Skipper Paul Caddis has warned Scotland’s Under-21s (5/2 in 90 Minutes Betting) that European Championship play-off opponents Iceland (10/11) will be no pushovers in Rejkjavik tonight.
Former Celtic defender Caddis wants to secure a place at next summer’s finals in the next few days when Scotland tackle Iceland home and away with the return leg at Easter Road on Monday.
Billy Stark’s side finished top of Group 10 thanks to a last-gasp winner from Chris Maguire which ensured victory over Austria at Pittodrie last month.
Caddis and his team-mates were relieved to miss Spain and England in the play-off draw, but he acknowledges that Iceland will be up for the match and likely to provide a stern test.
“I hope the nation doesn’t think that because we are playing against Iceland, that it’s an easy game and we are just going to go through,” he told the Daily Record.
“They deserve to be there as much as we do and if people have been following the under-21s they will see that Iceland drew 2-2 in Germany and then beat them 4-1.
“So they are no pushovers.
“I hear that Iceland are bringing a lot of players back from their senior team which shows a bit of respect for us.
“But no matter which 11 they put out, we know they are going to be a really good side and tough to break down.
“We need to, first and foremost, not concede.”
Iceland have called up seven players who would have otherwise been in the senior side but will instead feature for the Under-21s, including Coventry midfielder Aron Gunnarson, Hoffenheim star Gylfi Sigurdsson and Hearts defender Eggert Jonsson.
Scotland are without suspended midfielder Paul Coutts for the first leg while striker James Forrest and defender Steven Saunders are injured.
But Stark is confident Scotland can keep the tie alive for Monday’s return match in Edinburgh.
He said: “We’re not a team who are set out particularly to defend. We take risks trying to score goals and I don’t see that changing. The way Iceland play it would be very difficult to dominate anyway because they put you under pressure quickly.
“We couldn’t have a tougher match.”
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