Scotland will need to put up a historical performance against Spain tonight to reach the UEFA Euro 2012 playoffs and maintain their Poland and Ukraine dreams.
Spain have nothing to play for since they are sure Euro 2012 participants. But Del Bosque’s aim is to guide his team to a perfect run in the qualifiers.
The strength in depth of La Roja is so solid that even a second-choice squad could emerge with a confidence-boosting victory against Scotland tonight. Darren Fletcher commented on the titanic clash for his side.
“My experiences with Spanish sides, especially Barcelona, have not been great,” said the Manchester United midfielder according to UEFA.com.
“They [Spain] are the best side in the world – the world and European champions – so we are under no illusions of what we are up against.
“While there is still a fighting chance of qualifying, you want to be involved. I have great respect for the manager and all the lads, and as captain I want to be here and play my part.”
Analytically, Scotland’s chances of qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2012 playoffs are very slim. The 1-point advantage they currently hold over third-placed Czech Republic is not reassuring.
The Czechs are poised to defeat Lithuania in Kaunas tonight—even with the slightest of margins. But as the captain of the Scottish national team, Fletcher prefers to develop his courage as he explained:
“If you go there with fear you will end up playing into their hands. We know we will be under the cosh for long spells but we have to be positive as well as disciplined.
“If we open up too much and try to take the game to Spain, then I think we would get punished and be out of the game fairly quickly, so in that respect it is going to be difficult.
The probability, meanwhile, remains that the Spanish will take points away from the Scottish. Unless the Czechs suffer an upset in Lithuania, Scotland will be left with the mammoth task of spoiling Spain’s perfect record in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.
“It's in our hands and that's all you can ask for going into the final game,” Fletcher claimed before adding:
“Hopefully, Lithuania will do us a favor as well, which would be nice. No one is expecting us to win but you never know – stranger things have happened.”
As things stand, Scotland possess 11 points from 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats. The Czechs, who flopped at the 2008 European Championship, follow behind with 10 points.
The strength in depth of La Roja is so solid that even a second-choice squad could emerge with a confidence-boosting victory against Scotland tonight. Darren Fletcher commented on the titanic clash for his side.
“My experiences with Spanish sides, especially Barcelona, have not been great,” said the Manchester United midfielder according to UEFA.com.
“They [Spain] are the best side in the world – the world and European champions – so we are under no illusions of what we are up against.
“While there is still a fighting chance of qualifying, you want to be involved. I have great respect for the manager and all the lads, and as captain I want to be here and play my part.”
Analytically, Scotland’s chances of qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2012 playoffs are very slim. The 1-point advantage they currently hold over third-placed Czech Republic is not reassuring.
The Czechs are poised to defeat Lithuania in Kaunas tonight—even with the slightest of margins. But as the captain of the Scottish national team, Fletcher prefers to develop his courage as he explained:
“If you go there with fear you will end up playing into their hands. We know we will be under the cosh for long spells but we have to be positive as well as disciplined.
“If we open up too much and try to take the game to Spain, then I think we would get punished and be out of the game fairly quickly, so in that respect it is going to be difficult.
The probability, meanwhile, remains that the Spanish will take points away from the Scottish. Unless the Czechs suffer an upset in Lithuania, Scotland will be left with the mammoth task of spoiling Spain’s perfect record in the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.
“It's in our hands and that's all you can ask for going into the final game,” Fletcher claimed before adding:
“Hopefully, Lithuania will do us a favor as well, which would be nice. No one is expecting us to win but you never know – stranger things have happened.”
As things stand, Scotland possess 11 points from 3 wins, 2 draws and 2 defeats. The Czechs, who flopped at the 2008 European Championship, follow behind with 10 points.
