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Page last updated at 17:12 GMT, Wednesday, 8 September 2010 18:12 UK

Young Scots relaxed at prospect of facing England

Stark delighted with Scots' progress

Scotland Under-21 manager Billy Stark is relaxed about the prospect of being paired with England after Friday's European Championship play-off draw.

The Scots are among the seven seeds after topping Group 10, while England were runners-up in Group 9.

"There are no minnows now," Stark told BBC Scotland.

"The good thing is that we will be underdogs no matter who we play and that is a situation that I think Scottish teams thrive on."

There will be 14 teams in October's play-offs hoping to join hosts Denmark in next year's finals.

Croatia, Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Romania, Scotland, Sweden, Switzerland and Ukraine were the group winners.

We'll take anyone - we're not really fussed

Scotland midfielder Barry Bannan

Belarus, who finished second behind the Scots on head-to-head record, Spain, England and Iceland join them in the draw as the best runners-up.

With Sweden, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Romania, Italy, Croatia and Scotland the seeded sides, it means that Stark's team could face the Auld Enemy, England, in the two-legged play-off on 9 and 13 October.

But Stark has no preference between Scotland's possible six opponents - they will avoid a re-match with Belarus.

"The main thing you see about them is that there is a hunger there to do well for their country," he said of his players.

"They have done that in the eight games in the qualifying group and we hope we can carry that into the two play-off games.

"We might not do well in the play-offs - that's the nature of football - but it won't be through lack of effort or lack of application.

"I keep preaching a realism and I think that's the sensible thing to do. We have to realise we're no superpower."

Can't believe goal myself - Maguire

However, Stark thought that reaching the play-offs would help improve Scotland's standing in the game.

"If people see Scotland in the latter stages of a competition, that helps to get us respect," he said.

"We'll have to show in the two-legged play-off that we can back that up a wee bit with our play."

Marko Arnautovic had given Austria, who needed a win to qualify themselves, an early lead at Pittodrie before Barry Bannan equalised and Chris Maguire grabbed the dramatic winner with a last-minute long-range drive.

Aston Villa midfielder Bannan said: "We'll take anyone - we're not really fussed.

"We know, if we play our best on the day, we're capable of beating anyone."

Captain Paul Caddis, who set up the equaliser, added: "We hope for the luck of the draw, but it's only 180 minutes of football and you never know what's going to happen."



see also
Scotland U21 2-1 Austria U21
07 Sep 10 |  Scotland
Stark wants final push from U21s
04 Sep 10 |  Football
Belarus U21 1-1 Scotland U21
03 Sep 10 |  Football
Scots Under-21 call for Forrest
24 Aug 10 |  Football


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