2014 World Cup Qualifying: Scotland need to make best use of Hampden support

Fast-paced high octane competitive international football returns again with teams from across the planet getting to pull their socks up in their bid to qualify for Brazil in 2014. Euro 2012 is history now but all the colourful memories of beautiful football the world witnessed in Poland and the Ukraine render the UEFA zone of qualifying a must see event over the next couple of years or so. Here at Sportskeeda, we start our extensive coverage of the qualifying campaign with a look at two sides that are hoping to create a stir by getting close to the Samba land. Scotland and Serbia battle it out in Group A’s match of the round on September 8 at Hampden Park.

The Scots know that home form would hold the key for them all through the campaign and any slip up against higher ranked Serbia could prove to be catastrophic in the long run. Craig Levein’s side missed out on a play-off spot for Euro 2012 after losing to eventual champions Spain on the last day of qualifying, but frankly the home form of Scotland has to improve considerably if they are to revive the memories of France ’98 when Craig Brown guided them to the finals.

Scotland players warm up for Saturday’s clash against Serbia

The home side could not have hoped for a better fixture list as two home games against Serbia and Macedonia in September provide real chance to grab the early initiative in a group that looks the toughest of the lot with a fair amount of Balkan flavour mixed with British taste as Wales, Belgium, Macedonia and group favourites Croatia complete Group A. Hampden will be buzzing come Saturday and that is what the trend is all about. There is no shortage of Scottish passion and patriotism at the national stadium whenever the national side takes to the field and to be fair, Scotland had been the better side at home even against some of the world’s best that have visited the hallowed corners of the Glasgow fortress. In the words of Everton‘s experienced Scottish striker Steven Naismith,

“Since I’ve been in the squad, we’ve shown up well in the home games. We’ve probably been the better team against most and it’s just about turning them into wins.”

That probably sums it all up. The game was there for the taking yet on so many previous occasions it’s the killer instinct that had deprived Scotland time and again and disappointment reigned at Hampden and the rest of the country. But as they say, there is always room for improvement and Craig Levein has instilled a somewhat steely mentality within the side where each member thrives on each other’s success on the pitch. August’s home friendly against Australia proved that Scotland do mean business ahead of the qualifiers. A dominant 3-1 win meant Group-A would be highly competitive with a confidence looking Scotland set to utilize Hampden Park as their base to rattle group rivals.

Assistant manager Peter Houston believes Scotland’s ‘in their faces’ approach backed by a roaring Hampden crowd might just do the trick against Sinisa Mihajlovic’s physically intimidating Serbia.

“We know they are a good side but we have to put that to the back of our mind and determine how we are going to play and try to upset them, and play at a tempo that lifts the crowd and gets them behind us.

“We have played excellent teams at Hampden Park and been underdogs.

“It’s about how we raise our game. We’ve got a talented team and it’s about how we go about it.

“We’ll be working at starting the game well and being on the front foot, rather than allowing them possession and allowing them to knock the ball about.

“I think we’re at our best when we’re in their faces and trying to win the ball back. That gives the fans a lift, and I’m sure the players can do that.”

With the domestic seasons in full flow, getting fully fit players always remain a concern for every national team manager and Craig Levein is no exception to this fact as he had to call up Huddersfield Town’s Paul Dixon in place of Southampton left-back Danny Fox who has suffered a groin injury. Defender Gary MacKenzie has replaced Russel Martin while both Charlie Mulgrew and Christoph Berra look doubtful for the opener. One big boost to Levein came in the form of number one goalkeeper Allan McGregor being declared fit to face the Serbs having kept a clean sheet over the weekend playing for Besiktas.

Sinisa Mihajlovic has been given the responsibility to turn around Serbian fortunes

Serbia come into this match ranked higher than Scotland but are in disarray having failed to qualify for Euro 2012 and battling internal problems dealing with football hooliganism and indiscipline that have plagued the federation over the past few years. Two coaches were sacked over the duration of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign and the responsibility now rests with controversial former international Sinisa Mihajlovic to guide a young team through the turmoils and instability that have engulfed Serbian football. Stalwarts such as Nemanja Vidic and Dejan Stankovic have retired from international football and Mihajlovic needs to pin point the next star of Serbian football if he has to save Serbian football from going bust.

Even without a recognized centre forward, Serbia would head into the Saturday afternoon clash boasting of a world class defensive and midfield line up that has Chelsea‘s Branislav Ivanovic, Manchester City‘s Alexander Kolarov, Borussia Dortmund’s Neven Subotic in addition to Milan Bisevac of Lyon and the talented midfield duo of Zoran Tosic and Dusan Tadic. Even 19 year old Matija Nastasic, who recently signed for the Premier League champions, would be a player to watch out for that would give Scotland a real headache.

Clearly with all the problems that are prevalent within the Serbian team, Sinisa Mihajlovic would not fear Scotland given his pedigree as a player who plied his trade in the toughest league in the world having turned up for Roma, Sampdoria, Lazio and Inter Milan 14-year long career. With not the best of disciplinary records to write home about during his playing days, the former Fiorentina manager Mihajlovic has focused on strict team discipline and patriotism since taking over in May. Already, he has banned a player for not showing enough respect for the national anthem but it remains to be seen whether the Bomber from Borovo inspires his players to a moral boosting win at the fortress like Hampden Park to kick start a Serbian revolution ahead of Brazil 2014.

This being the first game for both Scotland and Serbia, the odds are high for a draw but rest assured this will be one hell of a fiesty clash bearing all the hallmarks of a traditional European clash in Scottish backyard.

Indian fans, don’t forget to catch the action live on Sony Six at 7.30 p.m IST on Saturday September 8.