Scotland 0 England 2

Paul Scholes all but destroyed Scotland's chances of making the Euro 2000 finals next summer with two well taken first half goals at Hampden Park.

The Manchester United midfielder showed his familiar excellence to finish the two best chances created by the visiting English side in a very even first half in which Scotland played well.

The killer touches from Scholes have appeared in England's best wins of the past two years and he is a real ace in the England pack when it comes to hitting the target.

His first goal arrived in the 20th minute when defender Sol campbell cross in a fine pass for the diminutive Scholes to take down on his chest and run past Colin Hendry to drive low into the net.

His eighth goal for England was followed by a ninth when David Beckam struck in a crisp fre e kick to allow an unmarked Scholes to steer the ball into the net at the near ppost.

The only blemish on Scholes' first performance was a booking for over celebrating from referee Manuel Diaz Vega when he hit in his first.

Campbell had set up the best chance before England took the lead when he produced another good run to cross if for Michael Owen to turn in the area and shoot low but Neil Sullivan saved the shot in an alarming moment for the Scots who were wary of the Liverpool youth's speed throughout the half.

England's best player of the first session was Paul Ince but his mistake allowed in Kevin Gallacher to draw a point blank save from goalkeeper David Seaman only seconds after England took the lead. Gallacher was booked in the first half and will be suspended for the return leg at Wembley on Wednesday night and with injuries in their squad the attack looks depleted for the second game.

In the closing seconds of the first half Billy Dodds slapped a shot against the English crossbar and the Scots were clearly disappointed to be two goals down after a decent display.

The home side pushed midfielder Don Hutchinson right into attack from the start forcing England to play with a flat back four that left their midfield out of shape and no width at all on the left but England found Scholes to capitalise on two defensive lapses and take control of the tie.

Scotland had all the play after the interval but created nothing to threaten England's position in command. The visiting team were able to sit back and do nothing except close down the Scottish attacks when they came near to the last third of the field. England looked comfortable throughout the second half and the Scots could not get behind the defence or create chances.

Paul Ince came close to scoring from a deflected shot in the 72nd minute and Michael Owen was replaced by Andy Cole in the 68th minute. Cole sprung the offside trap after a great pass from Martin Keown in the 83rd minute but he could not find Alan Shearer in attack after eschewing a chance to run in on goal himself.

Depressingly for the Scots every England player in midfied and attack can play much better and after Scholes second goal this was not even a contest.

The true quality in this game came twice from Scholes who has now hit 9 goals for his national side in 19 appearances in midfield.