Burley insists pressure is all on Norway

Published on Monday 8 June 2009 11:42

SCOTLAND boss George Burley has turned up the heat on Norway by claiming defeat in Holland on Wednesday night would leave their World Cup qualifying hopes hanging by a thread.

Burley watched Egil Olsen's men held to a goalless draw in Macedonia on Saturday as they extended their winless run in Group Nine to four matches.

Defeat in Rotterdam in midweek would leave them rock bottom of the table and four points adrift of Burley's side.

The countries then meet in Oslo on August 12 and Burley believes Norway would be under huge pressure to win that game.

He said: "If Norway lose in Rotterdam, it's a must-win for them against us on August 12. They'd need to win all their games then."

Scotland's grip on the runners-up spot was tightened as Holland won in Iceland to seal their place at next summer's finals. Wednesday sees Macedonia host Iceland before Holland take on Norway. Scotland will be hoping for another Holland victory, while hoping Macedonia drop points once again. That would make Burley's men strong favourites to finish second, though they may need to win all their remaining games to reach the play-offs, as the runners-up with the worst record from the nine groups face elimination.