American Football: Brown's Firm favourites to help Scotland; BUT PLAYERS ARE LIMITED.

SO Kenny Dalglish and Dick Advocaat have been asked to help Scotland by just being with the squad next time.

What a clever move by Craig Brown.

If our defenders had been as quick to spot a diversionary coup, tartan pride might not have taken such a dreadful dunt at the disaster scene in Prague.

Diplomacy would prevent the Old Firm luminaries saying how many of our fallen idols would be good enough for the Czech team.

I'd name Paul Lambert as the only one. The rest would be lucky to be in the stiffs.

Struggled

The reality is that Paul Daniels - or even maestro Dalglish - would have struggled to produce more magic than Brown in his reign as manager.

Sack him? Not a chance. He'll honour his contract and the SFA will be happy.

Leave game-by-game hatcheting to England and see how Kevin Keegan survives.

Human error and the superior ability of the opposition were the reasons for our catastrophic U-turn.

It was like Dunfermline against Manchester United or Sam Torrance versus Tiger Woods.

Sometimes teams or individuals balance superior talent with grit but it doesn't happen too often - there's simply no substitute in the long run for ability.

Scotland almost got away with it against the Czechs but, not untypically, they threw away a two-goal lead which had thrilled the Tartan Army.

No wonder Peter Beardsley said on TV that they are the best fans in the world. He was right.

It was hard at first to separate delight from despair. It had all looked so good - and then the fat lady sang off-key.

The final indignity for the gallant 5000 travellers was 6ft 8in sub Jan Koller, obvious as a lighthouse, heading the winner unopposed.

Where was David Weir at the crucial moment when Koller met a free-kick and headed it swirling away from Neil Sullivan?

Ironically, Kevin James whom Hearts signed after Weir left, is the only Scot close to Koller's height, although he's an inch shorter.

I refuse to believe that if Colin Hendry had been playing a goal like this would have been conceded.

However, if a team is better at delivering the ball and is superior in the air Somebody Up There must have arranged a two-goal start before leaving them to their own devices.

It's all very well saying Brown should rip the side apart and start again but seven of the France '98 World Cup posse weren't there and, as a result, he struggled seriously to assemble a team.

Not enough youngsters like Paul Ritchie and Allan Johnston are emerging and it's significant both were groomed at Tynecastle.

What are the SPL doing about finding young talent? So far very little but the under-21 league is to be stepped up.

The Czechs made only one change from the side which won 2-1 in Glasgow but such continuity is rarely available to Brown.

Injuries, real or imagined, and bans cut his options severely every time he picks a side.

Now Scotland have to win their four remaining matches to qualify for the Euro 2000 play-offs - they are against Bosnia, home and away, Estonia and Lithuania.

Brown is optimistic but after the shambling draw in the Faroes I doubt that we can win 12 points, when we've so far amassed only eight from a possible 18.

Finally, a confession. My generation of sportswriters never voted Dalglish player of the year as colleagues over the border did twice.

Will you ever forgive us, Kenny?

If you want a judgment on the 17 laws of football you'll get it at St Andrews today and tomorrow when around 400 referees will gather for their annual get-together.

The guest speaker will be Craig Brown, who has a wee surprise for them.

He had the very experienced Prague official Hellmut Krug's performance taped but, not being a whinger, his comments on the German will be for educational purposes only. No women, no shy at PFLI HEAR big plans are afoot to bring women's football under the wing of the PFL.

Rangers will make an early announcement and others like Hearts, Kilmarnock and Motherwell will join in.

The SFA's Vera Pauw has had talks with the SPL's Roger Mitchell and a league competition is in the offing.

FIFA fully supports the ladies - with the Women's World Cup in America this summer - and the idea of handbags in an Old Firm game intrigues me.

It's Borders or bust Bankies CLYDEBANK fans could very nearly hold meetings in a phone box, which makes me wonder why some are up in arms about their club moving to Galashiels.

It's very much the last chance saloon, with Gala still needing to improve their ground before it's acceptable to the Scottish League.

Dissidents among Bankies fans may be interested to know that there are worthies who still insist that Third Lanark could have been saved.

He's treated like a Doug SCOTTISH athlete Doug Walker's treatment over drug-taking allegations is surely not fair.

The European 200m champion tested positive for the banned substance nandrolone last year but, ever since, he has denied any wrongdoing.

Neutral judgment by a committee is far too ponderous - justice must be seen to be done with reasonable speed.

Life has come to a complete standstill for Walker and the people who know him best are adamant that he doesn't deserve this.

No change in Ufc plan IF the Tannadice board think rejecting United for Change's offer to buy shares in the club ends their protest they'd better think again.

The group are fed up with United's poor form and intend to hit back at suggestions they're trying to sabotage the club - which they certainly are not.

Recent events indicate ignoring supporters is extremely dangerous.