Scotland v Italy

[Gribz 917]

You've got to have hope, or what's the point in watching football? If the best team on paper always won it would be a boring, uninteresting game that would not have the world following that it does.

 

 

However, at worst we can enjoy a game that is as big as any that Scotland could have been involved at the finals itself. Scotland's qualifying group has been as glamorous as the finals and we are privileged to be able to watch our team play against the world champions, with a genuine chance of winning and a great chance of putting them out of the competition.

 

 

I think this is a good way of looking at it. Plus our qualifying campaign has been excellent and brought a smile back to watching Scotland again.

 

I cant wait for this game and Im confident of getting a result. We already have the advantage of a 12th man at Hampden, lets just hope the ref doesnt even up the sides.

 

Its a shame that Italy have to miss out . Id rather it was the French who didnt qualify seen as we beat them twice. They have been lucky in there last 2 wins - scoring both there goals late on. However Ukraine could still beat them yet.

 

There is no doubt if we play like we did against France and Holland (previously at Hampden) then we can win. Italy are superb defensively when they need to be but not in the same league as Brazil or even Arsenal when it comes to attacking.

 

I think the team should be:

 

_________________Gordon_________________

 

Hutton_____Weir__________McManus____Naismith

 

Brown_____Fletcher_______Ferguson____McCulloch

 

___________Miller__________McFadden_________

[Gribz 917]

Seems most the players came through yesterday. All the OF players came through unscathed anyway

 

We have McFadden and Fletcher to worry about today although hopefully neither plays. O Connor is a doubt for Birmingham and Maloney may not start for Villa due to Carew being fit again.

 

After watching West Ham demolish Derby yesterday I forgot how many Scots Derby actually have - McEveley, Teale, Pearson and Miller. Plus Boab who isnt in th scotland squad.

 

Miller played ok but is in a poor side. He had a good chance to equalize in the 2nd half then missed and West Ham took over. But the rest were poor and I hope Teale isnt even in the squad.

[ian1964 10,761]

Group B showdown: Scotland poised to make history

 

Saturday November 17 (all times GMT)

Scotland v Italy 5pm

Lithuania v Ukraine 6pm

 

Wednesday November 21

Georgia v Lithuania 3.30pm

Italy v Faroe Islands 7.30pm

Ukraine v France 7.30pm

 

If Scotland win

They will qualify for Euro 2008. It would also mean France need just a point in Ukraine to qualify ahead of Italy.

 

If Scotland draw

They would qualify only if Italy lost to the Faroe Islands or France lost to Ukraine

 

If Scotland lose

They are eliminated, with France and Italy qualifying for Euro 2008

 

— The team that scored first has gone on to win each of the 11 Euro 2008 qualifying games Scotland have played so far

 

— Scotland have used 29 players in their 11 group matches. In failing to qualify for Euro 2004, previous manager Berti Vogts used 33 players in only 10 matches

 

— Only two players have featured in all Scotland’s qualifi ers so far – goalkeeper Craig Gordon and defender David Weir

 

— James McFadden and Kris Boyd are the Scots’ Euro 2008 top scorers with four each

 

TV match

Scotland v Italy

Saturday, Sky Sports 1, kick-off 5pm

[Hurlock 0]

Italy fans causing more trouble, well ok maybe their police started yesterday's violence but the angry eruptions in and outside of the stadium yesterday can only bode well for Scotland's chances even if Italy stop us reaching the Euro's next week ? Surely UEFA will have a huge inquest into the violence that's constantly going on there ?

[Gazza_8 233]

According to Davie Moyes McFadden had a good game yesterday and chanegd the game when he came on at HT. Can only be a good thing for us.

