GORDON STRACHAN last night stoked hopes of an end to Scotland’s World Cup wilderness years by declaring: “This is our time”.
The Scots kick off their Russia 2018 qualifying campaign in Malta tonight knowing anything less than a win could seriously damage their chances.
But Strachan insists his side are on the right track to reach their first major tournament for 20 years.
“It is my belief that this is our time,” said Strachan.
“We’ve got to look to carry another three or four points than we did in the last campaign.
“But there’s no real target to it – I’ve never done that anywhere in my life as a manager.
“Just get on and enjoy it, enjoy the challenge and see where you end up.
“I’ve been excited for the last couple of weeks and even more so since meeting up with the players.
“I’ve enjoyed the attitude of the players, working with good players and good professionals.
“I’m very excited about the new campaign.”
Strachan’s excitement has been tempered, although not completely extinguished, by the challenge presented by Malta.
They may be ranked 176th in the world and without a win in over a year but the Scotland boss insists they will be a tough nut to crack on their own turf.
And in support of his argument, he highlighted the difficulties some of football’s real top dogs have faced at the Ta’Qali national stadium.
“What we do know about Malta is they are very difficult for anyone to beat here,” he said.
“Croatia were one of the best sides at the Euros and they only won 1-0 here.
“Austria were the same, another European Championships side, they only won 2-1 and Italy, 1-0.
“That says it all about Malta.
“I don’t know where these rankings come from. It’s a complete and utter nonsense to have a side who only lose 1-0 to Croatia at 176th in the world.
“I don’t know what computer works it out but they should take it away and get it fixed.
“Anybody who knows anything – and I mean anything – about football knows this is not going to be easy.”
Strachan has been relatively guarded about his personal pain at missing out on a trip to France this summer.
The Scotland gaffer has hinted at it but never revealed its depths.
Now, any despair he may have felt has been completely washed away, to be replaced with pure positivity.
Strachan said: “When you come back and meet these guys, especially the younger ones, you get inspired.
“I watched them training this week and I thought: ‘Yeah, I love football.’
“I love watching good players, good professionals, good lads. It’s been an inspiring week for me.
“We’ve got seven young players who have come in to the squad.
“They are not there because they are young, they are there because they have proved themselves to the coaching staff and the players by playing well in the games we have played, or being good about the place.
“They have given us all a lift after the disappointment of not qualifying.”
Strachan’s babes may have lifted their gaffer’s spirits but he isn’t getting completely carried away.
While optimism is fine in carefully measured doses, too much of it can be dangerous.
That’s why, one year to the day after the defeat in Georgia that killed our Euro 2016 hopes, Scotland’s manager isn’t going to tip his team to top the group, despite his belief that
qualification can be secured.
Instead, he will happily settle for second place – and a play-off battle to decide our World Cup fate.
He said: “I think if you ask anyone around the football world if that was the case they’d say it was correct.
“If that’s the way it’s got to be done, then that’s the way it’s got to be done.
“I do believe we have a good side.
“We’ve got hard games. Slovenia and Slovakia are going to be hard, similar to Poland and the Republic from the last campaign.
“Then you have the massive big team at the top in England. Last time it was Germany, and we are looking to improve on those performances against them.
“People will ask when the big game is coming. You never know.
“The big game from the last campaign was Georgia away, so you never know when the big one will be.”
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