Source: Team_Talk
Forrest determined to end wait
James Forrest does not want to belong to another generation of Scotland players who miss out on the finals of major tournaments.[LNB] The Celtic wideman, 20, made his international debut against the Republic of Ireland in May and is included in Craig Levein's squad for the visit of Denmark to Hampden next week.[LNB]The friendly game is a warm-up for the Euro 2012 qualifying double-header against the Czech Republic and Lithuania next month, where Scotland's qualifying hopes again remain in the balance.[LNB]As every Tartan Army footsoldier knows, Scotland have not qualified for the finals of a major tournament since the 1998 World Cup in France.[LNB]Forrest is too young to recall that competition but is desperate to help this current Scotland squad get over increasingly difficult qualification hurdles.[LNB]"I was only seven so I can't remember the 1998 World Cup finals," he said.[LNB]"But you definitely want to play in finals. You are playing against the best players in the world and playing at the best stadiums.[LNB]"That's what every player wants to do, that's how you will get better yourself.[LNB]"The groups are obviously hard, you are getting really good teams in them.[LNB]"But we have a good young squad coming through with Scotland now so hopefully we can qualify in the next few years."[LNB]Scotland have taken four points from their first four Euro 2012 qualifiers and are currently in third place in their group.[LNB]European and World champions Spain have maximum points from five games and the Czechs are in second place with nine points from five games.[LNB]Levein's assistant, Peter Houston, consequently described the next two qualifiers as "must-win", a view with which Forrest concurred.[LNB]However, the Hoops winger is confident that six crucial points can be garnered in front of two big and passionate Hampden crowds.[LNB]"I don't think you can disagree with Peter," he said.[LNB]"The two games are at home which is good for the fans.[LNB]"We have a good squad and hopefully everybody is fit and we will see if we can do it."[LNB]The former Celtic youth player grabbed the chance of his first Scotland cap at the end of an arduous season, despite Parkhead team-mates Mark Wilson and Anthony Stokes calling off from Scotland and Republic duty respectively.[LNB]"We only got three weeks off in the summer," said Forrest.[LNB]"But it was my first cap. I was not thinking about the time off, I was just wanting to get my first cap under my belt and I think I learned a lot playing with and against top players.[LNB]"Denmark is the last game before the qualifiers so hopefully I can get my chance and see what I can do.[LNB]"They have a really good team, with some quality players and they will give us a good game.[LNB]"Hopefully we can get a good crowd here on our own turf."[LNB]
