Spirit can break the fighters
In-fighting could be the downfall as Scotland face their biggest two games for many years....

With no Hibs game to preview this weekend, this morning’s preview will be of the Scotland match.  The Dutch have a team of absolutely wonderful players, the majority of them being truly World Class, Scotland on the other hand have no world class players, What we do have though is the world famous Scottish team spirit, something which is lacking in the Dutch squad.

All week we have heard rumours of in fighting within the Dutch camp and a number of players not getting on with their coach, a Coach of course who is no stranger to the Scottish game or to Hampden, I am of course referring to Dick Advocaat, Who guided Rangers to numerous cup finals at Hampden park. This time however let’s hope he doesn’t win. Of course if Scotland do make it to Portugal next summer and defeat Holland over the two legs, it will probably mean the end of wee Dicks reign as Holland’s manager.

Dick Advocaat does however have the luxury of a team full of quality. A strike force any team in the world would love, He must choose from any of the following, Pierre Van Hooijdonk, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Roy Maakay, Marc Overmars and the biggest choice of all either Patrick Kliuvert or Ruud Van Nistelrooy while he's spoilt for choice over a Midfield and defence which includes Edgar Davids, Philip Cocu, Jaap Stam, Michael Reizieger, Frank De Boer, Giovanni Van Bronkhorst and Ajax’s captain, 20 year old wonder kid Rafael Van der Vaart.

O'Connor and Pressley - One for the future, one a key to the present (sns)

A squad which I’m sure is the envy of most. We on the other hand have no real superstars, although in a few years time we may be able to include James McFadden and Darren Fletcher into that category, both of whom are likely to be the width to the Scottish team with McFadden on the left and Fletcher on the right.  What our team does have though is a great amount of spirit and with a number of natural leaders, something the Dutch lack, on the pitch in Christian Dailly, Barry Ferguson, Jackie McNamara and Hearts captain Steven Pressley. Now we all know that the key to us getting a result today is that Pressley keeps his defence tight and not giving the Dutch strike force any chances, lining up along side Pressley is likely to be Christian Dailly who is a highly experience internationalist and one of the most passionate of our squad. The full back positions are likely to be filled with Celtic Jackie McNamara on the right and Everton’s Gary Naysmith.

The Scots engine room will sorely miss Colin Cameron, who has just recently made the midfield position his own, but with Captain Barry Ferguson in there the main question will be who to play along side him?  Will it be a baptism of fire and a debut for Motherwell wonder kid Stephen Pearson, Dundee’s Gavin Rae, Don Hutchison or will Berti Vogts play Dailly in there and pair either Lee Wilkie or Andy Webster in defence with Pressley?

We also need to grab a goal ourselves and our best chance of that could be a former Hibs striker, with the Scottish Strike force looking like it may be Stevie Crawford and Kenny Miller. Miller in particular having a axe to grind with Advocaat after the then Rangers boss bought him in a big money move from Easter Road only to leave him sitting on the sideline’s before dumping him out the door. Kenny though has bounced back in spectacular form, after scoring 25 goals last season to help Wolves get into the Premiership for the first time in twenty years. This season though has been marred by injury, having undergone a double hernia operation in the summer, it took slightly longer than expected to heal but never the less he is back and fighting fit, and I am sure he will be desperate to add to his Scotland goal tally today, and return the favour to Advocaat and leave him out of a Job.

Whatever the result today lets hope we can go to Amsterdam on Wednesday still having a chance to get to Portugal.

Remember also that the Scotland U/21’s play their qualifier at Easter Road next week, and with the possibility of three of our own Hibs Players involved, Tam McManus, Garry O’Connor and of course our club and Scotland U/21 Captain Ian Murray, lets get along and support the future of Scottish football.  Prices are only £3 for concessions and £5 for adults. Tickets are available from selected Safeway stores as well as Hibs Ticket office; there will also be a chance to pay at the gate.