Vogts starts the mind games

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP/Lithuania v Scotland: For Rudi Voller news of the Scotland revival has prompted nerves to jangle so much…

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP/Lithuania v Scotland: For Rudi Voller news of the Scotland revival has prompted nerves to jangle so much that Germany's manager has cancelled his commitments to attend this game.

The World Cup finalists, lambasted after their draw against Lithuania, are playing catch-up, a once comfortable qualification potentially threatened by one of their own, Berti Vogts.

"Maybe now Germany have a little bit of respect for us," said the Scotland manager.

His team may be ranked 58 places below Voller's, but they are top of Group Seven on goal difference with Germany next up at Hampden on June 7th.

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"It wasn't in Rudi's plans to come and see us play but, after what happened at the weekend, things have changed. I'd rather we had a bad performance but a win in front of him, just to keep him guessing."

Germany may not be panicking, but they are far from content. Voller's achievement in inspiring a mediocre side to the World Cup final is fast being forgotten, even if he can draw encouragement from Vogts' overriding sense of caution.

"We have got enough to beat Lithuania, but I'd be very happy with a point," said Vogts. "This is the most important game of the group in terms of reaching the play-offs. A draw here and we could beat Lithuania and the Faroe Islands at home to be sure of finishing second. We are looking for one point because this is Lithuania's last chance."

In the enforced absence of Barry Ferguson, Scot Gemmill should be included against physical, awkward opponents.

LITHUANIA (probable): Stauce; Semberas, Zvirgzdauskas, Dedura, Morinas; Razanauskas, Mikalajunas, Barasa, Jankauskas; Pukelevicius, Petrenko.

SCOTLAND (probably): Douglas (Celtic); Wilkie (Dundee), Pressley (Hearts), Dailly (West Ham); Alexander (Preston), Gemmill (Everton), Lambert (Celtic), Naysmith (Everton); Hutchison (West Ham); Miller (Wolves), Crawford (Dunfermline).