News

Wilson: Team spirit can lead us to play-offs

Sunday, 09 September 2012

UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier
Austria v Scotland
Monday, 10th September 2012, kick-off 6.30pm (local time)
Cashpoint-Arena, Altach

Danny Wilson believes the excellent team spirit in the Scotland Under-21 team could be the key to victory in tomorrow night’s crucial UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier against Austria, with a play-off place still within sight.

Scotland can still qualify as one of the four best runners-up after the Netherlands sealed first place on Friday but they must defeat the Austrians to have any chance of advancing.

Billy Stark's side remain unbeaten in Group 10 and Wilson is confident Scotland can grab all three points tomorrow.

He said: “We all know each other very well in this squad.

“I’ve played with guys like Paul Hanlon and Ross Perry in Scotland and club youth teams before and have known them for a long time which helps a lot.

“The boys look forward to coming away and we always enjoy ourselves but when the serious stuff starts, we are always bang on.

“It helps playing alongside your friends because you will go that extra mile for them in the match.

"There is a lot of belief in the squad and we will be going all out tomorrow to win the game."

Wilson was part of the under-21 squad that narrowly missed out on the finals tournament in the last campaign after succumbing to defeat at the hands Iceland in the play-offs.

Scotland, who are without striker Leigh Griffiths due to illness, reached the play-offs that year thanks to a last-minute winner from Chris Maguire to earn them a 2-1 win at Pittodrie against tomorrow night’s opponents.

The Liverpool defender was also part of the side that drew 2-2 at St Mirren Park last year and thinks his experience of playing Austria in recent years will help when the sides clash at the Cashpoint-Arena in Altach.

He said: “Austria are a very organised side and I’ve came up against a few of the players that will be playing tomorrow night over the last few years.

“They scored a couple of good goals when we played them at our place last year.

“They have some good individual players and play well as a team so we must be wary of that.

“But we have some dangerous players too in the likes of Johnny Russell, who has been banging them in for his club, and Tony Watt, who is an exciting young player.

“We are the only unbeaten team in the group and have had some good results along the way like the 2-1 win over the Netherlands last year, a result which probably surprised a few people.

“It was great feeling when we qualified for the play-offs in the last campaign despite missing out at the final hurdle but if we can do it again it would be another great achievement for all the players and the staff.

“Austria will provide us with a difficult match but if we approach it in the right way then I think we can win it.”

You can keep track of tomorrow’s night game, kick-off 5.30pm (UK time), via the official @Scottish_FA Twitter page where we’ll have live updates throughout the match.