The Tartan Army are presently ironing their sporrans and booking boarding kennel space for thousands of haggis (© The Big Boy’s Book Of Scottish Stereotypes) for a month next summer as Euro 2008 qualification looms tantalisingly before them. But whisper it quietly (because this isn’t going to be popular) – they’re not going to make it.

Although they’re leading the group with just two matches left to play, I don’t think they’ll win either of them. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to be antagonistic or controversial, but I predict a disappointing draw in Georgia tomorrow will throw a serious spanner into the tartan works.

Following that is the Scots’ drool-inducing clash against the current top dogs of the global game, the World Champions, Italy. Granted, that match next month will be at Hampden and will be undoubtedly be the Scots’ biggest game since the qualifier play-offs against England in 1999, but no matter how fevered the crowd will be, it won’t be enough. Italy will do whatever they need to do to get to the finals.

The Milan players who suffered at Celtic Park a couple of weeks ago will now know all about the kind of atmosphere they will face next month and will raise their game accordingly. Meanwhile, the French will quietly pick up maximum points against Lithuania and in the Ukraine, and both 2006 World Cup Finalists will have sealed their place in yet another tournament.

As for the Tartan Army, in just over a month’s time, as they cry into their deep fried Irn Bru (also © The Big Boy’s Book Of Scottish Stereotypes,) they’ll have to console themselves with the fact that they’ve got the most exciting crop of young players in a generation while they cross their fingers for an easier draw in the 2008 World Cup qualifiers.

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