LITHUANIA v SCOTLAND, TONIGHT, 7.45, LIVE ON SKY
Barry Ferguson
talking about the fact this is a totally different game and the type of fixture where Scotland have a history of slipping up.
It’s easy to get up for games against England, Italy, France and Germany but it’s about getting motivated for other games. Sometimes when you’re playing a lesser nation you don’t get your mind on it but what a chance they have.
Lithuania came here and got a 1-1 draw and we’ve won only once over there in four visits so we know it’s going to be tough.
But if we’re being totally honest our players, without being disrespectful, are miles better than Lithuania’s.
They’ve got a couple of guys playing at Hibs and others at a decent level but I’d rather have the Scotland squad all day long. The game actually brings back memories for me as the last time we played in Vilnius in 1998 I made the first of 45 appearances in a 0-0 draw.
While a lot has been said of the plastic pitch I would much rather play on that than the grass surface we had 19 years ago. As I recall that pitch was bumpy and there is just too much being made of the surface this time around.
I can’t imagine FIFA allowing a World Cup qualifier to be played unless the pitch is a certain standard. There simply can’t be any excuses because if you look at the squad the Celtic players have played on astroturf at Kilmarnock and Hamilton.
Ideally you would be playing on a pitch that is like a bowling green but that is never going to be the case. Anyway, we simply need to take three points or our World Cup hopes are over.
I don’t care if it’s a horrible 1-0 or an unbelievable performance where we win 3-0 or 4-0. It’s about doing a professional job and if we do that the Malta game will take care of itself. If we win at Hampden we can go into the double header to finish the campaign full of confidence.
Slovakia and Slovenia play in the other game. I know you can never rely too much on favours but a draw would be excellent – but we need to worry about ourselves. I really enjoy watching Scotland games and will be settling down at home to watch it tonight and my mind might wander back to my debut.
We’re turning the clock back now and a lot of people probably won’t remember much about it. I wouldn’t if it hadn’t been my first Scotland appearance!
At that time I never really thought much about how we played. For me it was about being alongside guys with so many caps and experience.
If you look back at the reports you’ll see it was a boring scoreless draw but I was only 20 years old and excited about making my debut and in awe of some of my team-mates.
The likes of Gary McAllister, John Collins, Colin Hendry, Paul Lambert and Ally McCoist all played that night.
I suppose there could have been more glamorous opponents and venues to make your debut but it would have been the same feeling for me regardless. It was a real buzz and a proud moment. It was a dream for me to play for Rangers after supporting them as a boy and making your debut for your country is up there as well.
And that was in an era when Scotland boasted some great players. That qualifier was the first match after France 98 and we had qualified for Euro 96 as well.
I was surprised at a young age to be involved but I had started playing regularly for Rangers that season and it was great to be alongside some of those guys. It’s just one of my regrets that, like them, I wasn’t able to get to a major tournament with Scotland.
That is probably the only thing that didn’t happen for me in my career. I watched Scotland at Italia 90 and Euro 92 when I was growing up.
You can go on about the Champions League which I was lucky enough to play in and is the biggest club competition but a World Cup or European Championship is the pinnacle for me.
It gives you the chance to play against the very best in the world and it’s just sad it will be 20 years next summer since we were last there. I just hope we don’t have to wait any longer. THOMAS LEMAR showed Arsenal what £92million would have got them as the French kid put Holland to the sword with a double in a thumping 4-0 World Cup romp.
The winger’s deadlineday move from Monaco broke down with the 21-year-old believed to be unconvinced the Emirates was right for him.
And Lemar, who had also been tracked by Liverpool, shrugged off the speculation to help send Les Bleus three points clear at the top of Group A.
The attacker unleashed a rising shot that gave Jasper Cillessen no chance after Antoine Griezmann nutmegged the Dutch keeper for France’s first.
Lemar hit his second from close range before clubmate Kylian Mbappe marked his season-long loan to Paris S -Germain – which includes an option to make the move permanent for £166m – by coming off the bench to drill in No.4.
Asked about his future Lemar said: “Right now I’m a Monaco player. I want to have a good season with my club to progress and to further my career.”
Sweden went down 3-2 in Bulgaria despite Celtic defender Mikael Lustig and Marcus Berg twice cancelling out goals before the break. Ivaylo Chochev’s 79th-minute strike proved decisive as Bulgaria made it four group wins from four on home soil.
Cristiano Ronaldo proved his five-match ban at Real Madrid hasn’t hurt his fitness as the 32-year-old bagged a fifth international hat-trick in their 5-1 win over the Faroe Islands.
William Carvalho and Norwich forward Nelson Oliveira were also on target as Portugal stayed three points off Group B leaders Switzerland, their 3-0 win over Andorra making it seven victories from seven.
And Belgium moved six points clear at the top of Group H as they routed Gibraltar 9-0 – despite playing 50 minutes with 10 men after Axel Witsel was sent off. Romelu Lukaku and Thomas Meunier both bagged trebles. LAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON SCOTLAND... COME ON