Scott Brown: Scotland can banish Georgia ghosts to keep Euro 2016 bid alive
Friday 4 September 2015 13:52, UK
Captain Scott Brown is confident Scotland can keep their Euro 2016 qualification hopes alive in Georgia and banish memories of their 2007 defeat in Tbilisi.
The Scots looked on course to reach the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland before a surprise 1-0 loss to Georgia derailed their bid.
They face the same opponents on Friday evening knowing that another defeat would be similarly damaging to their hopes of qualifying for Euro 2016.
But Brown told Sky Sports: "The match in 2007 was a long time ago. It was a different squad, different manager and a different style of football to now. I don't think we need to worry about it.
"It's always hard coming away from home no matter where it is…but I think we've got the players to cope with that and produce a result.
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"We are going to create chances and we've got the players there to go on and finish them.
"Everyone is saying every game is a must-win game now but there are three teams that can win it to be perfectly honest. Republic of Ireland can still qualify through the play-offs as well so we need to keep on form. We need to keep getting results and try and push everyone else as far as we can."
Heading into the fixture, Scotland sit third in Group D, three points behind leaders Poland and two behind second-placed Germany.
With Republic of Ireland two points further back, a win in Georgia would keep the Scots in contention to reach their first major tournament since 1998.
"You've always got to dream," said Brown. "But you've got to stay focused and positive to try to reach those dreams.
"It would be the best of all dreams if we can get over the line and get to France, whether it's through the play-offs or whether it by finishing first or second."
Gordon Strachan's side are unbeaten in their last five qualifying matches and beat Georgia 1-0 when the sides met in Glasgow.
Georgia have lost three of their four matches since then and failed to score in their last three outings, but Scotland striker Steven Fletcher is still expecting a tricky encounter on Friday evening.
"We got the result we needed at home and we know it's going to be another tough game here so if we can get another result it would be great," he said.
"We've played against them before and we know what type of side they are. They are a good team. They gave us a good game at our place and they're at home now and they'll have plenty of support behind them."
Fletcher started the most recent qualifying match against Republic of Ireland but admits he is unsure whether he will be in the XI again.
"I don't expect to start. There's a lot of competition in the squad, especially with the way Leigh Griffiths has started the season and the way he ended the last," he said.
"He's in great form. I'll just keep doing what I do in training and hopefully the gaffer sees I'm still sharp even though I haven't had many games and I can score goals for him."
Watch Georgia v Scotland live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 4.30pm on Friday.
