Scotland manager gets a wait off his mind
burley insists he has men to clinch African spot
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George Burley insists he has assembled a group of players capable of ending Scotland’s long absence from major tournament finals.
The national coach is backing his squad to reproduce the results which took the team to the brink of qualification for Euro 2008 when the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign gets under way in Macedonia this afternoon.
Going into the match without a win in three friendly games, Burley admits he is feeling the weight of expectation that comes with his position.
Scotland, who will give a late fitness test to James Morrison as the casualty count grows, will have to cope with the attack-minded Macedonians and the sweltering heat in Skopje – and Burley’s men have a lot to prove.
Temperatures proved to be every bit as stifling as Burley and his players feared they would be when the squad arrived in Macedonia yesterday.
Burley said: “There is more pressure and weight on my shoulders than ever before – but I think as a manager I am privileged to be given this opportunity.
“It is up us to prove we have class in the squad. We are very passionate and never give in. We fight right to the death and give 100%.
“The team did exceptionally well in the last European championship against top-class opposition and just failed.
“We are in a qualification group which is very difficult again and we have to show that we are good enough and earn the right to qualify."
Burley wants the Scotland supporters who have made the long trip to join his united effort.
He said: “We will be judged on our performances and now it is a case of everybody working together. We have not been to the finals for 10 years. Now it is about whether we can we pull that together to give it our best shot this time. If we pull together we won’t be far away.
“This is not about George Burley, this is about trying to take the country to a World Cup finals.
“I don't win or lose games and for me it is about getting a squad of players together and trying our best to qualify.”
Burley has had to defend his preparations for today’s match, particularly delaying the squad’s arrival until the eve of the game, but believes everything has fallen into place.
He said: “Every game is different and we have a plan for the game against Macedonia. It is not about playing one striker or two strikers, it is about getting the right combination of players. It is not about systems – it is about players."
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