European Qualifier
Scotland vs Gibraltar
Sunday 29th March 2015, 5pm kick-off
Hampden Park, Glasgow

Scotland National Team coach Gordon Strachan is hoping that his side’s thorough preparations will ensure all three point against Gibraltar tomorrow.

Scotland go into the European Qualifier at Hampden following a 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland on Wednesday, and Gordon believes this week has given the team time to understand the task that awaits them.

Speaking at today’s media conference, Gordon said: “We worked this week, starting on Monday, on putting things into place for Gibraltar, and Tuesday and Wednesday were about Northern Ireland. Thursday, Friday and Saturday have been all about doing what we think is best against Gibraltar.

“You look at every opposition, and you have to give the players time to figure out what is coming and how to deal with it, whether that is Germany, Republic of Ireland or Gibraltar.

“It will take a lot of work, we have to be patient, and we need to try and find their weaknesses.

“I’ve seen enough of them on video analysis. It is very hard to get to international games because we play on the same days. The same time has been spent on preparing for Gibraltar as it was on Germany and Ireland.”

Gibraltar are yet to pick up their first points in Group D, but their performances have improved considerably as the campaign has progressed. After losing their opening matches at home to Poland and away to the Republic of Ireland by seven-goal margins, UEFA’s newest member have steadied the ship, most impressively restricting Germany to just four goals in Nuremburg.

Gordon said:  “I think the first couple of games the excitement was so great, and by the Germany game there was a bit of reality about it. Germany, the World Cup champions, could only score four goals. That’s the improvement we’ve seen from the first couple of matches.

“Once you get over the initial excitement of just being there (playing international football), then you get to the stage where you want to perform and want to be hard to beat. That’s where they are now. “

While Scotland go into tomorrow’s match as favourites, Gordon’s own memories as a player ensures that the Scotland go into the fixture under no illusions about the challenges that that label brings with it.

“Many years ago we played San Marino. That day, we didn’t score until the 60th minute and it was a penalty. It wasn’t a easy game, that’s for sure.”

When asked if he had scored that penalty in the match in 1991, Gordon replied: “Aye, that’s why I brought it up.”

“I’ve taken a lot of penalties in big games, but in your mind you don’t want to be remembered as ‘the guy who missed a penalty against San Marino’. Fortunately for me, it went in, and Steve Archibald scored the second goal from a corner.”