Germany supporters who are still feeling down in the dumps should consider what it is like to be a Scotland fan. As if failing to reach a second consecutive major tournament was not bad enough for the Tartan Army, they know there is little money or exciting talent around to attract a high-profile successor to Craig Brown.
Although Brown was still in charge last night, Wednesday's 2-0 defeat in Belgium means he is almost certainly not going to continue much longer. Only a miraculous combination of results can earn Scotland a play-off - "I confirm we have failed," he said yesterday - and a trip to the newsagent must have suggested to the coach that patience has run out.
Brown was spared the sight of a sprout on his head after the capitulation in Brussels, but the message was clear. The man behind the counter warned what to expect as he handed over the newspapers.
"You are getting a bit of stick," he said. "Have you got a steel helmet?" Resilient, and apparently still in love with the job after eight years, Brown does not intend to stand down before his contract expires at the end of December. "I will honour that unless the (Scottish Football Association) executive committee say otherwise," he said. "I am anxious to discuss the situation with my employers. It will be a discussion in private."
A meeting was scheduled in any event for next month but talks seem certain in the next few days. Brown may be told he will not be reappointed but remain in charge for the final qualifier, at home to Latvia on October 6th. He would at least then be afforded an official, dignified end to his spell, during which he qualified for Euro '96 and France '98.
Inevitably, speculation has started as to who will take over. Alex McLeish, the Hibernian manager, has been mentioned. last season he led Hibs to third place in the Premier League and a cup final.
Gordon Strachan, another former Scotland international and currently in charge of Coventry, would be popular with some. His bubbly personality has been cited as useful weapon in galvanising the public, though relegation at Highfield Road last season stained his reputation.
Of other Scottish managers, George Burley is highly unlikely to leave Ipswich and Alex Ferguson is as worth asking as Rab C Nesbit.
In making an appointment the SFA could be hamstrung by two factors. First, the pay on offer falls well below the money leading club managers earn and second, Scotland is not bristling with outstanding talent. Two of the country's best players, Duncan Ferguson and Gary McAllister. Paul Lambert will also now concentrate on club football, and, of the starting eleven in Brussels, only Gary Naysmith was under 27.
The Italian Sporting Court of Appeal (CAF) yesterday evening reduced the drugs bans handed out to Edgar Davids, Fernando Couto and five other players to four months.
The celebrated duo, together with Parma's Stefano Torrisi, Piacenza pair Stefano Sacchetti and Nicola Coccia, Jean-Francois Gillet of Bari and Como's Davide Olivares all appealed after receiving bans for failed drugs tests last season.
Davids, who failed a test for nandrolone, received a five-month ban from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) last month.
He will return to action on September 18th while Couto, who was banned on April 27th, is now free to link up with new Lazio signing Jaap Stam against Perugia tomorrow.
