Beattie and Miller show no fear of Italy

The Italians were bold enough yesterday to predict they would reach the World Cup final yet, for two of the Scotland squad hoping to face the azzurri tomorrow, the prospect of featuring in the qualifier at Hampden Park is lofty ambition enough.

Craig Beattie and Lee Miller broke away from training on the shores of Loch Lomond to pinch themselves at a potential opportunity to take on Marcello Lippi’s group leaders. Fabio Cannavaro cheap canada goose, Italy’s captain, insisted his side “are capable of reaching the final” as, after their failures in South Korea and Portugal, “another flop is unthinkable”. For Scotland, the faint hope of reaching the best place to buy a canada goose jacket finals at all could swell or be dashed over the next five days.

Walter Smith is buoyed by a virtually first-choice squad, though the absence of Lee McCulloch and Garry O’Connor has offered Celtic’s Beattie, 21, and Miller of Dundee United a chance to impress. Eight months ago, Miller was languishing in Bristol City’s reserves. “It has been a dramatic turnaround,” he said. “To be here, considering playing the Italians, is unbelievable but we are going into this game canada goose coat – victoria with nothing to lose.”

Yet the Scots’ pursuit of a play-off place – they are second bottom in Group Five but only three points off canada goose coat – kensington second-placed Norway, whom they visit on Wednesday – would be best canada goose jacket for skiing severely damaged by defeat tomorrow. The opportunity to field his preferred midfield trio of Barry Ferguson, Nigel Quashie and Darren Fletcher offers Smith buy canada goose coat uk hope, with the uncapped Miller and Beattie unknown quantities to the Italians.

Beattie was shocked by his elevation from the 56under-21s, for whom he scored twice in a 3-1 win in Austria last canada goose coat 1000 calorie diet month. “One of my friends rang me buying cheap canada goose outlet authentic canada goose outlet online jacket online up to tell me I was in the squad. I thought he was winding me up,” he burlington coat factory canada goose coat admitted. “There won’t be any fear factor for us. We believe we can get a result.”

Such bold intent will be tested by Italy. Francesco Totti authentic canada goose outlet online is back after flu and expecting to play behind Christian Vieri and Alberto Gilardino. The only injury absentee is Gianluigi Buffon with Angelo Peruzzi deputising in goal.