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+--- Thread: SFA delighted by Scotland success (/Thread-SFA-delighted-by-Scotland-success)
SFA delighted by Scotland success - mcamp999 - 13-09-2007
Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith says the 1-0 Euro 2008 qualifying win in France is a massive boost for the game in Scotland.
James McFadden's goal leaves the Scots top of Group B ahead of Italy and France, with just three games left.
Smith told BBC Radio 5live: "To come to France and beat them, it's a fantastic boost for the game in Scotland.
"To beat them home and away in this group, to be in this position, what an amazing result for the Scottish game."
Scotland completed a remarkable Group B double over France on Wednesday, after beating them 1-0 at Hampden Park in October thanks to Gary Caldwell's strike.
It leaves them a point ahead of Italy and two ahead of France with three matches left.
Smith added: "There's no doubt about it, we can qualify for the finals.
If we don't qualify after some of these results it would be a massive disappointment
"We are in a position to do that. We're not saying we will as there's a lot to play for yet, three big games ahead, but we are in a position to do that."
Manager Alex McLeish, meanwhile, has hailed his players as "immortals" after their stunning 1-0 Euro 2008 qualifying win away against France on Wednesday.
"You always dream about great results, about phenomenal historical results, and this is one," said McLeish.
"The likes of Kenny Dalglish have come here and failed, so these guys are going to go down in the annals, there's a wee bit of immortality there.
"We have just nailed the best result in Scottish football in recent years."
McLeish says the Scotland team should now have the belief that they can beat any team in the world, home or away.
"The boys have now got the belief that they can win these games," he said.
"They've now got the belief that they can play one of the top teams in the world and beat them, so that should give them hope against any team on the planet.
"We told the guys that some day France were going to lose in Paris, so why not lose to us?
"The players were immense, they made it happen and it reinforces the belief."
Discuss Scotland's chances of qualifying for the finals
Goalkeeper Craig Gordon said Scotland must guard against complacency with a place at Euro 2008 still up for grabs.
"Everybody did their jobs, everyone can take great credit for the way they played and we've come out of this with an unlikely victory," said Gordon.
"We've got a lot of belief and resilience and we've got the ability to back it up, that's where we're improving at the moment.
"Scotland teams have thrown it away in the past, so we're not counting chickens just yet."
Defender David Weir added: "We want to qualify first and foremost and if we don't after some of these results it would be a massive disappointment.
"To go and win in France against a team with some of those players, it's definitely a bit special.
"We can qualify. We realise there's still work to do and we've got to win our next game against Ukraine and if we can do that we'll be in an even stronger position."