SCOTLAND are in better shape for the forthcoming World Cup finals than they were in the countdown to Euro 96 - despite managing only a goalless draw against the USA yesterday in their final friendly before the real business kicks off next month. However whether the fact that 24 months ago they lost 2-1 to the same opponents actually means they have a better chance of progressing beyond the group stages of a major event for the first time in their history remains open to debate. On the down side, Craig Brown's men face reigning world champions Brazil in the France 98 in ten days time. But in their favour is that the current USA side is a considerable improvement on the one they previously faced. Whatever your opinion on the chances of Craig Brown's men producing a stunning shock against Brazil, there can be no argument about the validity of their trip across the Atlantic. A creditable 2-2 draw with England's Group G opponents Colombia this time last week - Scotland also lost to them going into Euro 96 - followed by the hard-earned share of the spoils in Washington DC yesterday, means they at least will arrive in France in confident mood. This was the fourth successive clean sheet for new No 1 Jim Leighton and underlined that losing Glasgow Rangers goalkeeper Andy Goram earlier in the week when he quit the squad after his personal life was splashed across the newspapers may not be such a big blow after all. And with temperatures on the pitch topping 100 degrees in the baking afternoon sunshine, compounding a suffocating humidity factor of 70 per cent, nobody could say the Scots were taking it easy. During much of the first 45 minutes, they were pressed back deep into their own half in the face of some fluent, free-flowing play by the Americans. That enabled Jim Leighton to rubberstamp his new undisputed position as Scotland's No 1 and the former-Manchester United keeper, now 39, proved he will not let anyone down in the coming weeks with several fine saves. The most notable came from a face most familiar to Leighton from his days back in English football. Roy Wegerle, the old QPR and Blackburn Rovers man, has probably long been forgotten by the majority of British football folk but quickly reminded the Scots of how dangerous a player with his ability on the ball can be. He firstly fired wide, then forced Leighton to stop from close ranger before being denied by the crossbar midway through the opening period with a close range effort. At that point Brown's men were creating few moments of danger at the other end although Derby midfielder and Celtic transfer target, Christian Dailly should have done better as he failed to find the target after Kevin Gallacher delivered a fine cross five minutes before the break. Perhaps the change to the attack where Brown was forced to rest Gordon Durie, who had a hamstring problem from the Colombian game, contributed to that as the longer the game went on the more threatening Gallacher and Dailly became as they worked each other's game out. Blackburn striker Gallacher, fresh from rattling in 20 goals in the Premiership last season, should be Scotland's best option regarding goals in France - and he was unfortunate to send a long-range effort whistling wide of the post after cutting through the left-side of the States defence in the first half. Following the restart the Scots began to make their mark, especially Tosh McKinlay who found plenty of space down the left. McKinlay had only made two starts for Celtic in their championship season but he looked lively in his first international appearance since last October. Leicester's American keeper Kasey Keller had to be sharp in the 50th minute when he came racing off his line to deny Gallacher a clear opening after a quality knock down from Jackson. Gallacher then squandered a glorious chance after 58 minutes. Jackson took advantage of a mistake by Cobi Jones to send him clear but with Keller cleverly standing his ground, Gallacher hammered against his legs. In such stifling conditions that burst of energy sapped the Scots who reverted back to closing up shop in the closing stages. USA: Keller, Pope, Dooley, Regis, Burns, Stewart, Jones, Deering, Moore, Ramos, Wegerle. SCOTLAND: Leighton, Hendry, Calderwood, Boyd, Dailly, B McKinlay, Lambert, Collins, T McKinlay, Jackson, Gallacher Referee: R Felipe (Mexico)

BIERHOFF DOUBLE SENDS A WARNING Germany 3 Colombia 1   BOUNCING back from their 0-0 draw in Helsinki against Finland on Wednesday, Germany reminded anyone who thought they might be a soft touch that they are justifiably amongst the World Cup favourites with an emphatic win over England's World Cup rivals Colombia in Frankfurt. The home team got off to the best possible start. Inside the first minute, Thomas Hassler crossed towards the visitors' penalty spot and after Jorge Bermudez failed to control the ball, Oliver Bierhoff was able to volley past Mondragon and give his team a 1-0 lead. The Colombians held 2-2 by Scotland last week were looking for an improvement in their penultimate warm-up game. But things went from bad to worse in the 16th minute, when Bierhoff doubled his tally. Thomas Hassler was again the provider, this time by hitting his own shot against the post after a cross by Stefan Reuter. Bierhoff, best known in England for his double in the Euro 96 final against the Czech Republic, reacted faster than the Colombian defence. Hassler went off at half time, and maybe this lulled the Colombians into a false sense of security, because amazingly they let in a third goal in the first minute of the second half. This time Andy Moller found the net, after good work by Bierhoff. The Udinese striker missed chances to complete his hat trick, but went off with 20 minutes left well satisfied with his afternoon's work. At that point Ulf Kirsten, Jurgen Klinsmann and the recently recalled Lothar Matthaus came on, but were unable to add to the score. Indeed Carlos Valderrama reduced the deficit three minutes from time, scoring from the penalty spot past Andreas Kopke after Faustino Asprilla was brought down by Dietmar Hamann. But that goal was little consolation to a Colombian side that also had five players booked. Both sides have one friendly left before the World Cup. Germany meet Luxembourg this Friday, while Colombia play Belgium on Thursday. GERMANY: Kopke, Thon, Worns, Kohler, Reuter, Jeremies (Matthaus 71), Ziege, Hassler (Hamman 46), Moller, Bierhoff (Klinsmann 71), Marschall (Kirsten 71) Booked: Reuter COLOMBIA: Mondragon, Cabrera, Bermudez (Palacios), Ivan Cordoba, Santa, Lozano, Serna, Rincon, Valderrama, Asprilla, Valencia (Aristizabal 53) Booked: Lozano, Asprilla, Santa, Cordoba, Serna

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