WILSON: SCOTLAND CAN BEAT THE WORLD CHAMPIONS
Goalkeeping legend Bob Wilson is positive Scotland can achieve the result they need to gain qualification to Euro 2008 from Group B against Italy at Hampden Park tomorrow. After 11 games in the tough group the Scots are placed second, only one point behind the world champions, but with Arsenal target Craig Gordon between the sticks, the Scots have has enough talent to keep out the tactically-defensive world champions, thinks Wilson.
The 65-year-old, who made over 300 appearances for Arsenal in the sixties and seventies, and won a couple of caps for Scotland, is enthused by the way his countrymen beat world cup finalists France both home and away.
He said: “Scotland have done fantastically well. I think that they might do it against Italy.
“You saw the way Italy won played to win the World Cup – they were ultra defensive.
“And they were good in Germany, but if they play like that against Scotland – defensively – then we stand every chance of getting a result.
Wilson, Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach for 28 years, helped the careers of Pat Jennings and David Seaman, and admitted that Arsène Wenger has been an admirer of Gordon for a number of years.
“The Scottish defence has been superb in this qualifying campaign. And Craig Gordon has been fantastic.
“When I was still goalkeeping coach at Arsenal, a couple of years ago, we were looking at Craig. He is a big lad and he has great goalkeeping qualities.
“Arsène was very interested in Craig, but I just hope he does the job on Saturday. Whatever happens, Scotland have had a great qualifying tournament.”
Goalkeeping legend Bob Wilson is positive Scotland can achieve the result they need to gain qualification to Euro 2008 from Group B against Italy at Hampden Park tomorrow. After 11 games in the tough group the Scots are placed second, only one point behind the world champions, but with Arsenal target Craig Gordon between the sticks, the Scots have has enough talent to keep out the tactically-defensive world champions, thinks Wilson.
The 65-year-old, who made over 300 appearances for Arsenal in the sixties and seventies, and won a couple of caps for Scotland, is enthused by the way his countrymen beat world cup finalists France both home and away.
He said: “Scotland have done fantastically well. I think that they might do it against Italy.
“You saw the way Italy won played to win the World Cup – they were ultra defensive.
“And they were good in Germany, but if they play like that against Scotland – defensively – then we stand every chance of getting a result.
Wilson, Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach for 28 years, helped the careers of Pat Jennings and David Seaman, and admitted that Arsène Wenger has been an admirer of Gordon for a number of years.
“The Scottish defence has been superb in this qualifying campaign. And Craig Gordon has been fantastic.
“When I was still goalkeeping coach at Arsenal, a couple of years ago, we were looking at Craig. He is a big lad and he has great goalkeeping qualities.
“Arsène was very interested in Craig, but I just hope he does the job on Saturday. Whatever happens, Scotland have had a great qualifying tournament.”
Labels: Arsenal, Bob Wilson, Craig Gordon, football, Italy, Scotland
