Source: Team_Talk
McCann predicted Bairns success
John Hughes' side reached the final of the Scottish Cup against Rangers next month with a 2-0 win over Dunfermline at Hampden on Sunday.[LNB]Falkirk are bottom of the Scottish Premier League and battling to avoid the drop but as a result of making the showpiece final for the first time since 1997, they will play in Europe for the first time next season as one of Scotland's Europa League representatives.[LNB]The former Hearts and Rangers player, 34, signed for the Bairns in the close season after a second spell with the Tynecastle side with most people believing that he was simply running down his career.[LNB]However, McCann revealed the extent of his ambition as he recalled a meeting with Craig last summer.[LNB]"Jackie McNamara and myself sat down with the chief executive George Craig and said that we would like to think that Falkirk would get into Europe," McCann said.[LNB]"George gave me a strange, puzzled look,[LNB]"I think that look will be replaced by a wry smile the next time I see him.[LNB]"I thought it was possible with the squad that we have.[LNB]"We are all disappointed with the league position but the table doesn't lie.[LNB]"But we have more than enough to get ourselves out of this.[LNB]"Hopefully this feeling will carry us on in the league.[LNB]"It is important that everyone gets behind us now.[LNB]"It's the old cliche, we have to focus on the real job in hand, keeping our SPL status."[LNB]Craig remembers all too well his conversation with McCann and is delighted to have been proved wrong.[LNB]He said: "When I was speaking to Neil, he stressed that he did not want to come to Falkirk just to see out the last years of his career.[LNB]"But when he mentioned Europe, I had to remind him that the club had never played in Europe in its history.[LNB]"He just said, 'That's the challenge then.'[LNB]"He also said that he wasn't finished with his medal collection yet and after every round we have shaken hands and recalled that conversation.[LNB]"I told him that my medal collection hadn't even started yet.[LNB]"I just hope he was meaning a winner's medal and not a loser's medal.[LNB]"But it is a great achievement for the club.[LNB]"As a born-and bred Falkirk fan, I was brought up by my father and grandfather on the tales of the side which won the Scottish Cup in 1957.[LNB]"It was a magical time for me and to think we can replicate that is fantastic."[LNB]Craig admits that Falkirk will be massive underdogs to beat Rangers in the final.[LNB]However, McCann offered hope to everyone connected with the Bairns when he revealed that he will be looking to keep his 100% record in the final of the competition intact.[LNB]The former Scotland player won his first winner's medal with Hearts in 1998 - against Rangers - then picked up a further four in five years while at Ibrox[LNB]"I've won five out of five Scottish Cup finals so hopefully that continues," he said.[LNB]"I remember how excited I was to reach a final when I was a young player.[LNB]"I feel exactly the same now, in the latter years of my career.[LNB]"I'm so happy for the gaffer and Brian Rice, they have come under a bit of fire from the fans.[LNB]"Maybe some of the ones who were disappointing in how things have gone, will now take note and see what we have actually achieved here.[LNB]"We have five massive games left in the league and if they get right behind us it could be a massive season."[LNB][LNB] Falkirk 11/8, Motherwell 7/4, Draw 11/5
