Rich bag of options is boost for Brown

Something has to give in Group Six, in which all the matches pitting Scotland, Croatia and Belgium against one another have ended in draws. That is why Craig Brown believes that victory for his side over Croatia at Hampden Park today would have an impact in terms of psychology as well as points.

Scotland could then head for Brussels having seriously damaged one of their rivals to qualify for next summer's World Cup finals and given themselves a major fillip for the match with Belgium on Wednesday. That is the theory, at least, but Brown knows all too well what can befall the best-laid plans.

The importance of their meeting with the nation who finished third at France '98 is reflected in the fact that, in nearly eight years of Brown's managership, this is the first occasion that none of the players named in his squad has withdrawn. For once he can field the side he prefers rather than pick from a hotch-potch of probables and possibles.

The composition of the starting line-up will be kept from his Croatian counterpart, Mirko Jozic, until the last possible moment. Brown is secretive to a fault when it comes to selection, even keeping his cards hidden from the San Marino and Faroe Islands coaches, but on this occasion his caution is fully justified. He has genuine options that will directly affect the balance and tactical approach of the side.

For the likely two frontrunning roles, for instance, he can choose between Scott Booth, Billy Dodds and Neil McCann. All bring something different to the table. Booth, now in Dutch football, possesses pace which looks all the more tempting since the strutting but scarcely speedy Igor Stimac came out of international retirement. Dodds, though out of favour with Rangers, scored three times in the Scots' last double-header in the spring. McCann, nominally a winger, is also jet-heeled.

Don Hutchison could also play as a forward; he did, after all, head the winner for Scotland against England at Wembley. However, his attacking instincts should be accommodated in a midfield which, if Brown decides to accentuate the positive and leave the tight-marking Tom Boyd on the bench, could be as formidable a quintet as any during his reign.

Dominic Matteo, despite only three caps, has made an irresistible case for inclusion, if not at centre-back, where he is excelling for Leeds, then at left wing-back. Craig Burley, who sat out training yesterday as a precautionary measure after feeling a twinge in his back, may be utilised on the right.

"He's versatile," said Brown, hinting at a role Burley does not enjoy as much as a central position, "so we've got to look and see where we need him most." Brown, having watched Croatia come from 2-0 down to draw with the Republic of Ireland in a Dublin friendly last month, has been anxious to impress on his players the need for a compact game.

If play is condensed rather than stretched, he reasons, the likes of Robert Prosinecki will not be allowed the time and space to launch the killer passes to quickfire forwards – not including the injured Alen Boksic, to Scottish relief – which led Brown to label Croatia "a brilliant counter-attacking team".

Prosinecki's lack of work off the ball makes it unlikely he will receive individual attention, but Brown remembers from the 1-1 draw in Zagreb last October how dangerous he can be in possession. "Our object is to get them passing it in front of us and not let them get the ball in behind," he declared. "If everyone plays to his potential, we'll win this game."

Group Six is so finely poised that both Jozic and Belgium's coach, Robert Waseige, could say the same with hand on heart. A decisive outcome today would guarantee nothing, especially with Belgium still to meet both their fellow contenders, but it could blow the section wide open.

SCOTLAND (3-5-2; probable): Sullivan (Tottenham); Weir (Everton), Elliott (Leicester), Dailly (West Ham); Burley (Derby), Hutchison (Sunderland), Cameron (Wolves), Lambert (Celtic), Matteo (Leeds); Booth (Twente Enschede), Dodds (Rangers).

CROATIA (3-5-1-1; probable): Pletikosa (Hajduk Split); R Kovac (Bayern Munich), Stimac (Hajduk Split), Simic (Internazionale); Stanic (Chelsea), Soldo (VfB Stuttgart), Prosinecki (Portsmouth), N Kovac (Bayern Munich), Jarni (Las Palmas); Balaban (Aston Villa), Vlaovic (Panathinaikos).