Football: I'll make my Scotland Europe's party kings; BROWN PLEDGES

THERE'S nothing I'd like better than to throw a party for our fans when Scotland return to Hampden next Saturday.

It's been more than three years since we played at the National Stadium and by beating Bosnia on Tuesday at Ibrox we can celebrate reaching the play-offs in style when we face Lithuania.

Hampden is the ground that inspires all Scottish players and we want to win the fans back to the national side.

We want to make the team so attractive that crowds of 40,000 and 50,000 want to turn up for every game.

When you look around Europe crowds are in decline for international games with even Germany and France struggling to attract fans to watch them.

Our supporters have stuck with us but we want to see them returning to Hampden in big numbers looking forward to watching an entertaining side that they can be proud of.

To turn next Saturday into a gala occasion we must beat the Bosnians and as they showed in Sarajevo last month that's easier said than done.

Although they're new to international competitions their players are highly-rated throughout Europe with three top strikers available who missed out the last time we played.

From Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Fenerbache, Bosnian coach Raddi Hazibekic can call upon Hasan Salihamidzic, Elvir Balic and Elvir Bolic.

Luckily for us we have the man for the job in captain Colin Hendry.

Colin has proved time and again that he can rise to the big occasion, I can't point to a bad game that Colin's ever had for his country.

He's been the mainstay of our side and an absolute inspiration. He played two games in four days for us last month - after a long injury lay-off - and while some players struggled in Estonia I have to say that Colin was one of our successes.

Although he's not a first choice for Rangers maybe at his age it's no bad thing to ration appearances although I'm sure that Colin would prefer to be playing in every game possible.

He played well against St Johnstone last Saturday and had two internationals with us earlier in the month and never let us down.

On Tuesday I've no doubt that the Bosnians will come out and attack us - that's the strength of their side with the three players I've already mentioned capable of troubling any side.

They expected to beat us in Sarajevo and were disappointed not to take the points and I think they'll be very positive against us this week. There's no doubt that they have quality players but they'll all be playing for their clubs this weekend and may not be too fresh for Tuesday.

We've got players with Rangers, Everton and Blackburn playing yesterday but we're grateful that the SPL haven't given Celtic, Hearts or Dundee United games today.

Since I named this squad - and even beforehand - there's been a lot of publicity surrounding Mark Burchill. I could have left Mark with the Under- 21s but because I've brought him into the full squad it doesn't mean that I'll be pressurised into playing him. I'll only use Mark if I think it's appropriate.

I'll do what's right for the team like Dick Advocaat did for Rangers against PSV Eindhoven. Most people thought that Jorg Albertz should play from the start but Dick had him on the bench and I'll do whatever I think is best for Scotland.

We've got four strikers in this squad and they'll all be involved against the Bosnians either starting the game or on the bench.

Billy Dodds is on form as he showed with his goal against Bosnia and I'll take a close look at Kevin Gallagher before deciding who to play alongside Doddsy.

I've heard some good reports about Kevin and the great thing about him compared to other strikers is his experience. Billy Dodds has 11 caps while Gary McSwegan and Burchill have yet to play at this level.

The good thing about Mark is that he's someone who can excite the fans if we bring him on as a substitute.

He's the type of player that I call a "cheer-sub" - players who lift the fans - and that's exactly what Mark Burchill is.

Other players like Brian McClair and Steve Archibald have been "switch off" subs who the fans have never taken to which was a pity.

Burchill is the type that the fans love and is definitely a "cheer- sub" which is what I like.

Only if we can get the right result on Tuesday will I start to think about who we might face in the play-offs.

It would be too good to be true to beat Bosnia and then have the luxury of being able to send people out to look at the potential play- off opponents.

It would be manna from heaven if we could win this one and then have a preparatory game before the playoffs. However, we won't be distracted by talking about the playoffs - that would be tempting fate.

The good thing going for us this week is that we have a great home record in qualifying games.

In our last 13 qualifiers - over three campaigns - we've won 11 and only lost to the Czech Republic who are one of the best sides in Europe just now.

In every campaign we try to get the final game at home and our negotiators have always managed that. I don't think that other countries are as ruthless as we are in getting the fixtures that they want.

We have no excuse in terms of not winning the last game because the fixtures have been designed to give us our final game at home. It's much better than having to go to Lithuania which is a far harder proposition.

First though we are concentrating on Tuesday's match with Bosnia.

We know the prize on offer and while countries throughout Europe have to rely on others to get into the play-offs our fate is in our own hands.

This squad has battled and scrapped all the way when faced with terrible injury problems. Now we are looking for one more win. I'm certain that we'll get it.

Interview: JOE McHUGH

Copyright 1999 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.