Lippi says Scots have a chance

Published on Saturday 19 May 2007 00:44

FORMER Italy coach Marcello Lippi insists that Scotland are capable of rivalling the Azzurri and France for qualification to the 2008 European Championship.

Lippi led Italy to World Cup glory last year in Germany, however their form has been mixed in the ongoing Euro 2008 qualifying campaign.

Ukraine, Scotland and France have 12 points and Italy have ten, however Scotland have played six matches where the other three from the leading quartet in seven-team Group B have played just five.

Italy beat the Scots 2-0 in Bari in March, to gain a strong footing in the group, but Alex McLeish's side remain in with a shout of a top-two finish and qualification for the finals in Austria and Switzerland next year.

Lippi, who resigned after the World Cup to be replaced by Roberto Donadoni, told the BBC: "Definitely they have a chance. They've been excellent so far.

"Italy will have, in early September, two difficult encounters against Ukraine and France so the qualification is still in the balance."

Scotland's next Euro 2008 qualifier is in the Faroe Islands on 6 June. Before that, McLeish takes charge of a friendly against Austria in Vienna on 30 May.