Strachan recently led the Hoops to an now infamous 1-0 win over Italian giants AC Milan, and now believes his country can do the same in the decisive game to see who shall qualify from Group A.
"Yes, we can beat Italy, I have no doubts about that whatsoever," he told.
"We've all enjoyed what the team has achieved so far,. It's now down to the last game, so they've got to go for it.
"Whatever happens, this is the best in terms of excitement and performance of any Scotland team trying to qualify."
Celtic defender Gary Caldwell was part of the Celtic side that beat European champions AC Milan in Glasgow just over a fortnight ago and he backed his club manager’s thoughts,
"The atmosphere at Hampden on an international day is great," said Caldwell, who missed the matches against Ukraine and Georgia with a knee injury.
"And I'm sure the Tartan Army will get behind us again.
"It would be great for us to get to a finals. It's been a long time - too long - for them to miss out, so it would be good to do it this
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Strachan: We Beat Milan, Scotland Can Beat Italy
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Rehhagel: We Will Win In Turkey
As I’ve told in the past, the group stage is like a 400 meter run. Now we are leading in the final stretch of our race but do not think we are through yet," the German-born coach said to reporters, before adding:
"We are not over the finishing line yet but we are very close. As a goal is a goal only when the whole ball passes the line. Mathematically, we are not through yet."
Rehhagel congratulated his players for the effort they put in but didn’t forget to criticize them for allowing the visitors to reduce the gap with a goal in the stoppage time.
"The players worked very had and we deserved the lead but I was unhappy with elements of our game after that," said Rehhagel.
"We let Bosnia to reduce the deficit. If there were five more minutes of game we would suffer. "
Greece now travel to Istanbul on Wednesday for the big derby of Group C. Last March, Rehhagel’s boys faced a humiliating 4-1 home defeat to Turkey, their only one in the qualifying stages so far. As he admitted his and his players’ mind are still on that result
"We have not forgotten our defeat to Turkey in the first game so we want to get something good in Istanbul."
The defending champions are virtually through to the finals of Austria and Switzerland as they now need only three points in the last three games against Turkey, Malta and Hungary to qualify. Turkey and Norway face each other in the penultimate round of the qualifying stage, which means that only one of them can advance to the finals.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Euro 2008 (Qualifiers)
Group A
Armenia - Serbia
Azerbaijan - Portugal
Poland - Kazakhstan
Belgium - Finland
Group B
Scotland - Ukraine
Faroe Islands - France
Italy - Georgia
Group C
Hungary - Malta
Moldova - Turkey
Greece - Bosnia
Group D
Slovakia - San Marino
Cyprus - Wales
Ireland - Germany
Group E
England - Estonia
Croatia - Israel
Group F
Iceland - Latvia
Liechtenstein - Sweden
Denmark - Spain
Group G
Belarus - Luxembourg
Romania - Holland
Slovenia - Albania
Friday, October 12, 2007
Italy Bank On Reluctant 'Saviour'
Luca Toni will lead Italy's attack against Georgia on Saturday after sitting out last month's Group B games against France and Ukraine with a thigh injury.
Purple patch
Since leaving ACF Fiorentina for FC Bayern München in the summer, Toni has scored eight goals in as many Bundesliga matches – and the Azzurri sorely missed him in the goalless visit of France. "I was very sad to miss that game against France, especially as we had lost to them in Paris," the 30-year-old said. "However, my fitness problems are over and I feel in great form."
'High expectations'
Italy coach Roberto Donadoni can hope for a sharper performance with Toni up front, though the man himself is quick to play down his potential role. "I don't feel like the saviour of Italy," he said. "I'm just aware of my responsibilities and am happy to deal with high expectations. I have scored a lot of goals for Bayern but only because there is a great team supporting me. I think it will be the same with Italy."
Tight section
The UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying picture remains complicated for the world champions, who are one point behind group leaders Scotland and one above France. "I was not expecting Scotland to win in France [in their last game] and this result has made everything more difficult for us," Toni said. "But I won't be cheering against Scotland [when they play Ukraine] as we need to concentrate on our own campaign. If we win all three remaining matches we are through so we don't need to watch the others. We must start by taking three points against Georgia in Genoa."
( Article Of Uefa.com )
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Results Of Euro 2008 (Qualifiers)
Group A
Serbia 0 - 0 Finland
Portugal 2 - 2 Poland
Goals: Lewandowski ( 0:1), Maniche (1:1), C.Ronaldo (2:1), Krzynowek (2:2)
Group B
Scotland 3 - 1 Lithuania
Goals: Boyd (1:0), Danilevicius (1:1), McManus (2:1), McFadden (3:1)
Georgia 1 - 1 Ukraine
Goals: Shelaev (0:1), Siradze (1:1)
Italy 0 - 0 France
Group C
Hungary 1 - 0 Bosnia-Herzegovina
Goals: Gera (1:0)
Malta 2 - 2 Turkey
Goals: Said (1:0), Altintop (1:1), Schembr (2:1), Cetin (2:2)
Moldova 0 - 1 Norway
Goals: Iversen( 0:1)
Group D
San Marino 0 - 3 Czech Republic
Goals: Rosicky (1:0), Jankulovski (2:0), Koller (3:0)
Slovakia 2 - 2 Ireland
Goals: Ireland (0:1), Klimpl (1:1) , Doyle (1:2),Cech (2:2)
Wales 0 - 2 Germany
Klose (0:1), (0:2)
Group E
Russia 3 - 0 Macedonia
Goals: Berezutski (1:0),Arshavin (2:0), Kerzhakov (3:0)
England 3 - 0 Israel
Goals: Phillips (1:0), Owen (2:0), Richards (3:0)
Croatia 2 - 0 Estonia
Goals: Silva (1:0), (2:0)
Group F
Latvia 1 - 0 Northern Ireland
Goals: Baird (1:0)
Sweden 0 - 0 Denmark
Iceland 1 - 1 Spain
Goals: Hallfredsson (1:0), Iniesta (1:1)
Group G
Luxembourg 0 - 3 Slovenia
Goals: Lavric (0:1), Novakovic (0:2), Lavric (0:3)
Belarus 1 - 3 Romania
Goals: Mutu (1:0), Romashchenko (1:1), Dica (1:2), Mutu (1:3)
Holland 2 - 0 Bulgaria
Goals: Sneijder (1:0), Nistelrooy (2:0)
Friday, September 7, 2007
Euro 2008 (Qualifiers)
September 8
2007
Group A
Serbia - Finland
Portugal - Poland
Group B
Scotland - Lithuania
Georgia - Ukraine
Italy - France
Group C
Hungary - Bosnia
Malta - Turkey
Moldova - Norway
Group D
San Marino - Czech Republic
Slovakia - Ireland
Wales - Germany
Group E
Russia - Rep. of Macedonia
England - Israel
Croatia - Estonia
Group F
Latvia - Northern Ireland
Sweden - Denmark
Iceland - Spain
Group G
Luxembourg - Slovenia
Belarus - Romania
Holland - Bulgaria
