() 
Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon feels the controversial decision that ended their Euro 2008 qualifying hopes was an all too familiar occurrence.
Christian Panucci headed home from Andrea Pirlo's injury-time free-kick to break Scottish hearts and seal a 2-1 victory for Italy following a dramatic Hampden encounter. But the free-kick award against Alan Hutton by Spanish referee Manuel Gonzalez left a sour taste with the Scotland camp.
The Sunderland goalkeeper said: "It was difficult for me to see, the ball was on the other side of the two guys when they clashed but the rest reckoned it was a foul to us rather than a foul to Italy. And if that's the case it makes it even harder to take."
Hutton was barged over next to the touchline by Giorgio Chiellini but Gonzalez gave the foul Italy's way after a signal from his assistant Juan Jimenez.
Controversy has been a dominant theme in Scotland's final three matches of the campaign. James McFadden and Hutton were denied strong penalty claims during the 3-1 victory over Ukraine.
And McFadden was hauled down by Zurab Khizanishvili while the Scots were one down in Georgia - but German referee Knut Kircher waved play on and Scotland ended up losing 2-0.
Italy had cause to complain too when Antonio Di Natale was wrongly ruled offside after he thought he had put the Italians two ahead. But for Gordon it is clear that too many decisions have gone against his country.
"It seems to be a recurring theme, towards the end of the campaign certainly.
"People say in football things tend to even themselves out but it's difficult to see that from a Scotland point of view."
