Monitor: The Scottish press reflects on Scotland's victory over England in the second leg of their Euro 2000 play-off at Wembley

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The Scotsman

Reach for the martial dictionaries once more. Heroics, battling, bravery, all those old friends were there at Wembley. It seems Scotland never can quite say goodbye to a major tournament without making one last charge towards the sound of the drums, one last sortie that just fails to break through the opposition lines. Scotland won at Wembley. Like lovers with Paris, they'll always have Wembley, this bunch of courageous journeymen, whose journey may have reached a terminus of sorts. There were plenty of memories, countless might-have-beens, and a substantial source of pride in how damned close it was in the end. The story you really wanted to come to an end last night is the dispiriting saga of England v Scotland. We've had a century of the Scots measuring their footballing success by an English yardstick, happy in mediocrity as long as it was brightened by the occasional triumph over their southern neighbours. It has been a limiting and iniquitous attitude, its modern irrelevance unredeemed by the degree of passion it always seems to inspire in Scots. The end of the century should maybe mark the end of this sad, occasionally bitter, eternally parochial rivalry. And given that the honours were shared and both won one it just might. Until next time. (Tom Lappin)

The Dundee Courier

Maybe Scotland's 1-0 win at Wembley was not enough to qualify for Europe 2000 but at least we beat the Auld Enemy fair and square on their own turf and in a manner that did the nation proud.

Daily Record

Scotland reclaimed their self-respect last night with a superb 1-0 victory over England at Wembley.

Craig Brown's team became Bravehearts once again with a pride-filled performance against the complacent Auld Enemy. The England fans howled their disapproval as "Flower of Scotland" was played before the game, but it was the Tartan Army who were singing at the end of 90 minutes. Much of the pain of Saturday's Hampden disaster was washed away when Don Hutchison headed the Scots into the lead late in the first half. Kevin Keegan's much-vaunted side was clearly rattled, and Scots everywhere began to dream of the greatest triumph in our football history. As so often in the past, the team just could not make the vital step from glorious defeat to glorious victory. Chances to level the tie came and went in the second half as England clung on to a place in the Euro 2000 finals.

Aberdeen Press & Journal

What a performance to produce in the last clash with the Auld Enemy this century and to say farewell to Wembley's famous twin towers. England start to tear down the old stadium soon - but their team has already been demolished by a Scottish side full of passion and commitment. In the hearts of every Scot this will be remembered as the night when our football's pride was restored. It should also be seen as the signal to end all this "Craig Brown should go" nonsense! Sacked? Brown should be carried home shoulder high for helping stir the blood of every Scot. Isn't it just marvellous to think the history books now show the last game played at England's ancestral home in the 20th century was a defeat by us? It's a tragedy such a poor team is going to the finals instead of us. The only consolation is they will be home before the postcards if they play the same way in Holland and Belgium next summer. I salute you gentlemen... the Flowers of Scotland who have put a spring back into the step of all your countrymen. (Charlie Allan)