Burley Pleased With 'Good Exercise'

Scotland manager George Burley has said he was happy with his team’s performance despite a 1-0 loss to Argentina at Hampden Park this evening.

Argentina's Maxi Rodrígues punches the air after scoring the only goal of the match in the international friendly against Scotland (PA)

The Scots put up a spirited display against Diego Maradona’s side, but could not develop enough sustained pressure to equalise after Maxi Rodriguez’s eighth minute goal.

But Burley was happy with the work-out his side were put through and felt that on another night his team could have earned a share of the spoils.

“It was a very good exercise, we knew we were up against top-class opposition with a whole load of quality,” Burley said to Sky Sports after the match.

“We were able to look at a few players, who worked very hard.

“In the first fifteen minutes I they overran us, pushed us right back with their movement and our midfield was pushed right back to the back four. But after that I really thought we held our own and had one or two opportunities.”

Burley then went on to discuss his side’s next game against Holland and re-iterated his belief that the Scots do have the players to score goals at international level, despite the third home game in a row passing without a goal being scored.

He continued, “Every game is different. The Argentinean style is different to that of Holland, but what they both are is top-class sides.

“We just have to keep working hard, we were unlucky with a few blocks tonight. If we keep creating the opportunities some will go in. I do believe we have the players to make a goalscoring impact, but international football is not easy.”

National attentions will now turn back to the World Cup Qualifiers, with a trip to the Netherlands and a home clash against Iceland coming up.

Chris Myson, Goal.com

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