The Scots very nearly succeeded in their cunning ploy to lull us into a false sense of security. I have previously come out in favour of re-instating the Auld Enemy clashes in the football calendar. But what the fixture needs is a context, if we are to justify packing an already crowded schedule even further. The European Championship provided that context in 1996 and 1999.Both legs were excellently policed, albeit by a heavy presence More than 125,000 fans added colour and passion. I agreed with the coach's assessment, for not even the defeats by the United States in the 1950 World Cup or by the Hungarians in the '50s could have matched the desolation of failing to reach the last 16 of Euro 2000 after holding a two-goal lead.So, all in all, it was an uplifting five days for British football, if the relentless hype can be overlooked. Beforehand, I predicted a 1-1 draw; it was never going to be a coast for England, but I could not quite see Scotland winning 2 or 3-nil.

In the event, inspired by Don Hutchison, the bad boy with the beautiful feet, they were prevented only by the reflexes of Seaman from wiping out the deficit and, subject always to tired legs, going on to inflict what Keegan had earlier declared would have been the biggest disaster ever to hit English football. The most dangerous cross to defend is, of course, the one pulled back from the goal line, but, though Sol Campbell was happy to reach the line on the right flank, Phil Neville on the left came inside on to his right foot every time bar one at Wembley, Jamie Redknapp is clearly less comfortable on the left flank, and even Michael Owen scooped a right foot cross wastefully wide when moving in on goal from the left.Trevor Brooking demonstrated that you do not have to go back 50 years to the days of Tom Finney and Stan Matthews to find a player whose preference, left or right foot, observers found difficult to detect.The final competitive international at Wembley proved a compelling and rousing encounter. Keegan could afford to leave Andy Cole, a striker in form this season, on the bench for seven eighths of the tie, while Brown was compelled to risk his own Braveheart, Colin Hendry, when he was clearly not match fit.Yet England have no solution to the left wing problem. However, England had a solid phalanx of David Seaman, who made a crucial save in each match, Alan Shearer, Paul Ince and Tony Adams, who boast over 200 caps between them.

Their experience was always going to be a telling factor in a tie involving such high stakes. Adams epitomised all that was best about England v Scotland encounters: he tackled with power and precision, extended a helping hand to fallen opponents, and ran 50 yards to commiserate with Craig Brown at Wembley's final whistle.An examination of the resources available to the two coaches is revealing. I cannot agree with those who suggested that Scotland were the better team over two legs. Certainly the Scots did not enjoy much fortune, but, if a team makes its luck, then Scotland squandered theirs with the sloppy defending which gave Paul Scholes his two goals. AS THE climate plummeted at Wembley last Wednesday Kevin Keegan appeared to sink ever lower into his tracksuit; I feared that, had Scotland scored an equaliser to send this fascinating tie into extra time, the England coach would become totally invisible. Sendings off: Southampton: Lundekvam.Man of the match: Leonhardsen.Attendance: 15,248.. Substitutes not used: Baardsen (gk), Fox, Young, Clemence.Referee: S Bennett (Orpington).Bookings: Southampton: Lundekvam, Pahars, Colletter, Hughes, Richards Tottenham Hotspur: Campbell, Leonhardsen. Substitutes not used: Moss (gk), Benali.Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2): Walker; Taricco, Perry, Campbell, Edinburgh; Leonhardsen, Sherwood, Freund, Ginola (Dominguez, 64); Armstrong, Iversen.

The Norwegian midfielder, just seconds into the second half, was the last man in defence denying Marian Pahars a chance.Then with nine minutes left there he was again, popping up in a crowded penalty area to finish off a well worked free-kick.Goal: Leonhardsen (81) 0-1.Southampton: (4-4-2): Jones; Tessem, Lundekvam, Richards, Colletter; Ripley, Oakley, Hughes (Le Tissier, 85), Kachloul (Boa Morte, 85); Pahars, Beattie (Soltvedt, 78). The four-year contract Tessem has signed with Southampton is worth pounds 1.6m, not including bonuses.All in all Spurs put on a quintessential Graham performance, as was the way he trotted out the managerial cliches "We've played better before and lost," he said. Leonhardsen's performance encapsulated what Graham's Spurs are all about: spiky at the back and spiky at the front. A year later he was in the first team, where his versatility - before Saturday he had played in every position apart from the right-back and goalkeeping positions - persuaded Molde to buy him The average wage at Molde is around pounds 50,000 per year For a Norwegian policeman it is about pounds 20,000. His ascent up the football ladder is perhaps only rivalled by the rise of the Norwegian national team up the Fifa rankings.During the 1990s Tessem interrupted his football career to train as a policeman for two years. While he was at the Oslo Police Academy he rang SFK Lyn - which means lightning in Norwegian - and asked whether he could train with them.

Overall, I thought I did quite well," he said.Quite well is putting it mildly. Such was Ginola's anonymity that he was substituted by Graham midway through the second half But that is only part of Tessem's tale. The Norwegian, who at right-back was marking David Ginola, was typically Scandinavian in his understated response to the question of how well he thought he had done "I was pleased with my debut. Oh, and George Graham still needs to find a striking partner for Stefen Iversen. If Leonhardsen's late strike ensured the points went to Spurs, the day belonged to Tessem, who only joined Southampton for a modest pounds 600,000 from Molde on Friday. At The Dell on Saturday, the Norwegian effect was much in evidence. Jo Tessem made his Southampton debut, Oyvind Leonhardsen scored the game's only goal for Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton's Klaus Lundekvam was sent off. Substitutes not used: Cudicini (gk), Harley.Referee: M Halsey (Welwyn Garden City).Bookings: Everton: Hutchison, Pembridge; Chelsea: Sutton, Ferrer.