WE'LL ONLY BE ON RIGHT ROAD WHEN WE QUALIFY FOR FINALS

DAVIE WEIR yesterday insisted that all of Scotland's good feeling, improvement and renewed sense of hope would count for nothing if they failed to qualify for the European Championship.

The stand-in skipper issued this timely reminder in the wake of Wednesday night's 2-1 win in Lithuania which put Walter Smith's team top of qualifying Group B with two wins from two matches and five points ahead of world champions Italy.

It would be too easy for all of us to get carried away, although anyone with the Scottish national football team's interests at heart should be allowed to enjoy the moment after so many dark times.

Weir asked for a reality check, however, because while the Scots winning back respect is important, that is not why he pulls on the dark blue jersey.

It's true to say that the veteran defender came back into the fold for Smith but much more than that is his desire to represent his country in a major tournament just one more time.

And while the campaign has been fantastic so far, Scotland's most recent Hall of Fame inductee insists none of it would matter to him if in two years' time he'd be watching the finals in Austria and Switzerland from the comfort of his home.

Weir said: "It was a great night and a great victory in Lithuania. It is a tough place to go to but I thought we played really well and deserved to beat them.

"The belief we have is important. As a group we are starting to believe in ourselves a bit more, although there is still a long way to go.

"We haven't achieved anything yet but we've begun to believe qualifying is possible. There were a few hiccups in Lithuania but hopefully there won't be too many more of them.

"Our recent away record is fantastic for any international team, never mind Scotland, especially when you consider how tough games are at this level.

"But I have to say it will mean nothing unless we qualify for a tournament. That is what our aim has to be.

"We have started the group really well and have to be happy with our performances so far. It is exciting but we realise France, who we play next, are one of the best teams in the world.

"We won't get carried away and have to keep doing the things we are good at. We need to keep working hard because even if we do that, it will still be very tough."

Weir was nothing short of outstanding in Kaunas. He may well be 36 years old but you would never have guessed it from his performance over a gruelling 90 minutes. When the ball was there to be won he put his head where few would dare place a boot.

Lithuania tried to use the pace of their forwards against him but the old man was too wily to be caught out by such a trick.

This intelligent, articulate and reserved man is perhaps not obvious captain material.

"But there is just something about him, the way he carries himself, which gives off an aura all his team-mates respect.

It's why Smith rates him so much as a player and a person, likewise his manager at Everton, Davie Moyes.

Weir celebrated his 50th cap with a man-of-the-match performance and a vital win. He might not be too fond of all the attention but you can't ignore what he's brought to the side.

He said: "Obviously you want to win every game you play with Scotland. I had more responsibilities as the captain in Lithuania and with it being my 50th cap the spotlight was on me a little bit more.

"That is not really my kind of thing but it was nice to come out of the game with a win to round things off.

"They came at us and really put us under pressure for the first 25 or 30 minutes but we managed to withstand that.

"In the dressing room at half-time Walter said they had given their all and that it was time to turn things around and start creating a few chances of our own. Obviously we did that and Christian Dailly got a great goal just after half-time to set us up.

"That gave us something to hold on to and it is good we never sat back and tried to protect the lead.

"We are at the stage now where we have to start trying to get another goal when we go ahead and the players up front looked dangerous, with Kenny Miller scoring a good goal."

The overhead kick from Darius Miceika in the 85th minute meant a tense end to the match and whileWeir always exuded an air of calmness, the truth could not have been more different.

He said: "We were nervous in the last five minutes because the Lithuanians scored a special goal to get themselves back into the game.

"When things are still as close as that there is always the chance of an equaliser but thankfully it never came and it was good we survived the onslaught."

Now all Scotland have to do is survive against a France side filled with world-class players next month.

Weir may urge caution but at least the nation can look forward to the match with hope.

Sorry Davie, but it's becoming increasingly difficult not to get carried away.

Taken from the Daily Record