World Cup view

Former Scotland manager Andy Roxburgh rates his one-time ''twin striker'' Craig Brown as the finest natural coach his country has ever produced.

Roxburgh, now technical director for UEFA, personally selected Brown to be his deputy when he took charge of the Scots in 1986 - and recommended him as his successor upon his own resignation seven years later.

The two developed a swift understanding, gelling - to use Roxburgh's analogy - like the ideal forward pairing and when they failed, as against Costa Rica in the 1990 World Cup, they absorbed their lessons together.

By Roxburgh's own admission the pair were innocents abroad at Italia 90, but now Brown will approach France 98 with the confidence of having been there before, such was the frontline role he was given.

Since assuming control in November 1993 Brown has demonstrated the qualities Roxburgh first spotted when the current boss worked on Scottish Football Association courses part-time and extended his duties with some reluctance.

''As soon as I became the manager of Scotland I immediately approached him and had to literally persuade him to become my assistant,'' admits Roxburgh, speaking from his office at European governing body UEFA's Geneva headquarters.

''From a personal point of view I am the one who recognised his qualities, I am the one who employed him. The Scottish Football Association didn't employ him. When I became manager in 1986 I personally invited Craig to work with me.

''It was because I had worked with him on SFA coaching courses and we were already colleagues on a part-time level. He wanted to stay with what he was doing on the educational side wearing two hats and had to be persuaded to take a full-time SFA post. Because of my respect for him I even operated with him in a situation which got me a lot of criticism as I involved him in a much higher, more extensive role than was the norm for a deputy. But I ignored that criticism because I knew we were like twin strikers in the way we played off each other.

''When I left the SFA after resigning as coach they asked me who should replace me and he was the natural choice and has proved the right one. Craig Brown is the best coach Scotland have ever had; purely as a field coach he is the best national coach we have ever had.

''Jock Stein was the best ever when it came to the management and handling of players, he was fantastic at that, but he was the first one to tell you he was not a field coach.''

Roxburgh draws a parallel with current German boss Berti Vogts in the manner in which Brown's serving of a long apprenticeship ensured he had no hesitation when invited to take the helm. Such opportunities are rare in international management and Roxburgh himself was one of the many who had to make the transition improving his know-how through some very public mistakes.

''In the early part of Italia 90 we learned some harsh lessons, we were like innocents and the custard pies really started to be thrown,'' he said. Coming into this job, experience is a vital thing to have and to me this puts Craig Brown in the same category as Berti Vogts as he did the same under Franz Beckenbauer, he lived alongside him.

''For seven-and-a-half years from Craig's point of view, he would be the first one to admit this, being deputy gave him invaluable experience.

''Most people who start in international management find it hard for the first year because you are learning your trade as you go along from day one.

''Craig had a complete education in international football, he knew everything about it, every move, every problem, because he had experienced those difficulties. Quite simply, he had been through the lot, a World Cup and a European Championship, all of that.

When Roxburgh's reign came to its end he told the SFA their decision as to his replacement was a simple one - the man they required was already in place.

While Brown had never indicated to Roxburgh he wanted the job - he would be too loyal to voice such thoughts - his mentor knew he was ready to meet the challenge.

''I recommended him but he needed no persuading that time, he agreed to take the job when the SFA asked him and has proved an accurate choice,'' said Roxburgh.