World Cup Qualifier - Scotland v Netherlands:GEORGE BURLEY'S career contains happy endings to several tales of adversity and he was willing to share such experiences yesterday. History tells him that Holland can be beaten at Hampden Park tonight. But if they are not, he may be consigned to it.

The task ahead of Scotland in Group Nine’s final match is a huge one, against runaway group leaders who are aiming for their first 100 per cent qualification record. The Scottish FA has left little doubt over the manager’s fate should the national team fall at the last hurdle once again. But Burley has come out fighting.

“It has been an honour to manage my country and if we show passion and courage and belief and bravery – everything that is good about Scotland – we can beat Holland.”

Scottish preparations have been disrupted by an injury to Craig Gordon, the goalkeeper who was invaluable against Macedonia on Saturday but who now has a thigh strain.

“I wouldn’t be against playing him with the injury,” said Burley. A fitness test is scheduled for the Sunderland player this morning.

“If he can do his goalkeeping work, that is the key. We can get someone to do the kicking for him if needs be. He is such a key member of the team.”

Gordon was absent when the Dutch cruised to a 3-0 win at the Amsterdam Arena in March. Burley said the scars of that night – and those from the 6-0 defeat in the same stadium that shattered Scottish hopes of a place at Euro 2004 – have been forgotten.

“There is no danger of Scotland having an inferiority complex at all,” he said. “We want to win it more, we are desperate to win it and we believe we can win it.

“Holland have won the group and I don’t know if that will affect their mentality but we have certainly got to be positive and make it a difficult evening for them.

“The players are looking forward to it. It is a massive game for them, a one-off.”

Guardian Service