Burley urges Scotland to adopt fearless approach to World Cup

Published on Monday 30 June 2008 23:54

SCOTLAND manager George Burley will ask his players to be inspired but not intimidated by Spain's gloriously achieved and richly deserved triumph in a Euro 2008 tournament which has convinced him more than ever that World Cup success is within the capability of his squad.

Burley's enthusiasm for the forthcoming World Cup qualifying campaign, which pitches the Scots in with a Netherlands side who also lit up last month's finals in Austria and Switzerland before their surprise quarter-final exit against Russia, has been intensified by the largely expressive nature of a competition which showed the ideal of the beautiful game is not necessarily an outmoded one.

Since taking the Scotland job earlier this year, Burley has often spoken of his desire to introduce greater adventure and attacking intent into the side and it is a policy he hopes can flourish in time to reach the 2010 finals in South Africa.

"I think the lesson of Euro 2008 is to go into games without fear," said Burley. "That's what we have to do in the World Cup campaign. Netherlands will be the favourites, but we have to go into it without any fear. We have to try and attack teams home and away.

"It was good for football to see that during Euro 2008. There have been a lot of big games in recent years when teams have been frightened of each other, but this tournament showed that it pays not to be fearful.

"I think it was a terrific tournament and it was great that Spain won it. During the group stage, I thought the Dutch were maybe the team most likely to do it, then you looked at Russia and Portugal. Overall, it was a good advert for attacking football.

"That doesn't always happen in major competitions. I went to Vienna last Thursday night for the semi-final and Spain were absolutely magnificent. I was delighted to see them win it on Sunday with exciting, attacking and open football. They have set the standard for other countries to try and emulate.

"The tournament definitely whetted my appetite for the World Cup. It showed that smaller countries can compete against the best.

"International football is now very competitive throughout. Turkey, for example, have come out of the woodwork to show they are a very good team and all credit to Croatia, they have turned out some top class players over the last few years.

"Every nation has its own strengths. Teams don't like playing Scotland because of our desire and tenacity. Technically, we are a bit behind, which is something the SFA are trying to change by going into schools and working on grass roots development. That's great, but it's not going to change the squad I've got at the moment.

"So we have a competitive squad of players and we have got a chance of qualifying for South Africa. Let's go and give it our best shot and play our own style of football without fearing the opposition. If our team plays to its full potential, then we will give anyone a game."

While highly appreciative of the Oranje at their brilliant best in Euro 2008, Burley also learned that the Dutch are extremely vulnerable when they are off colour.

"After the group phase, I think they were the favourites to win it, but in a tournament of that standard you only need to put in one average performance and you are out," he added. "But there's no doubt they showed their quality, power and individual ability.

"I felt that when they were without guys like Arjen Robben in the wider areas, then it maybe stopped their fluency going forward, but they played some tremendous football in the competition and showed they will definitely be the favourites to win our World Cup qualifying group.

"All round, the Dutch have got world class players, but we shouldn't fear them, just as Scotland didn't fear France or Italy in the last qualifying group."

Burley was speaking at the Great Scots golf day at The Carrick on Loch Lomond yesterday, an event also attended by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, and he agreed that Spain were worthy winners of Euro 2008.

Ferguson said: "When a team plays that type of football it's a triumph for the game.

"I was pleased for them, it was a really good performance last night. Spain were a far, far better team (than Germany) and I think they have been the best team."

Burley has been gratified this summer by the SPL heeding his call not to schedule Old Firm matches in the new season immediately after Scotland's World Cup qualifying ties.

Those circumstances occurred twice last season and saw Scotland hit by a raft of withdrawals of Rangers and Celtic players but Burley is confident he will have a full hand to play with for the friendly against Northern Ireland at Hampden on 20 August, the final preparation for the opening World Cup double-header away to Macedonia and Iceland at the start of September.

"It's great that the SPL have done that, because the nucleus of the squad come from the Old Firm, there is no getting away from that," he said.

"It was important that we avoided an Old Firm game immediately after an official international date. We won't have that to contend with this season.

"The two games we have had so far against Croatia and the Czech Republic were both inhibited by missing players, so hopefully 99.9 per cent of them will be fit and available for Northern Ireland next month to give me a good build-up for the two World Cup games. It's a quarter of the whole campaign, after all, and we want to try and get six points on the board.

"I'll start the new season with a clean sheet ahead of the Northern Ireland game. It will depend on who is in form and playing regularly. It's a new beginning really.

"The attitude in both games I've had so far has been terrific, but we have to keep improving the team."