So here we are. Just 3 more days to go before the optimism of a World Cup qualifying campaign begins in earnest. Is it really a decade since Scotland last participated in a major tournament, the France ’98 World Cup? Our official World Cup song by top band Del Amitri left a message of “Don’t come home too soon”. Well, the reality is that we did and have missed frequent departures to Holland/Belgium, Japan/Korea, Portugal, Germany and Austria/Switzerland since.
But the last campaign saw us miss the plane to the Alps by a fraction. Of course, the day of destiny against Italy resulted in painful defeat and elimination, but for the me the match prior to that in Georgia, where Alex McLeish’s team lost 2-0, was the one where it got away. A game where we expected 3 points resulted in the worst performance of the group by Scotland.
And while the entire country rose and stood proud of their team, the build up to this Saturday’s clash with Macedonia and the match in Reykjavik the following Wednesday has been rather quiet. But Scotland boss George Burley, still seeking his first win as boss, knows that a good start is vital if we are to make a charge for South Africa 2010.
And Macedonia in Skopje is certainly not the easiest of starts. The two countries have never met before but Scots fans know about the Eastern Europeans. They have twice been drawn in qualification groups with England, securing impressive 2-2 and 0-0 draws away to the Auld Enemy.
The Macedonians will provide a stern test and their most influential player is Goran Pandev, who with 13 goals in 37 caps is their top striker. He is currently playing his club football in Serie A with Lazio, where he has scored 41 goals since joining in 2004. Burley’s boys will have to pay him particular attention.
The game kicks off at 2pm our time amidst searing heat in Skopje. Burley has taken some flak for the team not flying into Macedonia until Friday but I understand his view of needing to get a good training session before departing, where he will likely have decided on his tactics and line-up.
A line-up which has once more been affected through call offs. Yesterday, 3rd choice goalkeeper David Marshall, Birmingham striker Garry O’Connor and perhaps more crucially, Rangers defender David Weir, all pulled out of the squad through injury. Though Aberdeen keeper Jamie Langfield and Rangers defender Kirk Broadfoot have been called up, Burley today lost the services of full backs Callum Davidson and Kevin McNaughton, as well as Rangers midfielder Kevin Thomson. Hearts’ Michael Stewart has been drafted in to replace Thomson.
But with Alan Hutton and Barry Ferguson missing as well, Scotland have a little uncertainly about the side. Craig Gordon is a given in goal and with Allan McGregor an able deputy, this is one area that we are covered in. I believe that even at 38, Weir can play a vital role in defence and his experience, particularly in a hostile environment like Macedonia, will be missed. With this in mind, I believe Burley has to go with an experienced back four.
This would mean Graham Alexander and Gary Naysmith at full backm with Celtic duo Stephen McManus and Gary Caldwell at the heart of the defence. McManus has been skipper in Ferguson’s absence while Caldwell has played enough with him at club level and on the international scene to do a job. A game like this is one where an inexperienced player like Falkirk’s Darren Barr shouldn’t be risked.
In midfield, there is no doubt Ferguson will be missed and it is time for Darren Fletcher and Scott Brown to step up a gear. Fletcher in particular was disappointing in last month’s draw with Northern Ireland but we will look to him to get on the ball, slow the pace of the game and dictate the play. I’d go with Paul Hartley to play in a midfield holding role beside him to try and nulify the threat of runners from the home side’s midfield when they attack. Barry Robson would come in beside Fletcher to make a 5 man midfield as I believe Macedonia will play similarly to Georgia and McLeish strayed from this system which was successful in Paris and went 4-4-2, and we ended up losing. I think getting bodies in midfield then breaking forward to support the lone frontman, who I suspect will be Kenny Miller, is the way we should start the game.
While Brown is more suited in the middle, he is certainly capable of playing on the right hand side and has the pace to trouble any defender. However, cross balls are going to have to improve, and the same goes for full backs Alexander and Naysmith, who will be charged with bombing forward to support the wide men.
On the left hand side, both Kris Commons and James Morrison have a case to start, having both looked lively in their formative Scotland appearances. However, I would play James McFadden there. Scotland fans and Faddy himself may disagree, but I felt the Miller/ McFadden pairing didn’t really work against the Northern Irish. I feel that McFadden was starved of the ball and is better suited playing that little bit deeper where he’ll see more of it and can run at defenders. The Macedonians won’t be too happy to see Faddy take it to them so I’d play him there.
Up front, I’d go with Kenny Miller. If Burley were to go 4-4-2, then I’d drop Robson out of midfield and add Kris Boyd to the same line-up but Miller for me has to start. He has been tremendous in the last couple of years in a Scotland shirt and will be high on confidence following his double for Rangers in last weekend’s Old Firm game.
Also, he has scored numerous important goals for Scotland and his workrate will eat away at the home defence. He runs into good areas and protects the ball well while waiting for support which will be a key asset to us on Saturday.
Enough of that though. For me, I’d be absolutely thrilled with 3 points but I’d say a draw would be a good result before we go to Iceland a week today. Saturday will be a tough game but here’s hoping the team can begin a memorable road to end 10 years of heartache.
Ross Hart.
