By Desmond Kane
AYR, Scotland, Sept 7 - Scotland manager Berti
Vogts says his side, who open their 2006 World Cup qualifying
campaign against Slovenia on Wednesday, can hope for a playoff
place at best from Group Five.
Italy are favourites to automatically progress to the finals
in Germany from a group also containing Norway, Belarus and
Moldova.
"This is one of the key matches for second place," Vogts
told reporters on Tuesday. "Norway, Slovenia and Scotland are
all fighting for second place although sometimes on our best day
we can beat Italy."
Slovenia thumped Moldova 3-0 at home in their opening game
on Saturday and Vogts, yet to lose a competitive home match as
Scotland manager, is wary of their threat.
"Slovenia are a very strong side and have a lot of big
boys," he said. "They are very well organised but we have world
class fans and we need a big crowd at Hampden."
Slovenia are ranked 46th in the FIFA standings boosted by
reaching Euro 2000 and the 2002 World Cup finals while narrowly
losing a Euro 2004 playoff against Croatia.
Scotland are ranked 67th and without a major finals
appearance since the 1998 World Cup in France.
Branko Oblak's visitors boast a number of dangerous players
despite the retirement of Benfica forward Zlatko Zahovic earlier
this year.
Bruges midfielder Nastja Ceh inspired them to their
trouncing of Moldova while Lille forward Milenko Acimovic and
Parma striker Zlatko Dedic are other key men.
Scotland will deploy the same midfield that helped them to a
1-1 friendly draw in Spain last Friday with Celtic's Jackie
McNamara occupying a defensive role behind Barry Ferguson, Nigel
Quashie and Darren Fletcher.
"We know we've let down the fans in friendlies in the past
but if Hampden is sold out you will see a performance from the
players and we want to intimidate Slovenia," said Manchester
United's Fletcher.
Scotland will decide after a training session later on
Tuesday whether to risk defender Steven Pressley, who had a scan
on a back injury on Monday.
Probable teams:
Scotland: David Marshall; Gary Caldwell, Andy Webster,
Malcolm Mackay, Gary Naysmith; Jackie McNamara, Barry Ferguson,
Nigel Quashie, Darren Fletcher; James McFadden, Steve Crawford
Slovenia: Borut Mavric; Amir Karic, Matej Mavric, Aleksander
Knavs, Ermin Siljak; Nastja Ceh, Andrej Komac, Jalen Pokorn,
Simon Seslar; Milenko Acimovic, Zlatko Dedic
Referee: Claus Bo Larsen (Denmark)