The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Lawman: Time is right for Scotland to shine
Strachan is building for Euro 2016
Former Scotland attacker Denis Law has backed manager Gordon Strachan to end the national team’s 18- year absence from major international tournaments.
Aberdonian Law, who is the country’s joint leadingscorer with Kenny Dalglish with 30 goals, has been hugely encouraged by the progress made under Strachan and is confident the former Don can lead Scotland to the finals of Euro 2016 in France.
Law, the only Scot to have won the prestigious Ballon d’Or award, had been appalled by the defensive tactics deployed by Strachan’s predecessor Craig Levin, who infamously used a 4-6-0 formation in a 1-0 defeat against the Czech Republic.
The 74- year- old said: “I’m absolutely delighted Gordon’s managing Scotland. He is a manager who wants his teams to be positive.
“He’s attempting to play good, attacking football and he has got the crowd behind him now.
“We don’t have to mention names but there was one before who didn’t even have a forward line. How does that come about?
“We are Scotland. We were always an attacking
“We were always an attacking team that tried to play nice football”
team that tried to play nice football and score goals.
“And the good thing is that is back under Gordon.”
Law admits that he could barely believe what he was watching when Scotland lined up in an ultra-negative formation in Prague four years ago.
He said: “Itwas a sad day for Scotland. It was very disappointing. How can you win games, how can you entertain people? Was it all about avoiding defeat? Yes.
“I know it’s changing as the years go on and we don’t have the players in numbers that we used to.
“But good players are still coming through and Gordon will take us forward. If it happens for Scotland it will happen under Gordon because he wants to entertain the people.”
Law is looking forward to the Republic of Ireland’s visit on Friday but next week’s friendly match with England also excites him.
He added: “I was at Wembley last year when they brought the fixture back.
“We played extremely well even though we lost 3-2. But that wasn’t the point. It was that people realised Scotland were back on the international scene.
“The crowd loved it. They really got behind Scotland. It makes life easier for me at the golf course, too, when Scotland are doing well.
“They really did rub it in. It would be nice to getthem back.
“Can we beat them? Of course we can.
“Even the last time we played well and we were unlucky to lose. But I feel going into this next meeting that it’s going to be even more of a game.
“I do feel we can beat them. I’m not just saying it. There’s a real feeling about us now. Even English supporters are looking at us and thinking Scotland have a team again. It’s been a while.”