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Scotland national football team
European Championship | Qualifiers
Nov 14, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Republic of Ireland national football team

1-0

Maloney (75')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Mick McCarthy warns of Steven Fletcher threat

Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy warns that Steven Fletcher will be Scotland's biggest threat when the two sides meet on Friday.

Former Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy has earmarked Steven Fletcher as Scotland's biggest threat ahead of the Euro 2016 qualifying clash between the two sides.

Scotland host Ireland at Celtic Park on Friday night, with both sides looking to continue their encouraging start to their respective Group D campaigns.

However, McCarthy, who was Fletcher's boss at Wolverhampton Wanderers when the striker was in the international wilderness, has warned his former side that the Sunderland man is of the highest quality.

"I was his manager when he wasn't playing for Scotland. I could never understand that to be honest. Well I can and I can't but it was just a shame because he was playing well then," the Ipswich manager told reporters.

"When I was asked about Fletch by other managers I said he could play in the top four teams in England. If it was a Champions League team looking for a centre-forward, I would have hung my hat on him. Without any doubt. I think he's that good. He's still a young man, he's only 27 and should be at his peak. Unfortunately some of the injuries have restricted him from playing.

"Honestly, I thought he could have played for any one of the top four teams. I don't see him much now but I saw his goals against Crystal Palace and I thought his header was fantastic and his second was the finish of a real, cold, calculated predator. And he used to work at it, day in, day out, with Terry Connor, my assistant. And he loved it, he works hard at his game."

Ireland currently sit second in Group D on goal difference, three points above Scotland.

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Aiden McGeady of Ireland celebrates scoring a goal during the International Friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Latvia at Aviva Stadium on November 15, 2013
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Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany00000
2 Hungary Hungary00000
3 Scotland flag Scotland00000
4 Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Albania national flag Albania00000
2 Croatia Croatia00000
3 Italy Italy00000
4 Spain Spain00000

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria00000
2 France France00000
3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
4 Poland Poland00000

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belgium Belgium00000
2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


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