Scotland v Ukraine:Alex McLeish attempted to lead by example yesterday by providing the first composed Scottish performance of what should be a defining week for the national team, just 24 hours before his players are looking to do the same against Ukraine.
Wary of the hysteria that has seized the country since James McFadden's strike soared beyond France's goalkeeper, Mickael Landreau, in Paris last month, the Scotland manager was deliberately low-key as he stressed the realities that remain in the way of a place in the finals.
The possibility of defeat, the pedigree of the Ukraine team and appreciation for what has been achieved so far were McLeish's topics of the day.
Yet the words stable, door and bolted sprang to mind during his appeal for reason. A giant portrait of McFadden's goal hangs in the Hampden museum and a sign of the huge expectation in Scotland today was provided by the captain, Barry Ferguson.
"I've had to get more tickets for this game than any other," he said. "Two or three years ago I couldn't give them away, none of my mates wanted to go."
Scotland are desperately close to their first major tournament since the 1998 World Cup but with seven points required from games against Ukraine, Georgia and Italy to guarantee qualification, McLeish's caution was understandable, if out of synch with the national mood.
"There has to be a realism we may not win. If people do realise that, then it will give the players peace of mind," he argued.
Beat Ukraine today and Georgia in Tbilisi on Wednesday and Scotland would enter their final qualifier at home to Italy needing a draw to guarantee progress. Take three points from the next two games and they would most likely have to defeat the world champions on November 17th. Less than a three-point return from these crucial five days would restore a feeling of heroic failure to the national psyche, despite the manager's emphasis on the bigger picture.
"We may not beat Ukraine. Does that mean the bubble has burst?" asked McLeish. "We have already exceeded expectations in this group. Bubble, burst are media words - headlines - but we know we have come an awful long way in three years with a young team that has grown up together. We have no right to qualify, but we are going to do our damnedest to try."
The successful blockade in Paris and an injury to Paul Hartley mean the Scotland defence and midfield may well select themselves although, given Ukraine's fondness for a three-man rearguard, McLeish is reviewing his options out wide, where McFadden can have an influence beyond his preferred striker's role. "What we achieved in Paris entitles the players to believe," McLeish said. Although, as he was at pains to stress, the greatest achievement has not been delivered yet.
