Sneijder's Ankle Not Too Bad

Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009 — Netherlands 1: 0 Scotland today at Hampden Park (here’s the minute-by-minute report).

As George Burley said, Scotland deserved at least something from the match at home in which they threatened the woodwork serially. The difficult loss ends Scotland’s chance of qualifying for South Africa’s pageant next summer.

I saw Wesley Sneijder in ice making his way to the club-house. Today he was replaced in the 77th minute by Rafeal van der Vaart.

Inter needn’t worry overmuch about his ice-taped right ankle. Reportedly in Eschede last week, he was stretchered off after scoring in what became the Netherlands’ 3-nil thrashing of Japan. X-rays proved the knock was not as bad as it looked and not severe enough to keep him out of the Dutch side today in Glasgow.

If anyone has a feed from today’s match, I’m sure many will enjoy this one in which Scotland will have felt the urgent need for a result, albeit without the inspirational James McFadden.