Source: Team_Talk
Houston targets top spot in group
Most experts, including Levein himself, suggested Scotland will be competing with the Czech Republic for second place behind the reigning champions when the draw was made earlier this month.[LNB]But Dundee United boss Houston, who was on Tuesday unveiled as Levein's assistant for his first game in charge next month, believes Scotland proved by beating France during qualification for Euro 2008 that they can compete with the best.[LNB]"The Czech Republic games are going to be huge games, especially here if you can win," Houston said.[LNB]"What's to stop us going over to the Czech Republic and getting something?[LNB]"Spain, yes, they're top quality, but so were France at the time.[LNB]"Sometimes in football matches, it's not always the top teams that win matches.[LNB]"You've got to show the Scottish pride, the Scottish fighting attitude.[LNB]"There'll be times during the games when we'll not have the ball a lot but if you're organised properly and you win the ball back and you work extremely hard, in football anything can happen."[LNB]Scotland's qualifying fixtures will be finalised at a meeting in Madrid on Friday.[LNB]Houston said he had not discussed what an ideal schedule would be, but added: "What I think is important is maybe trying to get the points on the board early doors.[LNB]"So that might mean one of the smaller nations of the group here."[LNB]After briefly reprising his role as Levein's trusty lieutenant next month, Houston will hold talks with his club's chairman, Stephen Thompson, about becoming part of the Scotland set-up for the qualifying campaign.[LNB]The 51-year-old, who was recently appointed United's manager until the end of the season, was confident they would give him the green light.[LNB]"At the end of the day, they pay my wages," said Houston, who succeeded Levein in the Tannadice hotseat.[LNB]"It's something I want to do and hopefully something can be worked out."[LNB]Houston admitted the decision could be affected by whether his tenure at Tannadice was extended beyond the summer.[LNB]"Terry Butcher was here (with Scotland) before and he was the manager of a football club and everything seemed to work okay," Houston added, insisting his new United assistant Paul Hegarty and first-team coach Gary Kirk were perfectly capable of filling in for him.[LNB]"I would trust implicitly these guys to look after United if I'm away for a couple of days.[LNB]"It's a huge honour for Dundee United that their manager or assistant or coach - whatever you want to call me - is away with the Scotland squad.[LNB]"It's great for your CV but it's also great to work alongside some super players."[LNB][LNB]
