By Alan Hansen BBC Sport football expert

McLeish will need to call on all of his tactical knowledge

Scotland have a chance to create history this weekend.

On Saturday they host Italy in their final Euro 2008 qualifying match, knowing that a win would take them through to the finals in Austria and Switzerland next year.

It would rank as Scotland's biggest achievement of all time.

They have qualified for World Cups and European Championships before but this time is different.

Drawn in the hardest group you have ever seen, the Scots have had to face the World Cup winners Italy, the World Cup runners-up France and World Cup quarter-finalists Ukraine.

In addition, Scottish football was in a miserable state going into this qualifying campaign - it was sunk deep in the doldrums, suffocating in doom and gloom.

Now, though, we are in dreamland, only a single victory away from qualifying for a major tournament for the first time in 10 years.

But I am now torn because part of me recognises we have done brilliantly to get this far but another part of me feels there is no point coming this far and not qualifying.

Yet it could hardly be more difficult to take that final step, with the reigning world champions Italy blocking the way.

Imagine if both sides only needed a point. Scotland could sit back and the Italians would do the same. A boring 0-0 draw, with defences on top for 90 minutes, would not be great for the paying public but at least Scotland would qualify.

Scotland will need another huge performance from McFadden

Instead, Scotland, realistically, have got to win the game to progress and that means they must be attack-minded. But that makes them vulnerable as the Italians are masters at sitting back and hitting teams on the break.

Scotland manager Alex McLeish has got to get his tactics spot on. He and his players must exercise caution.

The capacity Hampden Park crowd will be baying for their team to make a lightning-fast start and, to a degree, I feel that Scotland have got to get into their opponents quickly and get the crowd on their side.

However, the Italians are experts at soaking up pressure before delivering a counter blow and if they were to go 1-0 up it would be a long, long way back for Scotland.

McLeish's men have to start positively but must also make sure they are vigilant, solid and do not give anything away - especially in the first 20-25 minutes.

The build-up to the game has been so intense and the Scots cannot allow themselves to reflect on what might have been had they not lost in Georgia last time out.

Instead, they must focus on their two victories over France and remember the euphoria, the teamwork, the spirit, the good play, the quality.

Ahead of a game of this magnitude, you do not want there to be any negatives in the dressing room.

And once the players are out on the pitch, the crowd have a big influence, too.

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The tension will be exceptional but the Italians are the world champions and they are absolutely brilliant under pressure.

Yet we've seen it time and time again, if a home team gets a decent start and the crowd gets behind them, it can affect the away team, no matter how experienced they are - and perhaps they will make mistakes.

I've played in great Liverpool teams, away from home, when we were under intense pressure for the first 15 minutes and you can really feel it and it affects you - and the Italians will be no different.

Scotland will need another huge performance from forward James McFadden. He is a key player because he gives his side something different in the final third of the pitch.

If you are looking for someone to produce that extra quality to win the match, McFadden would be the man. He seems to be able to come up with something different from anyone else.

Scotland's two centre-backs, David Weir and Stephen McManus, have been incredible.

The 37-year-old Weir did not look like he had any pace at Everton but he went back to Rangers and has done fabulously well for them and for Scotland.

Will Weir be able to keep the Italians at bay on Saturday?

But if the game becomes open and stretched, Weir and McManus might be in a bit of trouble. They have done so well and for so long at Hampden, we are just hopeful they can keep playing to that standard.

Scotland should take heart from their performance in Italy in March, despite their 2-0 defeat.

I thought they performed really well. They had their chances and on another day the scoreline might have been different.

Chances will come on Saturday - it's imperative Scotland take them.

But whatever happens, Scottish football is back on the map. Walter Smith, who was manager when the campaign began, and McLeish have done an incredible job.

The fact that the Scottish Premier League postponed last weekend's matches involving Celtic and Rangers to aid the national team's preparations sums up just what it means to everybody.

And with the Old Firm doing well in the Champions League and the national team doing superbly, it would be the crowning glory if the Scots could make it to Euro 2008.

Let's just hope they do it.