Hartley ready for French showdown

IN EARNING his nine international caps, Paul Hartley has played alongside Barry Ferguson more often than not and while on club duty he has gone toe-to-toe with his childhood acquaintance on occasions plentiful enough to realise what the Rangers captain has to offer his team-mates.

As informed as anyone to formulate an opinion, he says those who have concluded it folly to reinstate the Ibrox midfielder to the international squad so soon into his comeback from injury should reassess their thinking.

Backing Scotland boss Walter Smith's decision to add Ferguson to the squad for the high-profile match against France, at Hampden on Saturday, as well as the vital clash with Ukraine days later, he is excited about the return of his midfield buddy.

"The criticism is just nonsense. We want to have our captain back and the sooner he is back, the better," said Hartley, shaking his head in disbelief that such doubts even exist. Aware that there have been those who would rather draw on the youthful exuberance of a Scott Brown or stick by the men who have started the latest international campaign so well in the captain's absence, he believes there is still no replacement for experience and leadership, especially given the calibre of the latest opposition. "I think Barry has received a lot of criticism over the last couple of weeks but it's great to have your captain back and when I have played with Barry, I have always enjoyed it and we have struck up a good partnership."

Indeed the only blot on the copybook was the disappointing 1-0 home defeat to Belarus as the World Cup qualifying campaign drew to a close a year ago. They also played together when Hartley made his international debut at the San Siro but defeat to the eventual World Cup champions could hardly be construed as failure, especially given the fact the performance represented a significant improvement from those served up under Berti Vogts immediately prior and neither the Rangers or the Hearts midfielder fell short of the standards expected of them that night.

Injury means the Rangers captain missed out on the successful start to the Euro 2008 qualifiers, while, at club level, he has still to completely woo his new gaffer and rediscover the form he showed before knee, hip and ankle injuries curtailed him.

But now that the ankle has been operated on and he is getting back to full fitness, Hartley believes it is only a matter of time before he again edges close to the performances which propelled him to the personal double of Scottish Players' Player of the Year and Scottish Football Writers Player of the Year titles as well as earning him the reward of captaining his club to the domestic treble in 2003.

"I have known him since we were kids and I know what it's like having an injury and trying to get back to fitness. It does take a few weeks but you need your best players in the squad and Barry is one of our best players."

Hartley himself entered the fray against the Faroe Islands and Lithuania on the back on an injury lay-off at the beginning of this season, with certain sceptics unsure if was too much, too soon for him. He proved them wrong and he is unequivocal in the assertion that Ferguson will do the same. His return will also make it easier for the 30-year-old to push forward more often, provided they can get beyond the collective brilliance of their French counterparts.

"That's the thing, it's not like when you play against certain teams with one or two players you have to keep a specific eye on. Against France there are 11 players you have to watch but we have the confidence in the squad now, after the last two results when everybody expected us to go and win those two games and in the past Scotland have slipped up against the lesser nations. This a real test for us now. It doesn't come any harder. Look at every one of them. Throughout the team, the goalkeeper, the defence, with [Lilian] Thuram, [Patrick] Vieira and [Claude] Makelele, [Franck] Ribery in midfield, then [Thierry] Henry up front, they are just a star-studded outfit but to come up against one of the best teams in the world is fantastic."

But, while the Tartan Army have exhaled a sigh of relief at the summer retirement of Zinedine Zidane, Hartley is mourning the missed opportunity to pit his wits against one of the world's greatest. "I said that when I was over at the World Cup. Others said that it is great that he has retired but he was fantastic at the World Cup and I would have loved to have played against him, especially playing in the same position, up against me."

The willingness to take on the best and relish the challenge rather than shirk away fearful any flaws would be magnified is indicative of the self-belief which has always coursed through Hartley, even in the days he was being shunned by Vogts, and is a nod and a wink at the renewed swagger throughout the entire Scotland time. Now there is an understanding that, while technically deficient compared to the class of the French and the Italians, who stand like burly bouncers intent on denying them entry to the Euro 2008 party, they may have a plan capable of catching them off guard.

"Sometimes, when we played Italy at Hampden [when Scotland carved out an impressive 1-1 draw], we played a certain formation and worked really hard and stopped them getting the ball so, first and foremost, it's going to be hard work but when we get the ball, we have to keep it. If we get our chance then we have to take it but you know what it's like against the top quality teams, they will have a lot of the ball so it's up to us to go and make it as hard as possible for them."

And with Ferguson unlikely to have the sharpness or the legs to play box to box, the onus will be on Hartley to offer support to his defence and the strikeforce, especially in the absence of top scorer Kenny Miller, who is suspended. Whatever his role, Hartley will revel in it. Eighteen months ago, he was still awaiting his Scotland debut. It came in against Italy and now he has the task of trying to tame the French. "It's going to be a fantastic atmosphere and a fantastic occasion but it's one we have hopefully to take something from, especially at Hampden. We have been disappointing in recent campaigns at home so, this time, it's important that we do take something from our home games.

"If I get selected then its fantastic and it would rank up there with one of the highlights of my career. To play against the best players and former world cup winners and current world cup runners up, it doesn't come any better.

And, despite what the critics say, he will be glad to have Ferguson alongside him as he soaks it up.
Panache and finesse will give Smith and his charges a case of Les Bleus

Rangers manager Paul le Guen looks forward to Saturday's Scotland-France match with Darren Tulett

DT: How do you compare the two sides before what is, surprisingly perhaps for the French, a top-of-the-table clash?

PAUL LE GUEN: Scotland have improved in recent times but there is still a big gap, I think. Scotland have a good team but France have a great team - there's a big difference. I have a lot of respect for the work being done by Walter Smith. He's building a balanced side. He's a very interesting guy to listen to. I had the good fortune to share a meal with him and I liked him a lot. He's someone who clearly knows what he's doing, where he's going. He's looking to get the best from a new generation, with more and more young players working their way into the team. I hope there will be some Rangers youngsters included in the weeks and months to come.

DT: Do France have anything to fear?

PLG: Their biggest enemy is probably complacency. But I don't see this side allowing that to happen. If they continue to play with the same dynamic, if they continue to show the same seriousness and motivation, then the match should work out well for the France team. From what I've seen of France over the last months there is no obvious danger.

DT: The French were mightily impressive in the 3-1 win over Italy, but again conceded a goal from a set-piece. Is this a weakness Scotland can exploit?

PLG: France certainly need to be careful against Scotland in dead-ball situations - they scored like that against Lithuania through Christian Dailly. The Scots certainly have the potential to score from set-pieces. But if France play to the best of their ability, Scotland won't get many chances. It will be hard for Scotland to get hold of the ball.

DT: What about the Hampden crowd?

PLG: Of course there will be a great atmosphere at Hampden Park but sometimes that's not enough. Even with their fantastic support and maximum motivation, I think it will be complicated for Scotland.

DT: How will the result affect life at Rangers?

PLG: Well, we'll hopefully have some players involved, for a start. Kris Boyd will be hoping for a look-in and Barry Ferguson may make his international return. Like I said, hopefully we'll soon have more of our younger players involved. It would be good experience for them. I know my players and everyone at the club will give me plenty of stick if Scotland pull off a surprise. I'll try to be diplomatic if France win, but I probably won't be able to resist a few well-placed reflections. (Laughs)

DT: OK, what's your predicted score?

PLG: Recent history pleads in our favour. I'll go for 3-1 to France.

Taken from the Scotsman