Belgium v Scotland: We can ‘definitely’ beat Belgium, says Darren Fletcher

By STEPHEN HALLIDAY
Published on Monday 15 October 2012 22:50

SCOTLAND captain Darren Fletcher has dismissed the hype surrounding Group A leaders Belgium ahead of tonight’s crucial World Cup qualifier.

The Manchester United midfielder insists the Belgians can be overcome by a Scottish team he claims are desperate to ensure manager Craig Levein remains in charge for the rest of the current campaign and on into the Euro 2016 qualifiers.

Fletcher accepts that professional footballers invariably express their support for a manager in public, even if their private feelings are different. But he insists the current Scotland squad’s backing for Levein remains unanimous and sincere.

“I think players have to say the right things when you’re asked about a manager,” said Fletcher. “This time it’s coming from a real genuine point of view.

“We’ve got a real belief in what he’s trying to do. I think you can sense it from the anger in our voices. A few of the boys have already come out and said as much.

“We believe in the manager and the ways in which he’s trying to progress us. Maybe that progression hasn’t been seen by everyone but I see it. We’ve progressed in the way we’re prepared and the way we’re organised in games and the feeling amongst the squad.

“We just have to translate that to our performances which we haven’t done yet. That’s the biggest thing though and it’s what people want to see. A big result is needed urgently. We need it as a squad for the group and for the manager.

“There’s a number of reasons why it’s urgent but I think we’re due it. Hopefully it does come on Tuesday. Everyone is desperate for it. We know how difficult it’s going to be. Belgium are a top class side but they are by no means unbeatable.

“They’ve also not qualified for a long time and although they’ve got all this talent, they’ve not set the world alight as an international side. They still need to prove it.

“They still haven’t achieved anything. They haven’t qualified yet. I watched the Wales game last month, which they won 2-0, and it was relatively even before the sending off. To build Belgium up and say they are unbeatable is dangerous because they can definitely be beaten.”

Fletcher, poised to win his 60th cap for Scotland tonight, is now working under his fifth manager since making his full international debut under Berti Vogts back in 2003. He is certain another change in the technical area is not what is required at the moment.

“We don’t want to have to go back to the start again,” he added. “How many times are we going to go back to the beginning and do it all over again? That’s all we seem to do.

“Whether it’s a manager being successful and getting taken away by a club side, or whether it’s a manager not being successful and getting sacked. For me, it always seems to be a starting again process. That’s been the theme of my whole international career.

“We want some continuity. We want someone to see the job through for a number of campaigns because the personnel isn’t going to change. The boys definitely want the manager to stay in charge for the next qualifying campaign.

“I think the manager realises, we all realise, the scrutiny the Scotland squad is under right now, from the fans and from everyone really. We are not naive enough to think that everything is hunky dory. We need a performance on the pitch and it’s got to come from the players.

“The manager will set us up like he always does, meticulously. He puts in a lot of attention to detail about the opposition and the game plan. It’s as good as it’s ever been since I’ve been wearing a Scotland jersey.

“But it’s down to us to get the result and I think a number of factors will come into it. We are due a little bit of luck because we are not good enough to win football matches when we’re having perfectly good goals disallowed like we did against Wales on Friday. We can’t keep having these bad decisions against us because every goal is important in our matches. One or two either way tend to determine the outcome.

“We can’t keep getting soft penalties given against us, being denied blatant penalties at the other end and goals disallowed when they should stand. So hopefully we’ll get better luck over here and a good performance will see us through.

“In a way, this is a momentous game for us as a squad in terms of trying to qualify and it’s momentous for the manager because of the position he’s in just now. He wants to see his plan through.

“So, yes, all those factors make it momentous. It all comes down to this game.

“You do get moments like that in football and hopefully we can turn it into a positive one and we can look back on this trip as the starting point. I really believe it can be and I think there is still a lot left to play for in this group.

“If we get a positive result over here then we are right back in it and with a chance of qualifying. It would give all the guys in our squad great confidence going forward.”

Taken from the Scotsman