Scotland can pile on the misery for France: McLeish
Wednesday, 12 September 2007
GLASGOW, Sept 11 (AFP): Alex McLeish believes Scotland's bid to upset France again in Paris Wednesday could be helped by the kind of hometown pressure that contributed to the French rugby team's shock defeat by Argentina in their World Cup opener.
The Scots pulled off the biggest shock of the entire Euro 2008 qualifying campaign when they beat the World Cup finalists 1-0 in Glasgow last October.
That famous win has helped McLeish's men to second place in group E, ahead of Italy and Ukraine, and a positive result at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday would represent a huge step towards qualification for next year's finals.
McLeish accepts that represents an extremely tall order. But he believes the importance the French have accorded to the match could work in his side's favour.
"The French would be firm favourites for any game in Paris against any team in the world, never mind Scotland," the former Rangers manager acknowledged before boarding a plane for Paris on Tuesday.
McLeish is aware that the French will be desperate to avenge their frustrating experience at Hampden, when goalkeeper Craig Gordon played as big a role for the Scots as match-winner Gary Caldwell.
McLeish readily acknowledges the gulf in class between the two squads and Scotland are expected to set out to frustrate their opponents again with either Garry O'Connor or Kris Boyd operating as a lone striker ahead of a five-man midfield.
McLeish said: "France are a terrific side. They've got players right through the team who can get forward and score goals.
France will be without Thierry Henry, who is suspended after being booked for the second time in the campaign in Saturday's 0-0 draw in Italy, but McLeish played down the signficance of the Barcelona forward's absence.
Scotland are virtually certain to be without Gary Teale, who did not travel on Monday after going down with a bug.
The Derby midfielder was an unexpected starter in the 3-1 win over Lithuania at Hampden on Saturday but had not, in any case, been expected to retain his place.
The Scots pulled off the biggest shock of the entire Euro 2008 qualifying campaign when they beat the World Cup finalists 1-0 in Glasgow last October.
That famous win has helped McLeish's men to second place in group E, ahead of Italy and Ukraine, and a positive result at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday would represent a huge step towards qualification for next year's finals.
McLeish accepts that represents an extremely tall order. But he believes the importance the French have accorded to the match could work in his side's favour.
"The French would be firm favourites for any game in Paris against any team in the world, never mind Scotland," the former Rangers manager acknowledged before boarding a plane for Paris on Tuesday.
McLeish is aware that the French will be desperate to avenge their frustrating experience at Hampden, when goalkeeper Craig Gordon played as big a role for the Scots as match-winner Gary Caldwell.
McLeish readily acknowledges the gulf in class between the two squads and Scotland are expected to set out to frustrate their opponents again with either Garry O'Connor or Kris Boyd operating as a lone striker ahead of a five-man midfield.
McLeish said: "France are a terrific side. They've got players right through the team who can get forward and score goals.
France will be without Thierry Henry, who is suspended after being booked for the second time in the campaign in Saturday's 0-0 draw in Italy, but McLeish played down the signficance of the Barcelona forward's absence.
Scotland are virtually certain to be without Gary Teale, who did not travel on Monday after going down with a bug.
The Derby midfielder was an unexpected starter in the 3-1 win over Lithuania at Hampden on Saturday but had not, in any case, been expected to retain his place.