Tuesday 30 August 2016 08:30, UK
James McFadden reckons Scotland have to be confident of qualifying for the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.
Gordon Strachan's side begin their qualifying campaign in Malta on Sunday, still smarting from the failure to qualify for the expanded European Championship.
Scotland, who have failed to reach the finals of a major tournament since 1998, face a much tougher qualifying criteria in a group which also includes England, Slovakia, Slovenia and Lithuania, with only the winners guaranteed a place at the finals.
The Motherwell player/assistant coach, who was speaking to the media at Hampden, concedes the task will be difficult though.
"We have to believe or else we would be as well not turning up," said McFadden, who won 48 caps for Scotland.
"I have sat here as a player many times and said the same thing. We have to believe in the manager and the coaching staff and the players.
"As you say, we need an injection of youth but there are a few players there who are maybe there saying: 'This could be our last chance'... or one of the last chances for them.
"There has to be a time when we step up and take it to the teams in the group. We have to be confident we are going to win the group.
"It will be tough because there are some hard teams in it but we have to express ourselves and try to better what we did in the last group anyway."
McFadden, who will forever be remembered by Scotland fans for scoring the winner against France in a Euro qualifier in 2007, knows the Tartan Army have to start on a positive note in Malta.
The 33-year-old former Everton and Birmingham player said: "It showed with Gibraltar in the last campaign when they levelled (before Scotland won 6-1) - we can't take them lightly.
"We have to go and be professional and I am sure we will.
"It is important, no matter who you are playing, to get off to a good start."
