FORMER Newcastle United favourite Tino Asprilla has given Spurs' Scottish international Colin Calderwood a massive boost as he prepares to face the world's finest strikers in this year's World Cup finals. Calderwood will most likely have the unenviable task of marking the world's greatest footballer, Ronaldo, in Scotland's first match of the tournament: against holders Brazil. But the supremely gifted Asprilla has been quick to praise the rugged defender after finding him a tough customer in Colombia's 2-2 draw with Craig Brown's side in New York last Saturday. It's nice when someone of his stature in the game takes time out to say you played well against him, said Calderwood. He's one of the most difficult attackers you could ever be asked to mark. He's so quick and so unorthodox as well, but I did think I did OK and the team also played well - really well for more than an hour of the game. It was an ideal match to have just now, when we're looking towards the Brazil game in France. The Colombians don't use the same tactical set up as Brazil, but their individual skills are similar and so we were given an idea of what we'll come up against in Paris. Calderwood, who has just endured a nightmare season helping Spurs to battle relegation, is relishing the challenge of competing on the world's biggest stage. But he has pinpointed Norway rather than the Brazilians as Scotland's crucial opponents: I believe that will be the key game in the group for us when we get to the finals. It's much more of a British style that they play and in that sense we should be able to cope with them a little better than others have done. It won't be anything new for us, but they've been impressive in their warm-up games and we have to take note of that. "OK, if we shock the world and get something out of the first game with the Brazilians, then we'll be in a very strong position. But if we lose the fist game then we simply must beat Norway. If we can do that, then I believe that we could go on into the second round of matches. That encounter with Norway will be vital for us and I think we can do it. Calderwood has already been doing his homework on the Norwegians too. He's been offered advice by one of his Spurs teammates, Danish star Alan Nielsen: Alan's warned me not to allow the Norwegians to get in front. He played against them recently - Norway beat Denmark 2-0 - and he said that once they got that first goal they simply pulled all their players back behind the ball and then, when they had the chance, just exploded into counter attacks. That can be a very effective tactic with all those big lads they have up front. It'll be vital for us to prevent them getting in front otherwise it could be very difficult for us to qualify.

GALLCHER FIT WHILE B TEAM BEAT METROSTARS   KEVIN GALLACHER looks certain to face the United States on Saturday in Washington in the second and final game of Scotland's pre-World Cup tour. The Blackburn striker is back in full training after a stomach upset that saw him lose five pounds in five days. Manager Craig Brown has been encouraged by Gallacher's quick recovery after he became ill through eating a prawn sandwich. Kevin came through the training session well, said Brown yesterday. He looked good and had a very bright run-out. Considering he had a stomach bug, he showed plenty of energy and enthusiasm. The signs are encouraging and hopefully he'll be fit for the match on Saturday. Gallacher, however, was absent from the Scotland B squad that enjoyed a practice game with the New York-New Jersey MetroStars on a school pitch near their training camp. Skipper Colin Hendry joined in as the Scots romped home 4-0 against the Major League Soccer side. Celtic striker Simon Donnelly scored twice, with the other goals coming from Borussia Dortmund's Scott Booth and St Johnstone starlet Kieran McAnespie. The Scotland Under-21 forward is on a trip of a lifetime after being called up to help the kit staff! He also showed he can play a bit and savoured the 90 minutes against the Americans. Brown considered the match a useful exercise, but has no plans for a repeat performance later in the week. It wasn't a game that was planned, it was a chance happening, he said. The Americans had their full side out while we used most of the B squad, although we borrowed one of their players. The squad hit the town at night and headed for New York after being given time off. I think we all benefit from being at a training camp like this before the World Cup finals, said midfielder Paul Lambert. You get a good chance to know everyone, not just on the pitch, but off it as well. Certainly you get to know everyone's style of play and that's probably the most important aspect. Lambert was highly praised by Brown after the 2-2 draw with Colombia last Saturday. The Celtic star said: That kind of thing is always nice to hear, but it's the team performance that counts, not just how well one individual plays. We know this will be another tough game against the United States, especially as it's expected to be humid that afternoon in Washington.

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