ELVIS' SHEV VOW

STEVEN PRESSLEY had every right to feel satisfied with his night's work after a heroic defensive display helped shackle the best striker in world football.

But the Hearts defender knows he cannot afford to wallow in the glory because on Wednesday he has a date with the second most fearsome forward on the planet.

Thierry Henry walked off Hampden with a look of utter disbelief on his face after Scotland nullified his threat and burgled a 1-0 victory.

Pressley was understandably beaming with pride and is hoping Andriy Shevchenko will be equally despondent at the end of Scotland's next Group B encounter in Kiev.

Shevchenko is a major doubt for Ukraine after missing the 2-0 defeat against Italy with a virus but Pressley expects the £30million Chelsea striker will make it.

He said: "It's another challenge but before we played France everybody spoke about Henry and we did a fantastic job as a team to nullify his strengths. We will be well aware of Shevchenko's strengths on Wednesday.

"But for now we will enjoy the moment before we start focusing on what lies ahead in Ukraine.

"This is the hardest group because two of the best teams in the world are in the section and there is also Ukraine

"But we have shown our capabilities and given ourselves an opportunity but that's all at the moment."

Pressley hailed the historic victory against the World Cup runners-up as the best and most satisfying of his distinguished career.

The result maintained the Scots' 100 per cent qualifying campaign record and took them three points clear at the top of Group B.

Pressley said: "That was the finest game I've ever been involved in. To beat the team who are the best in the world and the best over the last 10 years is a fantastic achievement.

"It was a very proud day for the nation. We showed great resilience and this is possibly one of Scotland's finest wins.

"As results go it is right up there with the best. We had a tremendous result against Holland when we beat them 1-0 but this was even better.

"For us to take nine points from our opening three games is a great achievement and, as Ally McCoist said to us in the dressing room afterwards, we can now only throw it away."

Scotland's tactics in the first half were not for the faint-hearted as France pinned them back in their own area for long spells but Pressley and his team-mates highlighted the remarkable resolve among the squad.

He said: "The defence was terrific but I've always said defensive performances are not down just to defenders. As a unit we worked extremely hard to nullify them.

"We stayed compact, assured and Walter said to us at half-time we would get a chance if we could stay focused. It panned out that way.

"Walter is very thorough in his preparations and we were all clear in what we had to do.

"When you cross the white line the players have to take responsibility and I think Walter was very proud of us."

Pressley was part of a formidable three-man central defence with goal hero Gary Caldwell and Davie Weir and praised the contribution of his two team-mates.

He said: "Gary was absolutely terrific and has been in excellent form for his club. He thoroughly deserved his goal.

"What Davie did was phenomenal considering he hasn't played much. But he used all his experience against France."

Taken from the Daily Record