Lithuania vs Scotland - No worries for Scotland boss Gordon Strachan ahead of Lithuania test

Posted Friday, September 01, 2017 by PA

Boss Gordon Strachan will not let worry affect his preparations ahead of Scotland's crunch World Cup qualifier against Lithuania on Friday night.

The Scots are six points behind Group F leaders England, four adrift of Slovakia and three behind Slovenia and realistically need four wins in their last four matches to keep alive prospects of making Russia next summer.

Speaking at the LFF stadium in Vilnius before his squad trained - bereft of midfielder Darren Fletcher who withdrew with a knee injury - former Coventry, Southampton and Celtic boss Strachan said: "I don't worry. There is plenty of time to worry after the occasion.

"I said to the players at Coventry when I first got the job when we were sitting bottom of the league, 'don't worry about it, we are not there yet. Only worry when we get relegated', and we stayed up.

"So I wouldn't really need to worry about anything. I am aware of what's going on. I understand the importance but you relish it. It is a challenge. It is a different type of challenge but it is a challenge."

The Scots go into the game on the back of a pulsating 2-2 draw with England at Hampden Park in June.

Strachan insists there will be no change in preparations for fifth-placed Lithuania who took two points in a 1-1 draw in Glasgow last year.

He said: "I think we are good enough to win every game but we also have frailties that can make us lose every game. So we have a nice balance whoever we are playing, England or Lithuania.

"The players will tell you that, there is never a difference in what we think.

"We know we have strengths and frailties and on the day you want to make sure there are more strengths than frailties and we will try to build on that.

"We will show them respect as they have had some good games here.

"They have a good team spirit so you have to fight that team spirit with your team spirit and ability so hopefully we will show it on the day.

"But there is no difference in who we play, we always think the same. We give them all the same time and attention."

Strachan again played down the fact that Scotland will play their first competitive match on an artificial surface, as long as it was watered, which it was before training.

"We just get on with it," he said. "We are here. You just have to deal with it."

Lithuania manager Edgaras Jankauskas believes Scotland can qualify for the 2018 World Cup but will have no qualms about quashing their hopes.

The former Hearts striker, who spent two years at Tynecastle as a player and a season as assistant manager, put a dent in the Scots' qualification chances with a 1-1 draw at Hampden Park in October.

Jankauskas, whose side are in fifth place with five points, said: "I rate Scotland very highly and I wouldn't be surprised if they qualified from this group because they are not weaker than anyone in this group and they have proven that in recent games against England and Slovenia.

"I am a big fan of Scottish football, British football, and taking away two points at Hampden was a big achievement for us and tomorrow we are going to fight for victory as well.

"As much as I appreciate Scottish football, we are going to fight and try to be relentless because we have our goals and we are going to follow our dream.

"It is a big game for us as there are not many games of that calibre in this country in a year.

"We might create a big day tomorrow for our supporters and our country and if it is going to be a day to finish Scottish hopes of qualifying, I might be sad.

"But we have a very clear target and we want to put on a great display, compete for every ball and we need a positive result."