Scotland in Faroes opener
Scotland have been handed an encouraging start to the Euro 2008 qualification campaign after the Group B fixtures were selected by computer at UEFA headquarters in Switzerland today.
The outcome of the random draw is that Scotland will start with a home match against the Faroe Islands on September 2, followed by the trip to Lithuania four days later.
The Scots were initially set to open their campaign up against group favourites France and Italy, but Ukraine were not happy with their own fixture schedule.
Walter Smith’s team will also finish their campaign with the visit of the Italians on November 17, 2007, but all Scotland’s home matches will be on Saturdays.
Scottish Football Association chief executive David Taylor said: “We went into this process with some trepidation but I think we have come out of the draw fairly well.
“The games against the major countries are reasonably well spread out, as we negotiated at the original fixture planning meeting, and it is a big bonus for the fans that all our home games are on Saturdays.”
FIXTURES
2006
Saturday, 2 September – Scotland v Faroe Islands
Wednesday, 6 September – Lithuania v Scotland
Saturday, 7 October – Scotland v France
Wednesday, 11 October – Ukraine v Scotland
2007
Saturday, 24 March – Scotland v Georgia
Wednesday, 28 March – Italy v Scotland
Wednesday, 6 June – Faroe Islands v Scotland
Saturday, 8 September – Scotland v Lithuania
Wednesday, 12 September – France v Scotland
Saturday, 13 October – Scotland v Ukraine
Wednesday, 17 October – Georgia v Scotland
Saturday, 17 November – Scotland v Italy
