A BURKE IN PROGRESS
IF Oliver Burke felt he had a point to prove to Gordon Strachan then he wasted no time in making it.
The £13million RB Leipzig star scored just 90 seconds into Scotland Under-20s’ Toulon Tournament opener before netting a second from the penalty spot.
But even the country’s most expensive player couldn’t prevent Scot Gemmill’s kids going down to the Czech Republic in France.
Burke was handed the captain’s armband and led by example, showing the power and explosive turn of pace that saw him burst on to the international scene last year in carving out a brilliant opener.
The 20-year-old winger’s attitude could have been different after being left out of Strachan’s squad for next Saturday’s must-win World Cup qualifier against England.
However, Gemmill is going to need more than just a determined Burke to progress as Scotland lost on their return to the Toulon Tournament after a 20-year absence.
Ondrej Chveja cancelled out the former Nottingham Forest kid’s opener at the Stade d’Honneur in Salon-de-Provence before skipper Ondrej Sasinka netted early in the second half.
And despite Burke potting his second from 12 yards to level the Group C fixture Martin Graiciar won it for the Czechs with the daunting prospect of Brazil up next in two days’ time. GAVIN BERRY IN TOULON The build-up to yesterday’s clash saw memories shared of a previous under-age success in this, the 35th anniversary of Scotland winning the Under-18 European Championship in Finland.
That remains the country’s only piece of major silverware at any level with little to shout about across Scotland’s youth teams in more recent years.
It has been the same for the seniors with Gemmill part of the last Scotland side to reach a major tournament after the 46-year-old was included in the 1998 World Cup squad.
The former Nottingham Forest and Everton midfielder was back on French soil but this time in the dugout hoping to show Scotland’s kids can compete against the best.
The Toulon Tournament has been a platform for some of the planet’s best players in the last 40 years and is considered the unofficial World Youth Cup.
It was a chance for Burke in particular to shine after being dropped from the full squad, especially given he was wearing the armband.
The ex-Forest kid played in a central striking
role with Scott Wright and Aidan Nesbitt offering support in an attacking line-up.
Gemmill’s youngsters had trained in baking temperatures in the south of France in the days leading up to the opener but the heat wasn’t as intense come kick-off.
He would have been hoping that was to his side’s advantage and it looked to be the case when Scotland scored with less than two minutes on the clock.
It was route one football as Reading kid Zak Jules – who spent the second half of last season on loan at Motherwell – punted a clearance upfield. After that it was all about the speed, power and precision of Burke.
The frontman won a header against Alex Kral on the halfway line before racing clear with only one thing on his mind – lashing the ball beyond Jan Plachy.
It was a dream start but Scotland were soon brought back down to earth when injury forced Wright off with Kilmarnock midfielder Adam Frizzell replacing him.
Gemmill’s side struggled to build on their lead as the Czechs found their feet.
Burke was the focal point for Scotland and having been identified as the main threat was taken out by Michal Sadilek with a late challenge that saw him become the first player to enter the referee’s book.
Scotland sat deeper as the half wore on and the inevitable Czech equaliser came six minutes before the break.
Gemmill’s defence failed on at least three occasions to clear a free-kick into the box before the ball was deflected into Chveja’s path and he fired low beyond Jack Ruddy.
Scotland would have been happy to hear the half-time whistle but found themselves behind just 40 seconds after the restart.
A free-kick was played to Graiciar on the left and he drilled a low ball across goal for Sasinka to prod home after slipping in front of Killie youngster Greg Taylor.
Scotland refused to let their heads go down and battled back to level as Burke netted from the spot with a well-taken penalty following Chveja’s handball.
But poor defending allowed the Czechs to restore their lead just four minutes later as Scotland’s rearguard stood off Graiciar before he wrong-footed Ruddy with a low strike.
Scotland had a great chance to secure a last-gasp point when sub Ryan Hardie was clean through but Plachy raced from his line to save at the striker’s feet.