By Ross Hart
With the Tartan Army ready to raise their voices in aid of Children in Need at half time on Saturday, the vast majority of the 52,000 sell out crowd will be hoping that is where the charity starts and ends. For Scotland head into the match with Norway knowing that 3 points are essential to keep the wagon on the road towards the 2010 World Cup finals.
George Burley’s team go into their first home match of the campaign on the back of mixed fortunes in their opening group games. Stinging criticism followed the defeat to Macedonia before the team pulled themselves back into contention with a hard fought victory in Reyjkavik over Iceland.
The minimum most observers looked for was four points. We came home to think again with three but Saturday’s visitors, arguably Scotland’s main rivals for second spot in the group, were held at home by Iceland in their opening qualifier. With Norway taking on group favourites Holland on Wednesday and the Scots’ next qualifier also against the Dutch in Amsterdam next March, both countries know how much is at stake.
A Scotland win would send them 5 points clear of our Scandanavian friends and deal them a huge psychological blow. A draw wouldn’t do much good while a defeat is unthinkable, and Norway will take heart from the fact they won the last time the sides met in Glasgow, in 2004.
It has been clear from the outset that Burley wants Scotland to be more of an attacking threat than they have been in previous campaigns. An emphasis on expression and creativity is central to the manager’s philosophy which we hope will lead us to South Africa but Scotland will have to do without two influential figures; injured skipper Barry Ferguson and striker Kenny Miller, who netted twice the last time the countries met.
With vice captain Stephen McManus also banned following his red card in Iceland, Burley has handed the armband to Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher, who on Saturday will earn his 40th cap at the age of just 24.
Despite a sparkling start with his club this season, culminating in a three year contract extension with the European champions, Fletcher in recent games hasn’t delivered as well as we’d all like in the dark blue. Perhaps it is the hype and pressure that has come with being a lynchpin of the Scotland side but on Saturday he has to drive the team forward, get into tackles and dictate the play. With Barry Robson likely to be beside him in the middle of the pitch, Fletcher has to use his vision and array of passing to get the ball into wide areas which the manager likes and get the home side up the pitch.
Deployed in wide areas will likely be Scott Brown and Sean Maloney, with the latter in good form since returning to Celtic from Aston Villa in August. Scottish fans always relish seeing their players get the ball wide and take on his man and it is vital that those two are involved and make the Hampden pitch as big as possible, to create space and keep our visitors moving and on the back foot.
Miller’s absence has created a selection dilema for Burley up front. Talisman James McFadden is a certain starter and with Burley likely to favour the 4-4-2 system, his partner will probably be in doubt right until kick off. Rangers’ Kris Boyd, with 7 goals in just 13 caps, is the favourite to be given the nod given his incredible strike rate at club level but a lack of regular match action may count against him.
The other main contender is Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Chris Iwelumo, who has netted 8 goals in just 6 starts for his club. Born in Coatbridge, the 30 year old has yet to earn his first cap but is a target man figure that Burley would no doubt prefer to play off McFadden so may yet be a contender to start.
While Scotland look for options going forward, defensively we have to be aware of our visitors with their main man, the towering John Carew, passed fit to play. The striker has been in impressive form for Aston Villa with 5 goals so far this season. His international pedigree is also impressive, with 21 goals in 71 appearances.
His physique will ensure he is a handful for the expected central defensive pairing of David Weir and Gary Caldwell but the striker likes the ball played into feet so Scotland, particularly in midfield, will look to cut out any service to him.
With another well known face, former Tottenham striker Steffen Iversen, struggling with injury, Carew may be deployed as a lone front man but this should not detract from the danger Age Hareide’s side will pose on the counter attack.
So, the stage is set. Hampden will be at its racous best come kick off time, with the hope that the players and fans combined will blow Norway’s bid out to sea and keep our own hopes alive. Hopefully the half time single “We Have a Dream” will remain so come 5pm on Saturday.
