Faltering Firepower Threatens Our World Cup Wish

Aug 24 2008 Andy Walker

BEFORE a ball was even kicked against Northern Ireland in Wednesday's friendly the number of call-offs in the Scotland squad meant George Burley was always going to struggle to field a winning side.

And after watching a game we always threatened to dominate it was painful to watch when we couldn't really get ourselves going.

Up to a point we were good but not quite good enough.

The big question is can we build on our impressive Euro 2008 qualifiers and go one better and actually get to South Africa in 2010?

The frustrating reality is the 90 minutes against the Irish proved we need more of our top players available if we are not to be left trailing just two games into the World Cup qualifying campaign.

Successive away trips to Skopje and Reykjavik in two weeks' time is hardly an ideal start to our qualifying campaign but once they're played the group will begin to take shape and we'll either be in the mix or chasing our tail.

We can't afford to be off the pace after just two games as we're not good enough to claw back points if we get off to a disastrous start.

That's how crucial the opening games of the campaign will be.

Our Euro 2008 qualifiers got off to a flyer with a morale-boosting 6-0 win over the Faroe Islands but our biggest problem in getting off to a good start this time is that, apart from James McFadden, we are far too shot-shy.

I know there's talk of either McFadden or Miller being left out of the opener in Skopje where the temperature won't be too far off 100 degrees but it is inconceivable that Faddy won't play against Macedonia.

If we can get the ball to his feet anywhere in the last third we look dangerous.

He's the only one we have who has a wonderful habit of producing the unexpected and he must be given the opportunity to pick the ball up in dangerous areas.

Even with his back to goal Faddy showed against a decent Irish side that he could turn defenders and create problems.

If we're serious about qualifying for South Africa, four points from the opening two games is a must, but you have to ask if we have the potency needed up front to be successful.

Right now we don't in my opinion, and the Scotland boss can only hope Kenny Miller's confidence can be given a boost with a goal before he heads off to Skopje. That will be a tough call when he is not even guaranteed a game up front at Ibrox.

Walter Smith appears ready to give his most reliable hitman Kris Boyd an extended run in the side and Miller had to make do with a slot in left midfield yesterday.

However, despite the fact Miller has yet to break his duck forGers he should still get the nod for Scotland.

If we're looking for a formation to get the best out of McFadden in Skopje then Miller is still the man to lead the line with Faddy playing just off him.

While the former Celtic man is not a natural goalscorer he has done it in the past for Scotland and we'll need his workrate and effort to complement Faddy's skills.

Miller's problem is that he is now known more of a workhorse rather than a goal-getter.

In order to even think about challenging Holland for top spot we need to have a genuine goal threat and Miller can have a part to play. At a time when he's dealing with the Ibrox boo-boys, his strength of character will determine whether he succeeds with Scotland or not.

To be fair to Miller and McFadden, the lack of penetration we have is not just down to the strikers.

Without Barry Ferguson and Alan Hutton we have lost some of our cutting edge from the deeper areas.

While Ferguson is a long-term casualty, Hutton was one who could give us much-needed width but the likelihood is he won't recover from a broken foot in time to play.

His replacement on Wednesday, Graham Alexander, is a decent full-back but he doesn't have the ability to go past players in the same way as Hutton.

Anyone who can carry the ball from a defensive area into the last third and pose a threat is priceless for strikers.

Without that type of flair I don't know if we can take four points from the opening games.

Every side has to deal with injuries but if we are to qualify from a tough group, or even finish as best of the runners-up, we need all our best players available.

As it is I fear injuries to our important players will fatally undermine our chances of getting to the World Cup before the campaign has really begun.