort behind Stephen Dick's run, shrugging off two fouls and making a final diving nudge for Jonny Christie to score his second, was unbelievable."
Equally admirable has been the performance of Mike Leonard, the Scotland captain, who suffered a cheek injury when the ball struck him on the side of the face in a warm-up game two weeks ago.
The Grange defender has been playing with a kick-boxing helmet, and the apparel has impressed opposing teams, coaches and physios. Against England, Leonard emerged from a head clash without blinking. "I'm just not thinking about it," he said.
As England contemplate their need to defeat Germany today to stay in contention, the Scots are in confident mood ahead of this morning's match against Belgium.
The right result would open a new chapter in Scottish hockey, a chance to contest the penultimate stages of the European Cup, against either Spain or Netherlands, on Saturday.

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