By Stuart Johnstone

WHILE THE Tartan Army in Holland cheered Scotland on to the final whistle last night, supporters at home converged on bars across the country to lend their backing to the national side’s Euro 2004 hopes.

It was not to be, however, as the Dutch side administered a footballing lesson to an outclassed and outplayed Scottish side, who conceded a shocking six goals without reply.

About 12,000 Scottish fans were estimated to have made it into the 52,000-seater Amsterdam ArenA to cheer on their team, with thousands more travelling without tickets.

Back home in Scotland many thousands more crowded into the nation’s pubs to unite in their support for the team.

As the game kicked off and Scotland went immediately on the attack, there was an electric atmosphere as the prospect of European Championship football loomed.

As soon as Wesley Sneijder drilled the ball home for the Dutch, dejection set in. And then there was another goal, and another, and another. Once again, the pundits were dusting off that time-honoured Scottish footballing phrase: glorious failures.

Never ones to let a thrashing get in the way of a good night, the fans tried to remain positive, cheering and singing Scotland on at every opportunity.

Pubs around Tayside and Fife were filled to capacity as thousands of people came together to watch one of the biggest games for the national side in recent times.

There were high hopes in Dundee for a victory, with the presence of two Dundee FC stars—Lee Wilkie and Gavin Rae—in the starting 11 and former Dens players Rab Douglas and Neil McCann also in the team; but it was not long before disappointment set in.

The crowd of spectators was so large in the Post Office Bar in Broughty Ferry, that some of the furniture had to be removed to provide space for the fans.

It was a similar story at All Stars in Brook Street. With a giant TV screen and loads of smaller televisions dotted around the bar, there was a large contingent of faithful fans.

Despite the increasingly depressing events, the large crowds stayed loyal to the end, even when all hope of reaching the championships was gone and thoughts had moved on to the World Cup in 2006.

* See match report in our sports section.