SCOTLAND v BELGIUM, 7.45PM, SKY SPORTS

much quality. If you have nothing to lose you can start performing in a different manner.

“We need to be ready for that and I do not expect an easy game. We will have to stop the real threat of this Scottish side.”

Scotland have their work cut out and the bad news is Belgium mean business.

They have taken flak in their homeland for only managing to stick four past San Marino last week after a goalless 43 minutes to start and are calling for blood in Glasgow.

Martinez said: “We create an environment where I expect high performance in everything we do.

“Against San Marino we fell below those standards. I expect much better against Scotland.

“Everyone knows we are a talented attacking team.”

It all sounds rather ominous for Scotland and there was another bad omen lurking below the baseball cap of Dries Mertens. The Napoli man’s grey hair is not a sign he’s getting on a bit but the 32-year-old sticking to a worrying superstition.

Mertens left the Scots feeling blue in Brussels the last time when they won 3-0.

And he said: “I did it a year ago and it’s nice, every time I dye my hair I seem to score a goal in my next game.

“I feel good. Everything comes quite late in my career. I started at 18 or 19 with a team in Belgium before moving to Holland.

“We’ll see how many tournaments I can play. I’ll keep coming if they keep calling me.

“Sometimes I am disappointed to be on the bench. I scored twice against Scotland last time and ended up on the bench in the next game.

“I was angry for a day or two but it doesn’t last too long.”

Mertens is feeling a tad irate again after the sub-standard San Marino show.

He said: “The coach had a good blend on Friday but we didn’t do what he asked of us.

“Also San Marino didn’t play like the team at the bottom of the world rankings.

“This will be a completely different game. We will need to be much sharper against Scotland.”

Martinez will demand it even if it does make dinner at the in-laws a bit awkward this week.

He added: “I haven’t spoken to my father-in-law for three days. Hopefully he’ll be talking to me after the game.” MIDWEEK

ROBERTO MARTINEZ

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