Euro 2008 qualifying:Andriy Shevchenko may be misfiring at Chelsea but he is still the man whom Scotland will fear the most when they take on Ukraine in Saturday's Euro 2008 qualifying match at Hampden Park.
The Scots top Group B but victory is crucial to their hopes of qualification, with Italy and France only one and two points behind respectively.
Ukraine have little chance of reaching the finals but their threat, and particularly that of Shevchenko, has not been lost on Alex McLeish's side.
"We get the feeling he becomes a different player when he comes back into the national team," said McLeish's assistant Andy Watson. "He seems to play with a greater deal of freedom when he is with Ukraine."
Shevchenko has been a substitute in Chelsea's last two matches and has managed only four league goals since his transfer from Milan 17 months ago.
The striker's record for his country - he has scored 34 in 76 games - gives Scotland every reason to be wary of his threat. "In the games we have seen he has been committed to his country's cause," said Watson. "I don't know if he has greater confidence with them (than at Chelsea) but he has more freedom . . . Maybe he feels he wants to show what he can do with Ukraine, and he is still one of the top names in Europe."
If Scotland take seven points from the nine remaining in their final qualifying games - a trip to Georgia on Wednesday and Italy's visit to Hampden on November 17th conclude their fixtures - they will be assured of a trip to Switzerland and Austria for next summer's finals.
Oleg Blokhin will leave his post as Ukraine's manager if they do not qualify. "If we do not fulfil this job ahead of us I will resign," he said.
- Guardian Service
