Going up in the world

Jun 1 2008 By Gordon Waddell

DARREN FLETCHER will kick off his fourth qualifying campaign under his fourth Scotland boss in September.

And he reckons we've never been better placed to go forth to a finals.

The Manchester United playmaker has blossomed from a Berti Vogts babe into George Burley's banker bet in the international engine room.

In the five years since he made his debut Fletch believes the whole set-up has grown beyond recognition too - from the bombsite of Berti's era to the strength in depth of the squad surrounding him in Prague last week.

And fired-up Fletcher, who won his 36th cap in the 3-1 defeat by the Czechs on Friday, insists the time is right for Scotland to end their long absence from a major finals.

Looking ahead to the 2010 World Cup campaign, he said: "We're going places.

"This Scotland team just keeps on progressing - especially compared to when I first came into the squad.

"Back then we had a decent enough first eleven but not much strength in depth - that's something you can see now.

"And we're in a better seedings pot. I'm not sure if you can call it an easy group but it's not Italy, France and Ukraine, is it? "

"So people will maybe expect a bit more. It's easy to be resilient and hard to beat but the difficult part is taking it on, having possession and dominating teams.

"That's the next challenge and we're going the rightway about it. Look at competition for places in the midfield for example.

"The manager's going to have a tough job when everyone's fit - and that's good for Scotland. The other thing to take on is that everything's positive with the boss.

"He's the one talking about taking us to that next level."

Fletcher was hugely upbeat despite the defeat to the Euro-bound Czechs - and he was within his rights. In a squad plagued by call-offs Burley will have come away with positive thoughts on new faces such as James Morrison, goal hero David Clarkson and RossMcCormack.

He liked what he saw in the partnership between Gary Caldwell and the outstanding Stephen McManus. And maybe seven of those on show would start if the manager had the whole squad to pick from.

Throw three of our most influential players - skipper Barry Ferguson, talisman James McFadden and £9million fullback Alan Hutton - into the mix and Fletcher can see a gleaming light at the end of the tunnel.

He said: "In any team injuries hit and if someone gets a chance they can stay in the starting line-up.

"We had a good team out there - a starting XI similar to the one against Croatia. There was continuity and people did themselves a lot of good.

"James Morrison did really well especially in the first half especially. He went past people, was positive and won corners. Then Davie came on and scored a great goal.

"Ross showed unbelievable technique and finishing in training as well."

You had to feel for the players as they turned out in the burning heat at the end of a gruelling season.

But boss Burley took the game on for a reason - the heat they will face in Skopje in their Group Nine opener on September 6 will be even worse. And Fletcher said: "This is pretty much what we'll get when we play in Macedonia.

"The Czechs are better than them but I've spoken to the English guys who faced Macedonia and they told me it will be a tough game.

"They keep the ball well and it will be hot so this week has been good preparation.

"The first-half conditions were the hottest I've ever played in and it showed.

"It was the right game to take though. We could have played a nobody and won but we took on a tough team preparing for the Euros. It was a big ask for some of the lads who haven't played for a few weeks but we acquitted ourselves quite well."

Fletcher was stifled for most of the game, though. Asked to provide support to Kenny Miller the 24-year-old was shackled by Czech anchors Jan Polak and Tomas Galasek.

However, he's happy to go with Burley's flow if it means finding the right set-up when it comes to showtime.

Fletch said: "I don't think the manager quite knows what the best systemis yet and you have to try new things.

"It was 4-3-3/4-5-1 at home against Croatia then a bit different against the Czechs. I'm sure it might be changed in the next friendly against Northern Ireland in August.

"It's a different role from the one I'm used to. At United I'm asked to be a bit more dogged, getting in about people, winning the ball and supplying the players further forward.

"With Scotland the manager asks me to be more advanced, to get the ball and feed little passes through to Kenny.

"It was difficult because the Czechs were playing with two holding midfield players.

"At times it worked and I'll do whatever I'm asked to."