Target Man

[ian1964 10,409]

THE last time a Scotland team represented their country at a major championship, Rangers front man Kris Boyd was just 14 years old.

 

Like so many youngsters watching the action from France 98, he too dreamed of one day pulling on the dark blue shirt to go in to battle with his national team.

 

But a decade later few who watched helplessly as Scotland slipped out of the World Cup on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Morocco in St Etienne now find themselves in Boyd's position.

 

As he prepares to face off against Northern Ireland in a friendly tonight, the Gers No.9 can realistically target a place in South Africa in 22 months' time.

 

And, if he's handed a shirt by Scotland boss George Burley when his side depart Glasgow next month to face Macedonia and Iceland, he can have a say over whether Scotland will return to the global scene after a dozen years on the outside, looking in.

 

Boyd turned 25 earlier this week and on the back of the most remarkable season of his career he admits that joining Scotland in the World Cup in South Africa would be the highlight of his football life.

 

He said: "As a player they are the best moments in football, both the European Championships and the World Cup.

 

"To be part of that would, I think, be the highlight of your career when you look back on it in years to come.

 

"Every player wants to be there and the likes of Davie Weir and Christian Dailly have already tasted it and they say it's the best thing they've done in their career.

 

"I'm sure we'd all be no different. We want to get there and hopefully we can get off to a good start and then finish the job this time."

 

It's a revealing statement that points to the hurt Boyd felt at coming so close to a place in Austria and Switzerland during the summer, before falling at the final hurdle against Italy.

 

The striker had helped to get his country off to a flying start with two goals in their opening qualifier for Euro 2008 as Walter Smith's side chalked up a 6-0 over the Faroe Islands.

 

But he was a dejected figure as he watched from the Hampden touchline as Christian Panucci's header sealed a 2-1 win for the visiting Italians and ended Scotland's dream.

 

He was stripped to come on as a sub with the scores tied at 1-1, but as he replaced Lee McCulloch he knew qualification had slipped away and that experience still lingers.

 

Boyd said: "It was obviously disappointing the way it ended but if we'd been told at the start of the campaign that we'd take it that far we would have been delighted.

 

"But once you get so close you're obviously disappointed that you don't quite make it but that's life, we have to move on from that and we've got another chance to qualify for a World Cup now."

 

The Gers forward will take the first step on that journey in tonight's friendly at a stadium he enjoyed huge success at last season.

 

Putting aside the disappointment of that meeting with Italy, Boyd went on to score doubles for his club in two triumphant Hampden cup finals.

 

He added: "I enjoy playing there. It's a great surface and a great stadium and to play there with your national team is a bonus.

 

"It's good to meet up with the squad and start preparations for the World Cup campaign with the game against Northern Ireland.

 

"There are a good few of us from Rangers in it and it's always a special occasion to go and play with your country so I'm looking forward to the game."

[Super_Ally 0]

Shame that donkey Miller will be starting up front with McFadden then.

 

Source is Burley before anyone asks, was quoted on BBC.

[alanmidd 0]

Is the title meant to be ironic?