McLeish is ready for match of century

A good night in Vienna for Steve McClaren will be swiftly forgotten and replaced by an almighty hangover if Russia win in Israel tomorrow.

But in Glasgow, there are no distractions as Alex McLeish's team attempt to reach the Euro 2008 finals at the expense of world champions Italy.

A win in their final Group B game and Scotland will qualify for their first major tournament in a decade. Lose and they are out.

Tickets to watch the game on a big screen at the 'Tartan Party' on Glasgow Green are changing hands at four times the £12 face value. No one lucky enough to have a ticket to Hampden Park is selling.

In Glasgow's pubs, landlords are talking about selling more than a million pints of beer tomorrow, regardless of whether the outcome is glorious triumph or gallant failure.

The nation is braced for a party.

Two wins against France have given Scottish football a healthy glow, enhanced by the exploits of Rangers and Celtic in the Champions League.

Six of Roberto Donadoni's squad are from AC Milan, beaten in Glasgow by Celtic earlier this season.

If the European champions can be beaten, bring on the world champions.

Italy are ranked third in world football. They boast some of the biggest stars on the planet and possibly the best goalkeeper in Gianluigi Buffon.

They are also the cynical masters at grinding out a result under pressure and they will be happy with a draw. A point will be enough for Donadoni's team if, as expected, they beat the Faroe Islands in their final game. But it would leave Scotland sweating. They could still qualify but only if Ukraine beat France in Kiev on Wednesday.

Despite this, there is plenty of confidence north of the border. The Scottish FA have even picked their preferred hotels for next year's finals in Austria and Switzerland.

Scottish FA chief executive Gordon Smith said: 'Some people would see it as tempting fate but I'd rather say it was professionalism and preparation.'

Superstitious Scots have discovered that the number 17 is unlucky for Italians. Not only will this game be played on the 17th of the month but it kicks off at 1700 hours.

Others are clinging to history, dusting down footage of Scotland's only win against Italy, when John Greig scored an 88th-minute winner back in November in 1965.

The last time Italy held the World Cup going into a European Championship, they failed miserably, finishing fourth in their qualifying group.

A more sobering thought is the sense of crisis that has gripped Italian football since Lazio fan Gabriele Sandri was shot dead by a policeman on Sunday.

Juventus keeper Buffon said: 'I would be lying if I said this situation has not affected us. We wouldn't be human otherwise.'

Donadoni has found himself fielding questions on little else in the buildup to a game that is vital to his future in the job but McLeish is not about to rely on Italian self-destruction.

Instead the Scotland boss has been reminding his players of their talents, how far they have come in the toughest group imaginable and their place in history should they produce a win for the Tartan Army.

'Technically, we're not as good as Italy or France,' said McLeish. 'But these players have more skill than they think. It's a case of trying to rid ourselves of the Scottish psyche that says "we're not as good as them".

'I'm not saying we're world class but we're better than we think and can get even better. The players can play together for the next six years.

'We want to do what some of the legends have done in the past.'

McLeish, after opting for two strikers and losing in Georgia last month, has hinted that he may revert to the 4-1-4-1 formation he used for the 1-0 win in France.

Paris hero James McFadden is the favourite for the lone striker's role ahead of Kenny Miller.

Former Scotland defender Alan Hansen summed up the conundrum facing McLeish. 'I am torn,' said Hansen. 'Part of me recognises we've done brilliantly to get this far but another part of me feels there's no point coming this far and not qualifying.'

It will be a test of nerve for McLeish's youthful team, who froze in Tbilisi. Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon said: 'This is the biggest game of my life. There are not many players in the squad who can say anything other than that.'