Ferguson helps slay Toftir ghosts
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Article summary
A 2-0 win in the Faroe Islands was a relief but Barry Ferguson was left to rue the booking which sees him suspended for Scotland's next tie against Lithuania.
Article body
A 2-0 win in the Faroe Islands on Wednesday was a relief for Scotland but captain Barry Ferguson was left to rue the booking which sees him suspended for their next UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier.
Grim precedent
Scotland's last two trips to the Faroe Islands had ended in humiliating draws. Ferguson and team-mate David Weir both played in the previous meeting between the two sides in Toftir in 2002 in which Berti Vogts' team barely escaped with a 2-2 draw. "I played here five years ago and it was a nightmare, but we have shown what a well-organised team Scotland now are," he told uefa.com.
Still hopeful
Alex McLeish's side are fourth in Group B, but only three points adrift of section leaders France, and while a booking in Toftir has ruled him out of Scotland's next qualifier against Lithuania on 8 September, he remains optimistic. "I am disappointed to miss the next game but it is part and parcel of football and our squad is more than big enough to cope," he said. "Everyone in the dressing room thinks we can get to EURO 2008 and we now have to beat Lithuania."