Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LET’S PLAY IT FOR UKRAINE
ALLY McCOIST has told Scotland it will be “us against the world” if and when they finally face Ukraine in their postponed World Cup play-off.
But McCoist, who played for his country 61 times and is a legend for the Tartan Army, hopes FIFA will do all they can to ensure the game at Hampden happens.
A request from the Ukrainian FA for the tie to be put back until June following the Russian invasion was granted.
McCoist fears even that may be too soon - but believes Ukraine should be given as much help as possible to ensure that their hopes of going to Qatar next November don’t get destroyed by Vladimir Putin’s bombs.
“With all the madness that is going on in the world right now, there are much more important things for the Ukrainian people to worry about than football,” said McCoist. “Like living or dying.
“Like the rest of the world, I am hoping that peace comes quickly and that their lives can return to some kind of normality.
“I also think that it’s important for FIFA to show a willingness to put the game back even further if there is even a small chance that Ukraine can come to Hampden.
“The least those people deserve is for football to stand with them – and that means allowing the Ukrainians all the time they need to be able to prepare and play the game.
“From a Scottish point of view, I don’t want us to get a bye. Everyone in Scotland wants to welcome Ukraine to Hampden so we can give them the welcome they deserve and show that we are with them.
“It will be Scotland against the world. I’ll be honest, half of me wants Ukraine to win the game and go on to qualify for the World Cup. That’s human nature.”
Scotland or Ukraine will meet the winners of the clash between Wales and Austria for the right to go to the World Cup.
McCoist was speaking on a visit to AFC Fylde in his role as an ambassador for the National Lottery Football Weekends campaign.
The National League North club set up a ‘Preventing Loneliness’ project with the help of lottery funds to help vulnerable people aged over 65 during the pandemic.
He added: “I was lucky enough to go to the World Cup in 1990 – and when I was left out of the squad eight years later, I was heartbroken. It still hurts even now.
“Could you imagine a Scotland v Wales game to go to the World Cup? Fantastic.
“Steve Clarke and his players are in limbo at the moment, so I feel for them on a professional level.
“But hopefully we will get to play Ukraine at Hampden - and I’ll be on my feet like everyone else giving their boys a standing ovation.
“As soon as the referee blows his whistle, it will be business as usual.
“I can assure you, the Ukraine players would want it just like that.”