I'll Revert To Hype

Nov 4 2007 By Mark Guidi

Graham Misses The Madness Because He's In England But He'll Make Up For It

THE third Saturday in November would normally see every city centre in the country mobbed with Christmas shoppers. This year is different.

It's the day Scotland play Italy at Hampden and a win will secure a Euro 2008 place for Alex McLeish and his players.

There are still 13 days to go but already the nation is at fever pitch. Wear the national team jersey to work, look out the kilt and get in a crate of Tennent's.

It's all set up for a day never to be forgotten and could finish like a JFK moment - where were you when we qualified?

Graham Alexander has been detached from it all. The Burnley defender is gobsmacked about what has been going on and how hyped everyone is. But the Scotland full-back can't wait to get in the thick of the excitement.

Alexander smiled: "It will be a belter of a game. We will play with confidence and believe we can get the victory we need.

"I'm excited about it but glad in a way I'm in England.

"I'm not fully aware of what is going on in Scotland and had no idea about the depth of feeling with the country about to come to a standstill for the day.

"The whole of Scotland appears to be going mad for the game. It sounds brilliant and I will sample it for myself when I arrive at the weekend.

"I will need to turn my phone off when I get to Scotland because it has been ringing non-stop for the past three weeks with folk asking for tickets and I won't have enough to cope."

Alexander has felt a warmth from English people who want to see the Scots qualify.

He said: "There is a real feeling for Scotland to do well down here. I have plenty of English mates and the boys in the dressing-room want to see us make it. The whole campaign has sucked everyone in.

"My mates have told me they have preferred watching the Scotland games over England. Beating France in Paris has catapulted us into the limelight."

But Alexander sounded a note of caution when he pointed out the likes of Gigi Buffon and Andrea Pirlo stand in our way.

He said: "It has maybe been overlooked that we have to beat the world champs although there will be no fear. We drew 1-1 with them at Hampden a couple of years ago and should have won.

"As much as they have the superstars and swagger, Italy will not like coming here. In the past few years we have had great results against France, Holland and Germany."

Alexander went along as a member of the Tartan Army the last time Scotland qualified for a major tournament.

He said: "I was at the 98 World Cup and watched the 1-1 draw with Norway in Bordeaux. It's hard to believe that was almost 10 years ago and I've gone from being a fan to having a chance of playing for Scotland in a major finals."