SCOTLAND still have plenty of ifs, buts and maybes to overcome if they are to end their 20-year exile from the major tournament finals in Russia next summer. There are those back-to-back wins against Slovakia at Hampden and Slovenia in Ljubljana to achieve for a start, no mean feat considering we are coming off our first successful double header in aeons. Being sure to score enough goals in the process could yet be another consideration, in the event that Bosnia and Wales - our two likely potential challengers in the death struggle to avoid that dreaded worst second place finisher spot - also win their two remaining games. Then, of course, there would be the small matter of having to take care of the likes of Portugal, Italy, Sweden or perhaps Northern Ireland in a two legged play-off this November.
So don’t start booking the flights just yet but considering where the national team was when James Forrest sat forlornly on the bench in Trnava last October this still represents quite a turnaround. Considering how hopeless the Scottish caused seemed when Gordon Strachan side had turned in a faltering display to lose 3-0 to the Slovaks, the national team are entitled to suddenly feel pretty pleased about themselves.
“I was on the bench against Slovakia, I didn’t play that game,” said Forrest, one of Scotland’s best players against an admittedly dour Malta side on Monday night. “That was as poor as we have been.
So it was a bad start for us but we have picked it up, we have done our job with the two wins from two, so we will take that confidence into the Slovakia game here. It is going to be massive. Between ourselves, Slovenia and Slovakia, it is really tight so I’m sure the fans will be right behind us for that one. Because we have started doing so well recently everyone is starting to believe that extra bit more.”
As haphazard as those early stages were, Scotland appear to finally have found their best team. While the six-strong Celtic contingent can be sure to be tested on Champions League duty, Forrest said it was incumbent on everyone involved to maintain their form at club level to make themselves indispensable by the time those matches tick round in October.
“You could maybe say that [we have found our strongest team],” he said. “For the Lithuania game last Friday there were 10 changes from the Lithuania game last year. So the squad is strong, training is a high level so it keeps everyone on their toes. Confidence is high and we want to keep it like that.
“To have six players who play together at club level who also go on and play at international level is only going to help the team,” he added. “I think you saw that in the last two games, but there are other boys in this team who have stepped up to the plate as well. I think all the boys will go away now and just need to keep doing well for their clubs. If you are doing well for your clubs then it can only bring positivity at international level.”
First up for Forrest is the challenge presented by the artificial surface at the Superseal Stadium in Hamilton tomorrow night. With the visit of big spending Paris St Germain on Tuesday night in mind, Brendan Rodgers may choose to use more of the players who didn’t have such a heavy load on international week, while - competition or not - Patrick Roberts is another man who Forrest welcomes back in the fold.
“It is definitely good to have him back,” said Forrest. “At a massive club like Celtic they are always looking to strengthen the team and with the amount of games we play you are always going to need a lot of players in the squad as well. There was good competition last year and it will be the same this year.
“The games are coming thick and fast right now. The league is the bread and butter so we need to do our job on Friday night. Then it is the Champions League. All the boys are looking forward to it.”
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