Email
Print
Digg This
By Kenny MacDonald
GLASGOW, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Leaders Scotland have the toughest run-in of the Group B contenders for a place at Euro 2008 starting with Saturday's qualifier against Ukraine in Glasgow, according to assistant manager Roy Aitken.
Scotland have 21 points from nine matches, one ahead of world champions Italy and two clear of France. Ukraine are fourth eight points behind the Scots but with a game in hand.
"We have got to the stage where no one ever thought we would be in this positon after nine games, with 21 points which is a great achievement," Aitken told a news conference
"But Ukraine need to win the match and have to get a victory because it is their last throw of the dice in that sense.
"We have probably the toughest of the run-ins to the group of all the three top teams in contention."
At least Scotland, who have not reached a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup, have their destiny in their own hands.
Wins over Ukraine and in Georgia on Wednesday plus a home draw with Italy in their last game would be enough to qualify and send Scotland's 'Tartan Army' into raptures.
OUTSIDE CHANCE
Ukraine, World Cup quarter-finalists last year, have an outside chance of qualifying and the psychological advantage of having beaten Scotland 2-0 in Kiev last year.
"Ukraine were above Scotland when it came to the seedings for the qualifying draw and they have some real top drawer, world class players...and we will have to be very diligent defensively," Aitken said.
"So let's not forget Ukraine they will feel they still have a chance if they can win all their games because they have one more game to play than the rest of us.
"But there is a pride back in Scotland.
"The national team is doing very well. The club sides (of Rangers and Celtic) are doing very well in the Champions League and Aberdeen have qualified for the next stage of the UEFA Cup so it helps with confidence of the players," Aitken added.
"The players are coming to us on a high on the back of some fantastic results, especially the Old Firm boys with their fantastic performances last week in the Champions League."
Probable teams:
Scotland: Craig Gordon; Graham Alexander, Alan Hutton, Stephen McManus, David Weir; Scott Brown, Barry Ferguson, Lee McCulloch, Stephen Pearson; James McFadden, Kenny Miller.
Ukraine: Olexander Shovkovsky; Andriy Nesmachny, Olexander Kucher, Volodymyr Yezersky, Dmytro Chygrynsky; Oleg Gusev, Anatoly Tymoshchuk, Serhiy Nazarenko, Oleg Shelaev; Andriy Shevchenko, Andriy Voronin
