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Naysmith loss hits Scotland

Jon West
Friday 06 September 2002 00:00 BST
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The Scotland manager, Berti Vogts, has insisted that he and his players are full of confidence as they attempt to avoid a repeat of their humiliation in the Faroe Islands three years ago.

Tomorrow's match in Toftir represents Vogts' first competitive match since taking over from Craig Brown in March. Brown's side could only draw 1-1 there in 1999 and Vogts' first step along the road to Euro 2004 qualification comes on the back of the Scots' worst-ever run of defeats – five successive losses in friendly internationals.

"I am very confident," Vogts said. "The players have done well in training. We are not nervous." Vogts stressed that the Faroe Islanders would be no pushovers. "I am expecting one thing," he said, "that they will fight, fight, fight against a big football nation like Scotland."

Scotland's preparations were further hampered yesterday by the withdrawal of Everton's Gary Naysmith, who has an ankle injury. Dominic Matteo, Derek McInnes and Scot Gemmill had already pulled out.

The match is being eagerly anticipated in the Faroes, where comments by Vogts regarding the condition of the pitch and its lack of proximity to Scotland's hotel – a bus and boat trip away – have brought indignation.

The Faroes also have a new coach, Henrik Larsen, once of Aston Villa. He has fared better than Vogts so far in his one game in charge: a 3-1 win over Liechtenstein.

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