James McFadden is looking forward to helping his Scotland qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Scottish players take positives out of valiant Euro campaign
Scottish striker James McFadden is looking forward to helping his country qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
McFadden felt "robbed" by the free-kick award that led to Christian Panucci's winner in Italy's last-gasp 2-1 win at Hampden Park on Saturday.
But the Everton striker sees a lot of positives in Scotland's European Championship campaign.
And he is already looking forward towards their campaign for the 2010 World Cup, whose qualifying draw is made next Sunday.
McFadden said: "Losing the early goal didn't help us but the second half especially we played some good stuff.
"We cut them open at times. I had a great chance to win it but unfortunately I couldn't do it.
Credit
"But I think we can take a lot of credit from this, and it's something to build on for the World Cup. We have played some good stuff over the campaign.
"I think for the players and fans and the whole country, we deserve to be there but we're not, so we will look to the World Cup and hopefully we can qualify for that."
Alan Hutton, who had the controversial free-kick awarded against him when he was barged by Giorgio Chiellini, was also upset about the decision.
But he, too, found some solace in Scotland's overall performance in Group B.
"It was such a hard group, everybody wrote us off from the word go," said Hutton.
"To do as well as we have done, the boys have been absolutely magnificent.
"It is hard to take but we will move on."
Midfielder Paul Hartley was also disappointed, but again thinks their spirited campaign bodes well for the future.
Confidence
"You have got to take confidence and pride and make sure hopefully for the next campaign we are ready," said Hartley.
"Yes, we are disappointed, don't get me wrong, because you want to be part of that European Championship and we are disappointed not to be there.
"But we can take a lot of confidence from the campaign."
