Scots will be frozen out if we slip up

Says midfield star DARREN FLETCHER

By Sean Wallace in Iceland

Published:

POSITIVE MOOD: Fletcher is looking for a win tonight.

DARREN Fletcher admits Scotland’s World Cup qualification campaign will be over if they lose in Iceland tonight.

Scotland are propping up Group 9 after an opening 1-0 defeat in Macedonia, and for the Manchester United star another defeat would be a fatal blow to their hopes.

For Fletcher, there would be no way back from such a devastating blow, but he is convinced the Scots can kick-start their faltering campaign in Reykjavik. He said: “Iceland is a must-win game now because to take only one or no points after two games would put us up against it.

“We are already playing catch-up and another defeat would put us too far behind.

“The plan was to start the campaign with a victory in Macedonia but unfortunately that was not to be.

“We gave it absolutely everything we had in Skopje but came up short.

“There can be no excuses for that, we cannot blame the heat. All we can do is move on and get a win tonight.”

Fletcher was one of the main offenders in a dire first half performance against Macedonia.

In stark contrast to his recent good form for Manchester United, he was anonymous for the first 45 minutes in Skopje.

While he accepts both his own and Scotland’s failings in that atrocious opening period, he reckons a repeat of Scotland’s second half performance could see them take Group 9 by storm. “We will try to take the game to Iceland because in retrospect we played very well in the second half and can take a lot of confidence from that,” he said.

“Despite the heat, we were the stronger team as the game went on and created a number of chances.

“Unfortunately we just could not convert them.

“If we can play the way we did in the second half in the remaining qualifying games we will definitely be in the mix for qualification.”

Champions League winner Fletcher has played in the searing heat in countries like Turkey and Greece, but even he insists the heat in Macedonia, which hit the 100-degree mark, was unbearable.

But he insists the Scots will have no hangover from that tonight, and also claims Scotland were right to jet in to Skopje just 24 hours before kick-off.

“The heat was unbelievable, the worst I have ever experienced and it was boiling even in the shade,” he said.

“It was the right decision to go out so soon before the game because you cannot adapt to those conditions in just a couple of days.

“It is impossible – if we had been training for a few days in Macedonia it would only have made us weaker, and needing to get even more water on board.

“At least a week is needed, otherwise it would be detrimental and leave us more dehydrated.

“The best idea was to go to Macedonia, get the game done, and get out.

“It will not be an issue for Iceland because we have had enough time to recover and fully rehydrate.

“We are more than ready for tonight’s game and will be going out for the win we need.”