McLeish issues Scots battle cry
Alex McLeish is urging his players to create their own bit of history
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Tuesday, 13, Nov 2007 04:47
Scotland manager Alex McLeish has called on his players to "rattle" Italy at Hampden Park on Saturday in a bid to qualify for Euro 2008.
The Scots must beat the world champions on Saturday evening to guarantee qualification for the finals next summer and eliminate their opponents in what would be the major shock of the continental campaign.
Italy and Scotland are in arguably the most difficult group, which also features World Cup finalists France and quarter-finalists Ukraine.
The Scots' performances in the section - especially the 1-0 away win in Paris two months ago - have greatly exceeded expectations but it will take one final shock result to see McLeish's men through to a first finals tournament since the 1998 World Cup.
"We know we face the world champions, they've been in these situations many times before - and they should be able to handle it with their mentality," the Scotland manager told Tennents.com.
"But it's a football match, 11 against 11, and I'm sure the Italian guys are as human as anybody else.
"If we can rattle them then it should be very interesting."
McLeish said the achievement of getting to within one win of the finals in Austria and Switzerland was all the more satisfying given that the team were written off as soon as the draw for the qualifying group was made.
"I don't think anybody would have believed it at the start of the campaign," he continued.
"I'm sure that everybody would have hoped for something like this, but I don't think anybody in their wildest dreams would have believed we'd be contesting Italy in the very last game for qualification.
"I think it's been a tremendous campaign whatever happens - I don't think we should even be using the term 'so far'.
"It's been a tremendous campaign, win, lose or draw against Italy."