James McFadden is confident Scotland can deal with the weight of expectation surrounding their Euro 2008 bid.
Scotland striker happy with Ukraine focus
James McFadden is confident Scotland can deal with the ever-increasing weight of expectation surrounding their Euro 2008 bid.
The Everton forward was on target for his country yet again as they stayed in control at the top of Group B with a 3-1 victory over Ukraine at Hampden Park.
The next challenge for Alex McLeish's side is a trip to Georgia on Wednesday night before World Cup holders Italy travel to Glasgow in November for what promises to be a titanic encounter.
And although the fortunes of the Scotland team have become the talking point of the nation, McFadden insists the players are managing to keep their cool.
Professional
He said: "There is massive expectation but for some reason this week, even in training and sitting about the hotel, nobody even spoke about the game.
"And I think that was a good thing because our minds weren't really on the game until kick-off. That was the most important thing for me, just chilling out and then playing the game when it comes and trying not to read the papers.
"That's why you are a professional, you need to deal with it and I thought we dealt with it superbly."
It was McFadden's stunning long-range strike which secured a 1-0 victory for Scotland against France in Paris, and he has been the focal point of the fans ever since.
But the Goodison player believes his team-mates deserve just as much credit and does not want the spotlight trained solely in his direction.
Unfair
He added: "I think it's unfair on the rest of the players. People keep saying to me was I the only one that played in France?
"Somebody has got to be it, I would rather it wasn't me. Maybe it keeps the pressure off the rest of the players, I don't know if it's a good or a bad thing but we have got 13, 14 heroes on the pitch here and hopefully more on Wednesday.
"They still win games when I don't play, it's about the whole squad and the whole country. I don't care who gets the goals as long as we win."
