Scotland vs. Lithuania [R]

[markdickson]

Berti Vogts has recalled Kenny Miller and Darren Fletcher to the Scotland squad for next week's Euro 2004 qualifier at Hampden against Lithuania. Scotland must win the match to have a chance of going into the play-offs, and will be backed by a sell-out crowd in the search for goals.

Kenny Miller returned to action with Wolves last week after a lengthy lay-off and will give added punch to the Scotland attack, while Manchester United youngster Darren Fletcher could be in line for his second cap after making his debut in Norway.

SCOTLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers
Neil Alexander (Cardiff City)
Robert Douglas (Celtic)
Derek Stillie (Dunfermline Athletic)
Defenders
Graham Alexander (Preston North End)
Steven Caldwell (Newcastle United)
Christian Dailly (West Ham United)
Steven Pressley (Heart of Midlothian)
Andy Webster (Heart of Midlothian)
Lee Wilkie (Dundee)
Midfield
Colin Cameron (Wolverhampton W.)
Paul Devlin (Watford)
Barry Ferguson (Blackburn Rovers)
Darren Fletcher (Manchester United)
Kevin Harper (Portsmouth)
Jackie McNamara (Celtic)
Gary Naysmith (Everton)
Gavin Rae (Dundee)
Forwards
Stephen Crawford (Dunfermline Athletic)
Paul Dickov (Leicester City)
Neil McCann (Southampton)
James McFadden (Everton)
Kenny Miller (Wolverhampton W.)

BTW - Match is Scotland's first Hampden sell-out in 4 years!

[markdickson]

With Mo Ross suspended & Barry Ferguson at Blackburn, there are NO Rangers players in the squad!

Is this the first time that this has ever happened?

Also, no Thompson (injured), while Don Hutchison's career may be over.

[Scottish_Morton]

I got my tickets through the post this morning. Cannie wait!!!!! The atmosphere will be brilliant!

We have enough quality there to see off Lithuania easily. McFadden is a certain starter after his start at Everton. With Fletcher, Naysmith and Dickov also in great form in the Premiership we should be good.

[Desigol]

Here's a report into the squad.

http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=13784&pt=s

[markdickson]

If I was Herr Vogts:

Douglas

Alexander-Pressley-Dailly-Naysmith

Devlin-Ferguson-Cameron-McCann

Miller-McFadden

IMO it will be difficult to leave out Wilkie & Rae with the form they are in but I think Scotland will win 3-0, while Germany & Iceland draw 0-0.

Just have to hope for no injuries.

BTW, Don Hutchison hasn't been dropped, he's got a knee injury.

[markdickson]

Originally posted by markdickson
Alexander

I mean McNamara

[markdickson]

Originally posted by markdickson
Just have to hope for no injuries.

D!ckov out, McCann & Devlin doubtful.

Bradford's Andy Gray called-up

so I'll go with:

Douglas

McNamara-Pressley-Dailly-Naysmith

Fletcher-Fergsuon-Cameron-McFadden

Crawford-Miller

BTW, I think that Hutchison was dropped because he scored West Ham's winner at Derby on Saturday.

[Parkhead_Faithful]

Originally posted by markdickson
I mean McNamara


I should hope so, vernear choked on my irn bru there ;)

Id play Wilkie ahead of Dailly myself but apart from that youre selection is spot on, I have doubts about Kenny Miller's fitness though.

[manic jambo]

Hi guys, not posted here for a loooooooong time - computer problems!

My team for Saturday would be

DOUGLAS
MCNAMARA - PRESSLEY - DAILLY - NAYSMITH
CAMERON - RAE - FERGUSON - MCFADDEN
MILLER - CRAWFORD (due to lack af available alternatives)

With McCann out I would drop McFadden in to a deeper role to run at the Lithu's.

Biggest concern is in attack with Miller still not 100% match fit,Crawford not playing that well and no-one else available (Bring in Hutchison or Maloney as back up..)

[markdickson]

Originally posted by Parkhead_Faithful


Id play Wilkie ahead of Dailly myself

I think Berti might be forced to as Dailly's wife is expecting their first baby - Berti made some wise crack about going down to help deliver the baby so he could play on Saturday :)

I saw Lee Wilkie keep Mark de Vries in his back pocket in Saturday's game with Hearts & seems to be playing very well - Gavin Rae also.

Only 11 out-field players actually trained yesterday with Ferguson, Pressley & Gray all suffering from viruses.

[markdickson]

Scotland U21 3-2 Lithuania U21
0-1 M Stankevicius (5)
0-2 A Kucys (pen 71)
1-2 S Hammell (79)
2-2 S Hughes (90)
3-2 S Hughes (90+3)

A superb come-from-behind win.

Scots top group ahead of Germans but still go into a play-off with 9 other group winners and the 6 best runners up. (England are out :) )

8 winners qualify for the tourney which takes place next year.

http://www.ananova.com/sport/story/sm_827792.html

[markdickson]

Scotland 1-0 Lithuania (D.Fletcher 70mins)

Germany 3-0 Iceland

We're in the play-offs! :)

Ger 18
-------
Sco 14
-------
Ice 13
Lit 10
Far 1

[mcgready]

We're in the play-offs! :)

Yeah, against the Netherlands. Where in the hell was the Latvia draw?

[magggggggggiebhoy]

haha the funny part is we got latvia in the practice draw they have before the real one.....but in true scottish style we go and get holland second time around :)

its hard to believe this will be 2 major tournaments in a row without holland in them