Scotland vs Slovenia - Strachan admits Scotland hopes would end with loss - 7M sport

Scotland vs Slovenia - Strachan admits Scotland hopes would end with loss



Posted Sunday, March 26, 2017 by PA

Gordon Strachan insists there will be no grey areas clouding Scotland's World Cup rescue plan when they face Slovenia on Sunday.

The Scots' hopes of reaching Russia 2018 have been left dangling by a thread after claiming just four points from their first four games.

And Strachan says anything less than a win when the Slovenians visit Hampden will spell the end of another qualification bid.

But the national team manager hopes such clarity of focus will ensure his men get the result they desperately require.

He said: "There's no grey areas to it. It's must-win. That's dealing with reality. We have to win.

"But sometimes when you have a challenge like that in life, it brings the best out of you.

"So we will have a team ready for that challenge of 'must-win' tomorrow."

If Scotland cannot find the victory which will keep their qualifying campaign on life support for another three months before June's showdown with England, the likelihood is Strachan will fall on his sword and bring his four-year reign to an end.

But the former Celtic boss will leave the lament of his time in charge until after Scotland's fate is decided.

"My only concern right at the moment is three points and getting to Russia - that is it," he said when quizzed on the ramifications of another slip-up for his own position.

"Other things will happen in my life after football. We can look at that later on.

"But every football manager, every Scottish person would love to be in my position right now. I'm the lucky one, I get on with it and with the players I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Wednesday night's drab 1-1 draw in a friendly with Canada at Easter Road has hardly filled the Tartan Army with the same enthusiasm given the wretched campaign they have endured so far.

But the manager insists there is reason to be optimistic after reflecting on the performance against the Auld Enemy back in November.

The Scots took the the fight to England at Wembley yet still ended up on the wrong side of a 3-0 scoreline.

But the expected introduction of Celtic's on-form Stuart Armstrong should ensure there is a fresh dose of of self-belief in Strachan's ranks when they take on a side sitting second behind Gareth Southgate's Three Lions side in qualifying Group F.

"It's great if you can bring along a group of lads that are always on form - but I don't think that ever happens where everyone who comes along to the squad is feeling good about themselves," said Strachan.

"That is what you need to suss sometimes, because four or five months is a long time in football and form can change rapidly.

"But what we have done is pick a team for tomorrow that is feeling good about themselves.

"It might be completely different from the England game but what I'm hoping is that I'll get the same commitment, same bravery on the ball. If we get that, then smashing."

Slovenia skipper Bostjan Cesar says his side will aim to hush a half-empty Hampden.

The fed-up Tartan Army have responded to their team's campaign by snapping up fewer than 30,000 tickets so far for the qualifier.

Chievo defender Cesar has sampled the Hampden roar before when his side last visited Glasgow back in 2004 and was blown away by the experience.

And he reckons it will be a significant boost for his side - who have Fiorentina ace Josip Ilicic fit after an ankle injury scare - if the famously noisy home support stay at home.

He said: "I played here in 2004 and remember the atmosphere was amazing, really good.

"If the stadium will not be full and the atmosphere not at full capacity then that could be a plus for us.

"But we still have to do our thing on the pitch."



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