Scotland boss Gordon Strachan banking on Leigh Griffiths in World Cup qualifying rescue mission

Gordon Strachan is banking on Leigh Griffiths in Scotland’s World Cup qualifying rescue mission against Slovenia.

The national manager admitted that selecting a striker was the biggest decision he had faced in his four years in charge.


And he has opted to select the Celtic forward to be his chief hope for goals in the Group F crunch tie that will make or break his tenure and the country’s Russia 2018 dreams.

Gordon Strachan admitted that it was the biggest decision he had faced as Scotland boss

Gordon Strachan admitted that it was the biggest decision he had faced as Scotland boss

Griffiths has impressed in training in the days following his substitute role for half an hour in the turgid 1-1 draw with Canada in midweek, attended by only 9,158 fans.

Strachan urged Griffiths and his Scotland team-mates to ensure this sense of supporter apathy does not hinder today’s huge contest in front of a half-empty Hampden.

A crowd of little over 25,000 is estimated, potentially the poorest attended qualifier since 23,228 watched a 2-1 defeat of Latvia in the last days of Craig Brown’s reign in October 2001.

Scotland has been unable to end its major tournament exile since then and, with the dream seemingly further away than ever following a dismal campaign so far, the nation is voting with its feet.

Strachan has opted to select Leigh Griffiths for the crunch tie against Slovenia on Sunday

Strachan has opted to select Leigh Griffiths for the crunch tie against Slovenia on Sunday

That led Strachan to implore his team to generate an atmosphere on the park that can carry Scotland to a victory he believes will haul them back into contention.

‘I didn’t expect more (on Wednesday) and those who were there weren’t too bad,’ said Strachan.

‘It was a horrible day. ‘But it doesn’t change how we play, whether people are in the stadium or out of it. You have to generate the atmosphere between you.

‘You get on with it. We know everyone wants Scotland to win. So that’s what you take out there with you. And as long as you appreciate that, you know you’re not on your own.

‘Whether they are fans in the stadium, people watching at home, or people who can’t see the game, we will have five-and-a-half million Scots wanting us to win. That will inspire us.’