The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Ex-boss fears Scots are ‘lambs to the slaughter’
Peru and Mexico friendlies ‘not the most appropriate fixtures’, says Brown
Former Scotland manager Craig Brown fears Alex McLeish and his players will be lambs to the slaughter in South America this week.
New boss McLeish and his players face two teams heading to the World Cup finals next month in Peru and Mexico.
The Scots take on Peru tomorrow before facing Mexico on Saturday but Brown, the last Scotland manager to lead the nation to the finals of a major tournament at the World Cup in France in 1998, fears the worst, saying: “Scotland are lambs to the slaughter for these two games, they really are.
“They have to deal with high temperatures, altitude and an intimidating atmosphere against two countries finalising their preparations for the World Cup.
“Peru and Mexico will have their strongest squads available and the players will be eager to impress as they try to make the starting line-up for Russia.
“I had a similar situation when I took the Scotland team to Holland in 1994 for a friendly before the World Cup finals in the United States.
“There was a carnival atmosphere among the Dutch support in Utrecht and the stadium was a sea of orange.
“The fans were dancing and singing and the home side were really up for the game. It was a horrendous experience for us. It will be a huge surprise and marvellous achievement if we get anything out of these matches. Everything is weighted against us.”
McLeish has taken an inexperienced squad to South America and while Brown hopes some of the new faces can impress the national team manager he believes the timing of the friendlies has put the Scotland boss in a difficult position.
He said: “Alex has taken the squad there but I’m sure it is in sufferance.
“It will be a great benefit for young players like Scott McKenna but these games will also bring an unnecessary pressure on Alex. I don’t think these are the most appropriate fixtures and whoever organised these games should hang their head in shame.”
He may be the eternal optimist but Brown is convinced Scotland’s absence from the summer party at the finals of a major tournament are nearing an end.
It has been 20 years since his Scottish team graced the finals and the stage could not have been greater with Scotland given the privilege of opening the 1998 World Cup in France against champions Brazil.
It was the last tournament Scotland competed in but Brown, now a director at Aberdeen, is confident McLeish can break the cycle of failure.
He said: “The opening game of the World Cup in France in 1998 is a career highlight for me as it is regarded as the highest profile game in the history of the Scotland national team.
“We had 110 countries and a television audience of more than one billion watching us take on the world champions Brazil and my job was to keep the focus on the game rather than occasion itself.
“If you had told me then that 20 years later we would still be waiting for the chance to play at the finals of another major tournament I would have been astonished.
“I was fortunate to be involved as a member of the coaching staff of five major tournaments in 12 years.
“It’s long overdue but we’re looking better equipped to end that drought now.”