Gordon Strachan confident Scotland players will be focused against England
Friday 11 November 2016 21:10, UK
Gordon Strachan is confident his Scotland players will be able to focus in the white-hot Wembley atmosphere.
Strachan and his squad are under huge pressure to get a positive result against England, whose own caretaker manager Gareth Southgate will be hoping to enhance his chances of getting the job on a permanent basis.
Scotland have picked up one point from their most recent two World Cup Qualifiers, drawing 1-1 with Lithuania at Hampden Park and then going down 3-0 in Slovakia.
However, Strachan is sure his under-pressure team won't crack in front of an expectant home crowd.
"It could focus you, that's for sure," he said. "It could spook a few people but it could also focus a few people.
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"Since we met up on Sunday evening, our focus has been tremendous. They're oblivious to anything else but this game of football.
"They are pleased that they are the group that is taking on England and they are pleased that they are the group that will try to make up our points total.
"Every time I meet this group of lads I get the same intensity, desire and discipline. Our ability in certain areas - it's up to us to improve on that.
"You can only give 100 per cent and that's what these lads always give."
Strachan, however, does feel it is important that his players do not allow their emotions to get the better of them.
"I think the players are intelligent enough to understand the fixture," he said. "It's known throughout the world and the importance of it is to not caught up in the emotion of it.
"If you get too emotional you can lose focus. We need that focus and that passion and we need to play better than we ever have before."
