We’re not going to get a better chance.. I hope boys grasp it
Naisy eyes call for Euro finals bid
STEVEN NAISMITH has urged Scotland to grasp their Euro 2020 play-off semi-final chance – and insists he’d be ready to help fire them to next summer’s finals. The Hearts captain will be kicking every ball from home tonight when Steve Clarke’s men face Israel at Hampden in the country’s biggest game for years. The triple-header with the Israelis, Slovakia and Czech Republic came too soon for Naisy with Jambos only playing their first competitive game of the season against Caley Thistle on Tuesday. But he’ll be watching hoping the Scots – despite yesterday’s blows of losing three key players due to coronavirus protocols and three more to injury – can win to set up a final against Norway or Serbia for a place in the tourney. Naismith would love to earn a recall for that and believes Clarke’s side will set up the showdown. The Tynecastle star said: “I’ll be watching it, eagerly anticipating and hoping for a good performance, but a win. I’m very confident that we will. “It’s a big meet-up, it’s what it all boils down to. “It’s been delayed and it has its issues with not having the fans, but we’re not going to get a better chance and I hope the boys can grasp it. “The lack of competitive games is a big issue for any of the players outwith the top flight, that was always going to put you at a disadvantage. “I just need to keep playing. I’ve been out of the squad before and got back in it. The bigger picture is that you want the country to win and get back to a major finals.
“It’s been so long and what a chance it is. I’d never say never. All I can do is try and play well for Hearts and get up to speed.
“Hearts have lots of games coming up. We’ve got a semi-final coming up and I’m not going to rule myself out.
“I’ll keep working as hard as I can to do it. The manager knows what I can bring so if it happens, it happens.
“He’s said that before and he has spoken to me about it as well. It’s going to be about how you are playing as an individual.
“The manager knows what I’m about and what I am capable of, it’s not where I am playing, it’s more about what I can bring to the team.
“But there’s a lot of competition for places and a lot of boys doing well. So you just need to work on your own game.”
Hearts team-mate Craig Gordon is in the same boat as Naisy, and showed his class with a wonder save in the 1-0 Betfred Cup win over Caley.
Naisy added: “Craig and I are in the same situation.
“He will be our best signing of the summer. That’s no disrespect to any of the other boys who have come in, that’s just how good a player he is.
“He can still produce saves like that. He’s a guy who has always been proud to play for his country and has never ruled out going back in.
“So I’m sure he’ll be doing all he can as well.”
Naismith is now gearing up to face Cowdenbeath at the weekend and admits he needs games. He said: “At this time of the season, you just want games. It’s what we want as we’ve got big games coming up.”
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