Scotland

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McLeish: Italy are beatable

16 Nov 2007 - 09:01:13

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Scotland boss Alex McLeish is hoping his side can bounce back from last month's shock defeat in Georgia to qualify for the Euro 2008 finals by beating Italy on Saturday.

McLeish has guided Scotland to five wins from seven qualifiers since replacing Walter Smith as boss, including a shock victory in France.

The former Rangers manager is in an upbeat mood going into the match, saying: "Last month Celtic beat AC Milan, the European champions - so why can't we beat the world champions?

"They are beatable. France beat them and we beat France. One more titanic effort from the lads and it'll be a clean sweep of victories on home soil, but we know the size of the task."

Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has admitted that the 2006 World Cup winners will be happy with a draw at Hampden Park, saying: "If I'm honest, I would settle for a point in Scotland because that means qualification for us.

"But we know that if we want to go to Euro 2008 we will have to battle."