Italy will face toughest game says McLeish Written by: AFP  |  |
| | Scotland boss Alex McLeish, seen here in October 2007, has warned Italy to expect the toughest game of their lives in their crucial Euro 2008 match at Hampden on 17 November. |
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GLASGOW (AFP) - Alex McLeish has warned Italy to expect the toughest game of their lives in their crucial Euro 2008 match at Hampden on Saturday.
The Scotland boss was in confident mood ahead of his side's final group B match, and insists his side have the mettle to score a major upset against the World Champions.
Victory for Scotland would ensure qualification for the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland - and leave Italy and France battling out for the remaining qualification spot.
Although Scotland were not expected to qualify from the group - which also includes Ukraine - the nation, and McLeish, believe they can make their first major tournament since the World Cup in France in 1998.
He said: "We have a wonderful opportunity now. No-one gave us a prayer at the start of this campaign but now everyone expects us to take care of the World Champions.
"The players have captured the imagination of the nation and united the whole country and they deserve great credit for that."
Only a victory for Scotland would guarantee qualification. A draw would mean that Ukraine would have to win at home to France on Wednesday to take McLeish's team to the finals next summer.
It is a daunting task against the World Champions but it is one the Scottish manager believes his players are capably of overcoming.
He said: "We know Italy have world class players - you don't win the World Cup if you don't - and there is no point in me singling any of them out as they have matchwinners throughout their whole squad.
"So we know we have to stop these world class players from doing what they are capable of.
"But there is a massive belief among our players that we can show we can get the result.
"We know we need to win the game but sometimes in football you don't get the result you want and there can be disappointments.
"But I will tell you this, the players won't bottle it and even if we don't get the win we will make sure will have a tough game, possibly the toughest they have experienced.
"It is up to us to put Italy under pressure and make sure they feel as if they are playing an away game.
"I'm sure the Scottish fans will make sure that's the case and the players will do that as well."
While McLeish believes his players are capable of defeating the Italians he called on the Scottish fans to show their thanks to them even if they do not achieve the result they are hoping for.
He said: "We are all privileged people to be in this situation. It has been a brilliant experience for all the players and for me, and we can all take a lot from the campaign already.
"No-one will be more disappointed than the players and the backroom staff if we do not get the result we need but I hope the fans show their appreciation for what has been acheived throughout the campaign.
"It has been a successful campaign already but we want to take the final step now."