Collina to take control of England v Scotland

Italian referee Pierluigi Collina is to take charge of the England-Scotland Euro 2000 decider at Wembley on Wednesday night.

The play-off for a place in the finals next summer renews the oldest rivalry in international football dating back to the 1870s but the English hold a commanding 2-0 lead after a convincing win at Hampden on Saturday in the first leg..

Collina will take charge of the first leg which may be bad news for England. Midfielder Paul Ince is set to start for the away team in midfield and Collina sent him off when Ince was playing for Internazionale. Collina also red carded Ince in the September 1998 clash with Sweden in Stockholm amid angry gestures from the England midfielder. The Italian referee has a reputation as one of the strictest officials in Europe but is popular in the Italian game.

Ince is an almost certain starter for England on Wednesday. He was one of their best players in the win in Glasgow and has replaced Leeds midfielder David Batty in the line up for coach Kevin Keegan. Batty revealed in interviews at the weekend that he has suffered heart problems since breaking his ribs in a league match at Coventry last December. A broken bone was pressed into his heart and he has had breathing and fitness problems since that injury.