KEEP THE HEAD
Strachan urges calm on eve of crucial clash
GORDON STRACHAN insists his players won’t get carried away by the prospect of ending Scotland’s painful 20-year absence from major international tournaments.
the national team can all but secure one of the eight play-off slots for next summer’s World cup finals in Russia if they seal second place in Group F with a win in tomorrow’s do-or-die clash in Slovenia.
a dramatic, last-minute win over ten-man Slovakia at a euphoric hampden on thursday night raised hopes they might finally end the country’s long spell in the wilderness. however, despite crashing out of the running for second after losing to England at Wembley, Slovenia boast an unbeaten home record in the group.
and Strachan claims his players are keeping their feet on the ground after leapfrogging Slovakia in the table courtesy of Martin Skrtel’s own goal.
‘there’s a satisfaction thing,’ said Strachan. ‘there’s no euphoria. It’s not that. It’s just satisfaction, a
quiet satisfaction. Seriously. There is no singing and dancing and high-five hand-slapping. It really is just a glow of satisfaction. ‘What does that tell me? That they know the game in Slovenia is going to be big. That they need to be ready.’ Despite having little to play for, Slovenia have yet to concede a goal at home against any of their group rivals. Anything less than a Scotland win would let Slovakia finish second by beating Malta at home, with an unlikely series of results needed to deny the runners-up in Group F a place in the play-offs. Celtic duo Scott Brown and Stuart Armstrong remain unavailable, while Bournemouth winger Ryan Fraser last night pulled out of the squad with injury before today’s flight to Slovenia despite playing no part in Thursday’s game. But Andy Robertson has handed Strachan a major boost by declaring himself fit for tomorrow. The sight of the Liverpool full-back nursing a damaged wrist in the latter stages of the Slovakia match was a huge concern to the manager. Although 23-year-old Robertson initially feared he had broken his arm, he is adamant nothing will stop him trying to help the team win in Ljubljana. ‘I will be okay,’ insisted Robertson. ‘I will put a wrist protector on or I will just strap it up, but I should be all right. ‘I landed on my arm and then I couldn’t really feel anything so I was worried a bone might be broken, but the team doctor seems quite happy with it and he doesn’t think that there is anything broken. ‘My fingers are a wee bit fat and my wrist a bit swollen but other than that I am okay.’