Mcghee wants end to apathy

MARK McGHEE last night urged Scotland’s players to end the culture of apathy and defeatism surrounding international games at Hampden. The Scots host Croatia in the final World Cup qualifier in Glasgow on Tuesday still chasing their first home win of the campaign. A pitiful tally of two points in four home qualifiers wrecked any slender hopes of reaching Brazil, and McGhee — Gordon Strachan’s assistant — says it’s time expectations were raised. Shocked by the level of acceptance and resignation by the home support after Wales beat the national team 2-1 in March, the Scotland No2 revealed: ‘What brought it home to me was the kind of shrug of the shoulders

after the Wales game. There wasn’t a tumultuous defiance about being beaten by Wales. ‘There was a shrug and a feeling of: “That’s what happens to us” — and we have to change that.’ Referring to recent improvements in performance, including away victories in Croatia and Macedonia, McGhee continued: ‘We’ve started that process and now we have to continue it. We lost to a great side in Belgium, but it was at home and it was another defeat. ‘I know the Scotland support have become a little bit resigned to what they see at Hampden. ‘Other teams and countries like Croatia expect their team to win at home. But, given the four games we’ve just had, I think that pressure is now back on us. Regardless of how we played against Wales, our fans will be turning up expecting the possibility of a victory.’ The Tartan Army have earned praise for their willingness to shrug aside defeat, but McGhee believes fans have been beaten down by years of mediocrity. As the nation faces up to the prospect of missing an eighth successive major international finals, the former Aberdeen boss has called for a change of mindset. ‘I think it comes from the team. If the team has mediocre performances and results, then that becomes the norm. ‘What we’re trying and hoping to do is change that mentality. There has to be a certain level of expectation to put pressure on the players to force a performance. I don’t think that’s a bad thing. ‘I don’t think all the pressure being off is the best way to get a performance, they need a little bit of pressure and expectation. ‘They need to think: “Right, we’ve done well in these four games, we’ve beaten Croatia away now can we beat them at home”. ‘That sort of thinking galvanises you.’ Robert Snodgrass was missing from the squad yesterday, but could still be back with the squad for Tuesday if his wife gives birth soon, while Jordan Rhodes is the other absentee through injury. ‘Jordan is the only one missing,’ said McGhee. ‘Snoddy isn’t here because his wife is in labour or is overdue to be in labour, but we expect him here as soon as. ‘Gordon has said she has 24 hours or he is going down to the hospital to induce her.’ Meanwhile, McGhee laughed off comments made by Berti Vogts yesterday, when the German said he had once approached a teenage Wayne Rooney about playing for Scotland under the mistaken belief he had a Scottish grandparent. The offer was declined by Rooney, then an Everton player, who went on to make his England debut at the age of 17. When asked about the bizarre attempt to get Rooney in a dark blue jersey, McGhee quipped: ‘He would never get in our team!’