Weir out to stem Azzurri flow

As one of only two current Scotland players with major tournament experience, David Weir is determined to get the victory they need to reach UEFA EURO 2008™ when Italy visit Hampden Park on Saturday.

'What we're here for'
The 37-year-old Rangers FC defender and Christian Dailly are the only survivors of the squad that went to the 1998 FIFA World Cup – and with three points standing between Scotland and a place in Austria and Switzerland, Weir intends to make the Tartan Army's latest dream a reality. "It would mean everything to me to get to next year's finals," he told uefa.com. "It's what we're here for. We make a lot of sacrifices by being away from our families to represent our country and be involved in major tournaments. It would be massive for me and a huge thing for the country. We've not been to a tournament in ten years and that's too long for Scotland."

Welcome recall
The Group B fixture seals a remarkable turnaround for a player who reluctantly retired from international football five years ago after being heavily criticised following a 2-2 draw with the Faroe Islands in Berti Vogts's first competitive game. However, when Walter Smith took over two years later, one of his first decisions was to recall Weir and the centre-back has been one of the rocks on which Scotland's success has since been built.

'No hesitation'
"You always want to be involved in important games but I was resigned to my Scotland career being over," said Weir, who will collect his 61st cap against the Azzurri. "It just goes to show how things can change. I just kept trying to do the right things, kept working hard and when Walter asked me to come back, I had no hesitation in saying yes. It's amazing how things have happened for me, not just with Scotland but also playing in the Champions League with Rangers this season."

Toni poser
With Scotland having overcome France twice in Group B, the former Everton FC man admits it would feel like failure if Scotland were unable to finish the job against Roberto Donadoni's side. However, after losing the corresponding fixture 2-0 in Bari in March, he is wary of the threat posed by FC Bayern München striker Luca Toni, who scored both goals on that occasion. "He's a top player and players of that quality will score goals against you," Weir said. "It's up to us to try and stop him, but sometimes you've just got to hold your hand up and say 'That was a good goal'. Hopefully we won't be saying that on Saturday."