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.

Nov 19, 2008 10:13:31 PM

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

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George Burley

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