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Scotland gets 11 points in Group 10 after strong win

Neil McCann and Paul Dickov scored first-half goals as Scotland beat the Faeroe Islands 3-1 in Euro 2004 qualifying in Glasgow on Saturday.

James McFadden also hit the target for Scotland, which now has 11 points in Group 10 -- good enough to at least contend for a playoff spot with two matches left.

Julian Johnsson scored the lone goal for the part-time Faeroes, whose only point in the group came in a 2-2 draw against the Scots in Toftir last year. Scotland coach Berti Vogts was happy with his team's performance.

"After the equalizer, we came back and played very well," Vogts told Sky Sports.

The Scots, with a loss and draw in their last two games, almost took the lead in the second minute. Dickov's partial header off a McCann free kick inched toward the goal-line before it was saved by Jakup Mikkelsen.

The visitors came close in the sixth minute when Jakup Borg's hard shot was stopped by goalkeeper Rob Douglas.

McCann -- who hadn't played for Scotland since February -- hit the target two minutes later. Paul Devlin's cross pulled Mikkelsen out of position, and McCann's left-footed volley went to the far post.

"Neil McCann was outstanding," said Vogts. "He had so much confidence in training. He was the man-of-the-match."

The Faroes matched Scotland after the goal and equalized in the 36th minute off a corner. Johnsson -- a teacher -- headed past a stranded Douglas. Dickov's first goal for Scotland in first-half injury time restored the lead. Dickov met striker Stevie Crawford's cross and shot past Mikkelsen.

Crawford was stopped by Mikkelsen on a breakaway early in the second half, but Mikkelsen couldn't stop McFadden -- one of the most promising players in Scottish soccer -- from converting a cross in the 74th minute.

Scotland plays World Cup runner up Germany on Wednesday.
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