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I made a big post in the alternative
TDP yesterday (maybe Was saw it
) about how we (Scotland) are just happy with a win at the moment. No one is going to argue that we have a load of talented players at the moment, we don't and we will take any results we can get.
The performance on Saturday wasn't great but its not easy, especially when you don't have the talent, to break down teams who just sit in. The team is also still suffering a hangover from the Vogts era in that they are lacking in confidence as a unit at the moment. Results are what count, performances I will pass on at present. In all honesty we were never going to lose on Saturday but we made a hard job of breaking down a limited side. Still the same limited side held Norway to a draw in Moldova and only lost 1-0 to Italy. Our result should be put in context against these results.
In international football, bar a few odd teams, your not getting 3, 4 and 5 goal thumpings any more. Therefore by and large your results are determined by what goes for you and what goes against you along with the quality of your players. Believe it or not, Scotland were actually 2 free kicks and 1 penalty away from being unbeaten in this group
We were 2 free kicks and 1 bit of mis-control away from a possible win in the San Siro. Yes, all ifs and buts, but its how the breaks fall for you or against you on a day that determines the result a lot of the time. We got one on Saturday with their keeper dropping the ball into his own net, Italy got one with their opener v Scotland in the award of a very dubious free kick.
However I will say it now, I would think it will be a right result for Scotland if we come away from Belarus unbeaten. To me that would be another step along the road of improvement. It won't be easy but a point for me would me a massive bonus.
Belarus are not a bad side. In fact I would rate them at least on a par with Norway and Slovenia. They have already been to Oslo and came away with a draw, they ran Italy to a 4-3 loss in Italy. They thumped the same Moldova side we sneaked past, 4-0.
They have a decent squad, some with a lot of caps and experience. Their players play mainly in Russia and Ukraine but also in Germany and Italy.
Contrast that with the current Scotland squad which draws on a handful of players from the Championship.
The other factor to consider from a Scottish point of view is this. Smith named a 27 man squad for these 2 fixtures. He is now down to 18 players and also has doubts over McCann and McCulloch. Considering we don't have great strength in depth then losing this number of players will obviously hamper us from putting out a decent first 11.
I am having a small punt on Belarus on Wednesday. In truth its one of these bets where I am not going to be overly concerned if it goes down as Scotland will have taken at least a point in that case. However I do fully expect it to be landed as a combination of us not being that good, our injuries and the fact Belarus are pretty decent makes it a worthwhile price for me.
5pts on Belarus at 2.25 with Ladbrokes.