Biggest game for years
Leigh Griffiths is bursting with pride.
He’s proud of the way he tackled the shortcomings in his fitness and established himself as a top international footballer.
But, as he prepares for the biggest game of his career, the Celtic striker is very aware that pride comes before a fall.
Scotland have won three World Cup qualifying ties in a row, and hopes of making it to Russia 2018 have been reborn.
However, the dream will die unless Gordon Strachan’s men win in Slovenia tonight and secure a play-off spot.
Griffiths said: “I’m proud of myself and my family are proud of me. But it matters for nothing if we don’t get to the play-offs.
“I think after the England game at Wembley, everyone had written us off.
“We’ve turned it right round and are now just one game away.
“We have to put in another massive performance to get the win, but we are capable of beating them.
“Yeah, it’s probably the biggest game of my career.
“It’s not just us we are playing for – there are five million out there.
“We sent a lot of folk home happy from Hampden on Thursday night, but it counts for nothing if we don’t do the job in Slovenia.”
The upturn in the fortunes of the Scotland side has been mirrored by Griffiths establishing himself as the country’s No. 1 striker.