It is Friday, 27 January 2006 and Scotland, having failed to qualify for the summer's World Cup finals, are desperate to prevent a decade passing since they last reached the finals of a major tournament.

But they look to be all out of luck when they are drawn in a Euro 2008 qualifying group that includes Italy, France and Ukraine.

Manager Walter Smith, who was appointed on 2 December 2004 after Berti Vogts' unsuccessful reign came to an end, attempts to put a brave face on things.

"It's very tough," he says. "But if we continue to improve our performances, we can qualify."