GRAEME Souness never felt like an underdog going into matches against the Auld Enemy and he doesn't see why this current Scotland team should either, writes Stewart Fisher.
While the former Liverpool and Rangers legend, who won just once against England - at Hampden in 1985 - feels Roy Hodgson's side could make a mark on the major tournaments, he also feels they frequently tend to be significantly less than the sum of their parts. Regardless of the fact England are currently coasting towards Euro 2016 qualification, losing - albeit in a friendly - to Scotland could make Hodgson's life even more uncomfortable than it currently is. Tuesday night at Hampden could be as good a time as any to be playing them.
"I happen to think England have enough good players to make a real impression at a tournament, but I think they've been disappointing," said Souness. "In the last World Cup, I know people got excited about the first game against Italy - I didn't. At no time did I get on the edge of my seat thinking 'England are playing well here, they're going to win a game'. England went to Brazil and tried to play like Spain. They didn't play to their strengths. Their strengths are up and at 'em and playing at a certain tempo, and I didn't see that.
"They've got some very good players," he added. "Any great players? I'm not so sure about that. They are more than beatable and it's a great time to be playing them. I don't see them as one of the strongest teams out there right now."
Souness, a man who could rarely be accused of a lack of self confidence, hopes to see a gallus streak in this Scotland side. "There's always an element when we play England that we feel like underdogs," he said. "I personally never felt that, but I think there's an element of that with our players. But a swagger comes from belief, doesn't it, and I think we're entitled to feel like that now."
l Graeme Souness was speaking on behalf of 666BET.com ahead of the match on Tuesday. Among the many bets on offer is the "Glorious '67" - Money back on losing Scotland first goalscorer bets (up to £20) if Scotland score in the 67th minute.
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