[alanmidd 0]

I'd go with

 

____________Gordon_________

 

Hutton___Weir___McManus___Naysmith

 

____________Hartley______________

 

Brown___Ferguson__Fletcher__McFadden

 

____________Miller________________

[ian1964 10,761]

I'd go with

 

____________Gordon_________

 

Hutton___Weir___McManus___Naysmith

 

____________Hartley______________

 

Brown___Ferguson__Fletcher__McFadden

 

____________Miller________________

 

 

I'd leave Harley out,push McFadden further up and play Mculloch :cheers:

[ian1964 10,761]

Italian football faces suspension

 

Minister Melandri has called for tough action to be taken

Italy's sports minister has called on the Italian Football Federation to suspend the league championship after the latest outbreak of fan violence.

Across the country, games were halted and police were attacked after a Lazio fan was shot by a policeman on Sunday.

 

"I've asked if there is the possibility of a strong gesture, in particular suspending the championships for a few weeks," said Giovanna Melandri.

 

The authorities are expected to make a decision on the matter on Monday.

 

Melandri added: "Today I think a significant gesture needs to be made to express the condolences from the sporting world and the football world and the shared mourning and at the same time a condemnation without hesitation of violence."

 

606: DEBATE

Your views on the weekend's events in Italy

 

Sunday's incident occurred when Lazio fans travelling to see their team play at Inter Milan encountered Juventus fans at a motorway service station in Tuscany.

 

Lazio's game with Inter and Roma's match with Cagliari were both postponed in the aftermath of the fatal shooting, and Atalanta's game with Milan was abandoned after just seven minutes.

 

Italy's Euro 2008 qualifier away to Scotland on Saturday means there are no top-flight games next weekend, but lower league matches could be stopped sooner.

 

Uefa spokesman William Gaillard told BBC Sport that although there was clearly a serious problem, it was unfair to lay the blame entirely at the door of football.

 

"It reflects social difficulties in Italian cities which have little to do with football, and also the presence of extremists and organised groups do not reflect what the average fan feels about football," he said.

 

"That bullet could have hit anyone in the parking lot, so it's tragic. Football has a central place in the life of Italy, so whatever problems exist at a social level find their way to the stadium."

 

 

The powers that be should just throw the Italians out of all european competions,then we'd defenitely get to EURO 2008,but seriously with all thier cheating and crowd trouble it makes you wonder what would happen to us if it was our problem !!!!!

[mainstandbear 0]

Got to think positive guys and go along for the rollercoaster ride...no point in sitting back and thinking if they get beat 'well i told you so'...football's a passionate game so lets get passionate about our country's chances with Hutton Weir Ferguson McCulloch representing the Rangers....McLeish IMO has always been a lucky manager and we're gonna need it....

 

McFadden's goal against the french got me believin'...the hand of destiny is placed upon our shoulders...or something like that;-)

[theboyharley 5]

One last push. We are so near and yet so far in a group we thought we'd have been embarrassed and out of months ago. A resilliant and gutsy set of players have huffed and puffed through a group littered with world class teams and world class players. Novemeber 17 will be a party win, lose or draw as thats the Scotland way and rightly so. This group of players and the two management teams have given us our pride back.

 

We've more than played our part in this group, and had we been in any other group, surely we'd have qualified by now. Surely we will fall at the final hurdle and lose by a late goal to the azzurri and bow out of the race to the Alps, afterall glorious failure is the Scottish way . . . or is that all about to change??

 

It may not always have been pretty and the fingernail may well be non-existant now but dont let anyone tell you we dont deserve to be here. Walter Smith and Alex McLeish have been tactically spot on so far, we've attacked when we've needed to attack and we've defended when we've needed to defend. Its been a long time since Scotland have had a team that have been so organised and together. Scotland as a whole has been united with even both sets of the old firm setting aside their differences for the greater good.

 

With Saturday getting ever closer and the hysteria surrounding the game mounting higher and higher, 50000 bravehearts are about to gather at Mount Florida and march towards Hampden having not slept a wink the night before. Can Scotland do the impossible and beat the World Champions? Will Saturday the 17th of November go down in history as our greatest triumph? Will the 18th be our biggest hangover this great nation has seen?

 

Lets hope so . . .