Naysmith backing Hearts for final

Naysmith was part of the last Hearts team to win the Scottish Cup, after a 2-1 victory over Rangers back in 1998.

"If I was not here, I would have got a ticket for the final," he said before matches against Bulgaria and Japan.

"Hopefully, there will be somewhere here showing the game so I don't miss the final against Gretna."

Naysmith came through the youth ranks at the Edinburgh club before heading for Goodison Park in a £1.75m move in 2000.

if they had had a bit more continuity maybe they could have pushed Celtic further for the title
Scotland forward James McFadden

Before that, along with present Everton and Scotland colleague David Weir, he helped Hearts lift the cup for the sixth time in their history, beating a star-studded Rangers side.

And Naysmith has been impressed by the present Hearts side, strengthened by the buying power of owner Vladimir Romanov, who sacked two managers before they finished second in the Scottish Premier League.

"They have had to build a team from scratch," said the Everton defender.

"They've had a lot of disruption, so it's all credit to the players that they have been able to split the Old Firm.

"Who knows, that might be something that won't happen again for a while as Celtic and Rangers will both hope to strengthen next season."

Everton team-mate James McFadden has also been impressed but wondered if Hearts could have done even better.

"Hearts and Hibs have challenged at times in the past but have just not been able to make that final push," he said.

"Hearts deserve to be up there this season, but if they had had a bit more continuity maybe they could have pushed Celtic further for the title."

Taken from the BBC