Scotland captain Scott Brown insists the national team can end an 18-year absence from a major tournament finals by qualifying for the European championship finale in France in 2016.
Scotland dug deep to claim a priceless point in Poland last night after coming from behind to claim a draw in a pulsating 2016 European championship qualifier.
Goals from Shaun Maloney and Steven Naismith earned Gordon Strachan’s side a draw to keep Scotland in contention for automatic qualification for the finals, which will be held in France.
The draw leaves the Scots third in Group D, three points behind leaders Poland and the Republic of Ireland and level with world champions Germany, who were held at home by the Irish last night.
Martin O’Neill’s men are Scotland’s next opponents at Celtic Park next month and Brown knows it will be a hugely important game for the squad as the Scots bids to end their absence from a major tournament, which stretches back to the 1998 World Cup in France.
The Celtic midfielder said: “The Ireland game is going to be huge but every game is huge in this campaign. We’re in a good position and if this squad can stay together we have a great chance of making the finals.
“We were unlucky not to take all three points here as we played well. We had chances ourselves to win but a point away from home against Poland is not too bad. We feel disappointed not to win, though.”
Maloney who scored the opening goal, was quick to praise the impact of attacking midfielder Ikechi Anya, who again impressed wide left for the Dark Blues.
He said: “The manager has been demanding of us as a team. We kept possession well but we just couldn’t quite hang on.
“Ikechi has brought a massive amount of pace to the team, especially away from home. His pace is a big asset to us and he has shown it in the last couple of away games.”
Poland’s shock win against Germany on Saturday has changed the complexion of the group dramatically, with many expecting the Germans to win the group comfortably, leaving Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and Poland to compete for second place.
But the group dubbed the toughest of all the sections by Strachan remains wide open.
The Scotland manager will be pleased to have come through the two toughest games of the campaign, away to Germany and Poland, within touching distance of the early pacesetters.
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