PARIS (AFP) — A confident Scotland are looking to end a 10-year absence from major international tournaments by taking points from world finalists France in the Euro 2008 qualifier in Paris on Wednesday.
Substitute goal scorer in Scotland's 3-1 win over Lithuania at Hampden on Saturday, Jamie McFadden, said that victory and their 1-0 win last October over France had put them in a confident mood.
"We believe we can get a result and I think the way we have been playing backs that up," said the Everton forward. "You need confidence going into games and there is no better confidence than winning games."
Despite their tough draw, Scotland are second in group B, just one point behind leaders France and one point ahead of world champions Italy. If Scotland qualify for Euro 2008, it will be the first time they have competed in an international tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France.
Even defeat at the Parc des Princes would not rule out Scotland going on to claim an unlikely place in the European Championship, with games against Ukraine and Georgia to come next month.
Alex McLeish's side will also be boosted by the return from suspension of skipper and Rangers midfielder Barry Ferguson, who is not overawed by his star studded French opponents.
"If you want to play at the highest level these players are the guys you want to play against," said Ferguson.
"Top-quality players. But they're just names, you shouldn't bother about names. I don't. I guess most of our boys won't either."
French coach Raymond Domenech appeared in no danger of underestimating his opponents, especially without the suspended Barcelona striker Thierry Henry who received a yellow card in the 0-0 draw against Italy on Saturday.
"Scotland is a team of fighters who have surpassed themselves in this competition since the beginning," Domenech said.
Domenech was even worried that Sunday's World Cup rugby match between South Africa and Samoa would churn up the Parc des Princes pitch and give an advantage to the defensive Scots who favour the long high balls.
"It's going to ruin the pitch. We need a flat pitch, without the holes," Domenech said.
"With the ground like that we'll have to play lots of high balls - against the Scots. Thanks a lot," added Domenech.
The one bright spot for the French coach was the possible return of Arsenal defender William Gallas, who missed the Italy match with a groin injury but was now training "almost normally."
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment